Board approves 2025–26 student code; staff warns state phone ban bill would require changes

The Lakota Board of Education on June 16 approved the district’s 2025–26 student code of conduct, including changes to the district’s cellphone policy that district staff said were developed with community input.

Board members and staff explained the code’s cellphone provisions are currently being implemented under last year’s state direction that districts develop plans in consultation with communities; however, staff said newly proposed legislation at the state level that would ban student cellphones outright would require the district to return to the board to revise the code if that bill becomes law.

During discussion, a staff presenter emphasized the district’s current approach was collaborative and timed to be used in handbooks and building processes for the coming year. The board was told the revisions are important for day-to-day implementation and for the ombudsman processes used when conduct issues arise. Staff also noted that if a statewide ban is enacted, the district would simplify or rework the relevant sections to comply with state law and would communicate changes to families.

The action recorded in the meeting minutes is the board’s approval of the 2025–26 student code of conduct. The roll call recorded multiple yes votes; the board did not indicate it was adopting changes contingent on pending state action, only that staff would return with revisions if state law required them.

Board members asked staff to monitor state legislation closely and to coordinate communications with stakeholders should statutory changes force revisions to the code. The board’s approval enables schools to publish handbooks that reference the new code for the coming school year, subject to any later statutory-driven updates.