By Kathleen Acuff

While the San Mateo Union High School District bans camera cell phones and other electronic devices that can take photos or make any other kind of recording, the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District has a policy that should be easier for students and administrators to live with.

Electronic devices, including beepers, CD players and any kind of cell phone, can go to school as long as they’re kept turned off and stashed out of sight, except before school, during lunch and after seventh period. The exception does not apply to Alta Vista, which has a shortened day.

At all three schools, any electronic device that disrupts instruction or any other school activity is confiscated by administrative personnel. The device is returned at the end of the day on a first offense. A second offense warrants confiscation and a parent conference, and on a third offense, the device spends the rest of the school year in the principal’s office.