Lancaster latest to consider school zone cell phone ban

by Bill Conrad of Lancaster TODAY

LANCASTER — Cell phone usage in school zones may be a thing of the past in Lancaster, as the Lancaster City Council has decided to vote on the issue at its Oct. 13 meeting.

The council discussed the resolution Sept. 15 at a work session.

Lancaster would follow in the footsteps of Duncanville and Highland Park, who have recently enacted similar bans.

“The use of cell phones by drivers within school zones can distract drivers from normal operations of their vehicles and cause drivers to concentrate less on driving safely, which creates a danger for school children,” said documents provided by the city.

The documents also said that officers with the Lancaster Police Department and the Dallas County Constable Precinct 1 office have stated that cell phone usage is a major distraction in Lancaster.

James Damm, the financial conservator appointed to the Lancaster Independent School District by the Texas Education Agency, also gave a short briefing to the council.

Damm spoke about the reasons he was appointed, as well as some of the things he has seen, good and bad, since he has been on the job. Damm said that while the city council and school board are different, they must work together for the children of Lancaster.

“This community is split,” Damm said. “We have got to pull it back together. This would be good for the city and its programs, as well as the school district and its programs. It is certainly good for the kids.

“There shouldn't be anyone in this town who is not looking out for what is best for the city. What is best for the city is what is best for the kids in the city, what is best for the taxpayers in the city and what is best for the business owners in the city.”

Damm said that he was impressed with some of the things in the district such as the International Baccalaureate program, which he said was extremely challenging.

He also spoke about the high school and its academically unacceptable rating, saying that the problem is larger than just the high school.

“Right now the high school is unacceptable, but if you look at the reasons for it, it is not just a school issue,” Damm said. “Math and science are not just high school issues, they are elementary school issues as well. I see programs going on in this city that are bringing those programs along as fast as possible.”

At its Sept. 8 meeting, the council voted to cancel its Sept. 22 meeting. Council will not meet again until its work session Oct. 6. The next regular meeting is Oct. 13.