Students suspended for calling home

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla., Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Parents have complained after at least nine students at a Merritt Island, Fla., middle school were suspended for using cell phones during a gas leak evacuation.

The students were suspended from Thomas Jefferson Middle School after using their cell phones to call their parents during Monday's evacuation, which lasted for three hours after a gas leak was detected, WKMG-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported Thursday.

Penny Bandish said her daughter, Taylor, 14, was one of the students suspended for one day after phoning home on their mobiles.

"My daughter was not trying to be disrespectful," Bandish, said. "She was nervous about what was going on. A teacher saw that my daughter was panicked and loaned her the cell phone to call me at work."

However, district officials disputed Bandish's account, saying policy forbids students from using their cell phones during school hours. A spokesman said no teachers loaned their phones to students during the incident.

Bandish said she signed a contract with the district that said her daughter would not use her phone at school, but she said she told her daughter it was permissible to call home during an emergency.

"I'm questioning as a parent if they have more rights than I do," Bandish said. "Is giving her a suspension, that's going to stay on my daughter's record, the right punishment for the crime?"