For Alicia Broxmeyer, cell phones are an unwanted distraction. The Bismarck High School art teacher deals with them often - or at least the students who own them.

Sometimes it's unintentional. Other times it's blatant.

There was one incident she recalls vividly. A student's phone rang during class, while Broxmeyer was giving a presentation. The student answered the phone and protested when Broxmeyer told her to put it away, saying it was her mother. Upset, she complied with her teacher. Later, she blamed Broxmeyer for her mom losing her job.

"She told me it was my fault because I wouldn't let her answer her call during class," Broxmeyer said. "Whether she was telling the truth, I don't know. It just adds another layer of stress."

It's incidents like those that prompted local high school administrators this fall to tighten policies regarding their presence in school. Despite their efforts, teachers are having more problems with the phones this year than ever before, as more students gain access to them.

Students said the policies don't dissuade them from using their phones throughout the school day, including during class. They forget to turn their phone off, letting it ring in class. Others turn their ringers to vibrate and take calls, either by excusing themselves to go to the bathroom or just answering them. Students use them to text-message - or send notes - to friends.

Educators say it's a distraction that takes away from learning, and they are worried about the possibility of cheating as the popularity of camera phones and text messaging increases. Bismarck and Mandan school administrators and teachers said they haven't had confirmed cases of cheating, but that's not an indicator that it's not happening.

"They are tied to these things like I can't understand," said Ken Erickson, Bismarck High principal. "For the good of school and education, we can't have those firing off during the day."

Bismarck High students can't use cell phones anywhere in the school, although they can have them in the building if they are turned off. Students caught using phones are given a verbal warning on the first offense and a written warning on the second. The third violation carries a one-day suspension.

Century High School's policy restricts cell-phone use to the commons area and requires them to be shut off in the classroom. If students violate the policy, their phones are confiscated.

Bismarck High teachers reported between eight and 10 incidents this year, Erickson said. One student was suspended for repeat violations. Six students have violated Century's policy this year, compared to the three reported last year, said Century Principal Mike Hillman.

Those numbers are probably higher because teachers deal with cell phones in their classrooms on their own, administrators and teachers said.

"We'd like to put it back on students to say, 'Use that phone responsibly,'" Hillman said. "If they can't follow the rules and abuses start creeping up, then there will be more regulations."

The Bismarck district doesn't have a blanket policy regarding cell phone use, although school board members looked at the issue last fall. They left the decision in the hands of principals.

"We felt at the building level they are the most equipped to decide what's the most distracting and what's not," Superintendent Paul Johnson said. "Let's face it, cell phones are a tool many parents put in the hand of kids. To say they can't use that isn't going to fly."

Bismarck High parents said they support the school's decision to regulate cell phones. A parent advisory group backed the move because of concerns over inappropriate use. Group member Tammy Gallup-Millner said schools have phones and parents can leave messages for their children in the office.

Century administrators said parents wouldn't be supportive if they further restricted cell phone use because they depend on them to keep track of their kids.

"Parents are able to more easily communicate with their kids when they are out and about," Gallup-Millner said. "But, from a kid's perspective, they use them to get a hold of their friends."

That's why Casey Dukart carries his cell phone to school. The Bismarck High junior has had it for two years and uses it throughout the day, despite the school's policy. He's been caught with it once and received a warning, but it didn't persuade him to leave it at home.

"I don't let teachers see it," he said. "There's a lot of students who use them and get into trouble and they keep using them."

Students have tricks to conceal their phones so they can use them during school. A group of eight students said they stick them up their shirt sleeve or use their sweatshirt hood. They keep them on vibrate or silent mode. And they text-message or use them in the bathroom.

"You pay for it, man," said Kylah Johnson, a Bismarck High junior. "Why shouldn't you have it all day to use?"

(Reach reporter Sheena Dooley at 250-8225 or sheenadooley@ndonline.com.)