Board adopts phone ban for the school day

What happened

On June 22, 2026, the board adopted a new policy on student phones and other personal devices, as a new Indiana law (SB 78) requires. It bans their use from the first bell to the last. The draft offered two choices: leave devices at home, or lock them away at school. On June 8, board members leaned toward storing them in lockers (or cubbies at elementary schools). The board said the policy may be amended later.

Why it matters to families

Students cannot use their phones during the school day, and parents may need a new way to reach their child. In the first week of school, 41 phones were collected at the high school.

The evidence

The June 22 recording shows the board voting to 'accept the policy as it is currently written with the mindset that there may be some amendments later.' The May 21 and June 8 recordings describe the two storage options and parents' concerns.

The source