1). The new guidelines allow students to use cell phone at the high schools during lunch and between classes, a significant change in policy from previous years. With complete disregard for a due process, the portion of the guidelines describing this drastic change was amended to the publication just days before school started without any attempt to make a public announcement or solicit feedback. 2). The new guidelines were approved as a result of a pilot program that ran in three Howard County high schools last year. The Board failed to demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that this pilot program provided any benefit to students’ learning and educational outcomes. 3). Another pilot program is in place right now to further expand the use of these devices in the classroom. Personal communication devices can be a powerful educational tool. However, without a thoughtful approach, allowing the devices in classrooms will run the risk of becoming a distraction to the students, actually disrupting education. 4). Not all students have a smart phone or any cell phone or other device at all. A haphazard attempt to promote digital citizenship will accomplish little in achieving educational excellence if it cannot be evenly applied to all students. It will only deepen the digital divide and possibly increase the achievement gap in our schools. 5). Many high school students spend considerable time outside of school using their electronic devices. It is critical that they have time during the school day when they’re “unplugged”.

Because there are plenty of good-hard working families that deserve a chance of success and prosper like I had.

Seniors are rapidly becoming the majority, I want to try and organize to make the changes that "we the people" have allowed to happen. We cannot keep blaming Washington, when we keep electing these soon to be "millionaires".

$1.4 BILLION of our taxes will be wasted shutting down and starting up the government (according to the Congressional Research Service). The U.S. will no longer be the most reliable creditor in the world, losing investors and causing interest rates we pay on credit cards, home, and business loans to increase. Social Security checks may not be paid, the doctor who sees Medicare patients won't get reimbursed, 1.4 million troops, 800,000 Pentagon workers, and many other government-run (parks, museums) and contract businesses will not get paid. Millions of jobs--and families--will be affected.

Thomas L.Hicks was convicted of a alledge sexual assult crime he did not do.There was no investigation, and I/We ask you to research all the information regarding this terrible injustice done on him.This is a case which should not have gone to trial since there is compelling evidence of his innocence.Eld. Theodore Culter who is the Pastor of St.James COGIC presented the court a dvd tape showing Mr.Hicks whereabout on the date and time in question.The dvd tape shows Mr. Hicks was at a church on Bainbridge Boulevard from 3pm until 5pm.Which the Court/Judge Dean Sword specifically notes that the defendant's Mr. Hicks presence at church. Judge Dean Sword ignore Eld.Cutler testimony and said that Eld.Cutler testimony wasn't crediable which the tape proves other wise.We would like to know why wasn't Ms.Oneil subponea since she stated that it wasn't true. We are asking for a full investigation and a overturn of his wrongful conviction.Thank You.

To bring back the "Fat Man" as the mascot for Washington Township School.

Please share widely! The drill site is only 1000 feet from family homes and adjacent to the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Western Everglades. If it's legal, it shouldn't be. No one should have to live in an emergency evacuation zone, only feet from a hazardous drill site and 145' oil rig. Concerns include public safety, emergency evacuation, fresh water contamination, fire threat, oil and toxic brine spills, sinkhole hazard, risks to wetlands, consumptive water use, encroachment on panther habitat, traffic danger, and pollution of the watersheds that feed our state and national parks The drill site and entire lease area is one of the most ecologically sensitive regions of the nation. It is surrounded—east, south, west, and north—by a vast array of wetlands, acquired at great public cost, to protect native plants and animals and safeguard vital watersheds. Consider the Everglades National Park, directly downstream. Congress authorized a 30-year Everglades Restoration Plan dedicated to restoring the South Florida ecosystem. Why allow oil drilling to endanger that $13 billion dollar project? The Everglades is a national treasure on par with the Grand Canyon and Redwoods. It’s far more valuable than even a major oil play. It's our life-blood, fueling everything from agriculture to Florida’s multi-billion dollar tourist industry. A major concern is the real danger drilling poses to our fresh water. It’s crucial to protect the aquifers that supply South Florida with its drinking water and safeguard watersheds that sustain wetlands. Accidents happen. And over time, pipes leak. And injected fluids surface. And, as in the BP disaster, cement casings crumble. One accident could ruin our fresh water and wetlands for generations. The risks are too great and benefits too small. Oil drilling is not in the public interest.

The Medford City Council will meet on Tuesday night, 10/1/13. The Council resolution below would add 50% more funding to the Medford Arts Council in 2014 to support community arts and cultural activities. Every year, the Medford Arts Council allocates STATE funding to events including concerts at Wright's Pond; the Community Read and school vacation performances at the Library; West Medford Open Studios; Circle the Square arts performances; CACHE and the Mystic River Celebration in October; dance and music performances for seniors and in nursing homes; field trips, afterschool and in-school enrichment programs for students; Dance in the Fells/Dance at Wrights Pond; and much more. The city has not contributed to this funding, although the events serve a varied and large community audience and engage dozens of volunteers to bring activity and foot traffic to our commercial areas and arts venues. Sign this petition and show Mayor McGlynn and the City Council your support for CITY funding for these events! Offered by Marks and Penta #13-689 "Be it resolved .. that in light of all the wonderful citizen driven community arts activities that have branched out throughout our City during this past year, a sum of $10,000 be added to the 2014-2015 City budget to be earmarked for the Medford Arts Council in support of our community art activities."

Living with asthma and concerned about respiratory health issues, we can not allow frack sand mining and transfer until it is proven to be safe for the health of our citizens and the environment. We also feel that it is critical that it does not negatively impact the farming and tourism industries in Minnesota. A balanced business environment is important to all Minnesotans.

I am starting this petition out of a sense of duty to help shape the strategy of this nation's LGBT movement, focusing it on the issues and actions that are legally and morally justifiable rather than those that verge on propaganda or bullying against those of another viewpoint--actions that make this movement just as bad as those militant opponents. Yes, in-your-face political movements are necessary for times when human rights are at stake, but what makes America great is that our major shifts in cultural awareness have come not from "counter-bigotry" and other excessive actions but from reasonable people making reasonable demands and thereby helping other Americans see the logic of their positions.

It's about time we move on to term limits because they really don't care any more what the people who have voted for them want. We don't want shutdowns--we want progress, not fighting. There are too many politicians who have been in too long. They get great benefits--better then the general public--and with their actions we get nothing but trouble.

It is unfair for our players to play their hearts out for Matt Schaub to continually throw it away with interceptions and all around poor plays. We can no longer stand by and witness these atrocities. If Schaub can not be fired because of contractual reasons, then by all means BENCH him.