“Can you hear me now?”

This phrase will not be heard this year from students when they return to classes at any of the schools under the supervision of the Durant Independent School District.

While students will now be allowed to carry their cell phones with them on campus, they will not be allowed to use them during school hours. Previously, cell phones were banned.

The change in policy was unanimously approved by the Durant I.S.D. Board of Education at Monday’s monthly meeting.

“One of the things we try to follow is not to have a rule we can’t enforce,” said Dr. Jason Simeroth, superintendent of Durant schools.

The item was the only change to the student handbook, and after the change, the handbook was unanimously approved.

The change was instigated by new high school principal Ron Craig, who asked the board to change the policy.

“I did not feel comfortable with the ban,” said Craig, “when I knew that 90 percent of our students had one in their pocket.”

“That put us in a position where we would have to search the students, and I just didn’t want to go there. At the same time, I fully expect the students to abide by the new policy and not be on their phones during school hours.”

Texting was the main problem last year, with both parents and students contributing, he said.

“We had parents who were texting their kids while they were in class, and we want to get the message out to them and the students that it is unacceptable,” Craig said.

All other items on the agenda were also approved, including a new gymnasium for Robert E. Lee Elementary, among others. Construction will start right before the school year begins.

New hires included: Teresa Keel, business education teacher at Durant High School, Dana Joines, speech pathologist, and Tracy Risner, part-time language arts teacher at Durant Middle School.

Resignations included: Dawn Hicks, business teacher, Salina Hollander, speech pathologist, Sammy Rambo, middle school teacher and coach, Terra Wood, support staff, and Scott and Kelly Lowrance, high school basketball coach and English teacher.