Latest news with #TuscaloosaCityBoardofEducation
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tuscaloosa City Schools approves cellphone restriction for 2025-26 school year
Tuscaloosa City Schools will implement a district-wide cellphone-free policy beginning with the 2025-26 school year. The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education on May 6 approved the new policy restricting the use of wireless devices, including cellphones, during school hours. The vote was unanimous. The move by TCS comes in anticipation of a statewide ban on cellphones in schools. The Alabama Legislature is poised to pass the Alabama FOCUS (Freeing Our Schools of Unnecessary Screens for Safety) Act in the final days of the 2025 legislative session. More: A tale of two teens: Learning to cope with life's challenges "Cellphones are a distraction in our schools,' said Superintendent Mike Daria in a news release. 'While we are adopting this policy to comply with state law, we believe it's a move in the right direction to provide a better learning environment for our students.' According to the TCS policy, wireless devices must be turned off and stored during instructional time. Devices may also not be kept in the student's pockets. Mags Garrison works on her assignment in a fifth grade class at Rock Quarry Elementary on the first day of class for Tuscaloosa City Schools Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. TCS officials say the new policy will enhance school safety, in addition to limiting distractions in the classroom. Restricted devices include, but are not limited to, cellphones, laptops, iPads, smart watches, tablets and other devices with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular capabilities. Exceptions: Documented medical need Students who must be accommodated under Individualized Education Plans or 504 Plans Emergency situations, as determined by staff District instructional use authorized by certified staff As part of the new policy, TCS will implement the use of Yondr Pouches, which are secure lockable bags. The Yondr pouches will be kept in students' backpacks until the dismissal of classes each day. All secondary schools will implement Yondr Pouches during the 2025-26 academic year. James Pope, deputy superintendent of teaching and learning at TCS, said only cellphones and smartwatches will be kept in the secure pouches. Mike Daria is superintendent of Education for Tuscaloosa City Schools. "We're only doing the pouch for the cellphone and possibly their watches. Everything else, (students should) put away, keep out, don't bring to school," Pope said during the May 6 meeting. Chris Jenks, director of technology for TCS, assured board members and attendees that devices will remain in the students' possession while in the secure pouches. "The purpose of the pouch is to allow the student to maintain physical possession of the device while not being able to use it," Jenks said. School officials say parents and guardians who need to reach their child during the school day should contact the school's main office. Pope said some schools have already implemented similar wireless device restrictions and have reported positive results. These schools include: Westlawn Middle School, the Alberta School of Performing Arts, Eastwood Middle School and Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy. "They told us about how much disruption has been lessoned because of it," Pope said In preparation for the 2025-65 school year, TCS will launch a phone-free campaign to inform students, parents and faculty about the new policy. More information about the new wireless device-free policy will be released in the upcoming months. Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa City Schools to restrict use of wireless devices next year
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What you need to know about the March 4 Tuscaloosa municipal election
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday for Tuscaloosa's municipal election. Voters can expect dry and breezy conditions with temperatures ranging from the 60s to the mid-70s most of the day, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham. A stray shower or two is possible later in the day, closer to when the polls close but storms won't arrive until around 10 p.m. In the mayor's race, political newcomer Denson Ferrell II is challenging incumbent Mayor Walt Maddox. The candidates for mayor will appear on all ballots, but the races for seats on the City Council and the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education will appear by the city's seven districts. Council and school board candidates who are unopposed will not appear on the ballot. This also holds true for the school board chair, who is running unopposed. The municipal election is nonpartisan, which means that candidates will run without party designations, i.e. Democrat or Republican. More: Who is running for Tuscaloosa City Council? What to know before the election Any race that requires a runoff will be held April 1. Inauguration will be May 19. Voters should take note that the polling locations for the municipal election may differ from the November 2024 presidential election. Here's where to vote Tuesday: District 1: The Tuscaloosa Department of Transportation Building Auditorium, 1000 28th Ave. District 2: McDonald Hughes Community Center, 3101 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. District 3: Church of the Highlands, 721 Rice Mine Road NE District 4: Calvary Baptist Church Annex, 1208 Paul W. Bryant Drive District 5: Alberta Baptist Church, 2210 University Blvd. East District 6: Belk Activity Center, 2101 Bowers Park Drive District 7: East McFarland Baptist Church, 6007 McFarland Blvd. East Mayor: Denson Ferrell II and Walt Maddox City Council District 1: Que Chandler, Joe Eatmon and Matthew Wilson City Council District 2: Dennis 'Quick' Collins, Raevan Howard and Ashley R. Wheat City Council District 3: Norman Crow City Council District 4: Lee Busby City Council District 5: Kip D. Tyner City Council District 6: John Faile, Eric Gaines and Lisa M. Young City Council District 7: Cassius Lanier and Oliver 'Maurice' Sealey Board of Education chair: Eric M. Wilson Board of Education District 1: Tony V. Humphries and Karen Thompson-Jackson Board of Education District 2: Kendra Williams Board of Education District 3: Lesley Powell Board of Education District 4: Clint Mountain Board of Education District 5: Erica Grant Board of Education District 6: Marvin L. Lucas Board of Education District 7: Erskine E. Simmons More: Who is running for the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education? Voters can confirm registration status, ballot status, polling locations and addresses by visiting the Alabama Secretary of State website at To view sample ballots and for more information, go to Reach Ken Roberts at This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: The 2025 Tuscaloosa municipal election: A last-minute voters' guide
