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Guthrie Public Schools to Draft State-Mandated Ban on Student Personal Devices for 2025-26 School Year
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Simpson told the Guthrie Public Schools Board that Senate Bill 139 requires the district to adopt a policy banning student use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day, with limited exceptions; attorneys will draft the policy for board review with first reading planned in June.
GUTHRIE, Okla. — The Guthrie Public Schools Board of Education was told Monday that the district must adopt a policy banning student use of cell phones and similar personal electronic devices during the school day to comply with recently enacted state law.
Superintendent Dr. Simpson said Senate Bill 139 "will require the district to adopt a policy prohibiting student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices, such as smart watches or smart glasses, from the start of the school day until the end. Exceptions may be made for emergencies or to monitor health issues." He told the board district attorneys have started drafting the policy and that the board should expect a first reading at the June meeting and an approval vote at a subsequent meeting so the rule is in place for the 2025–26 school year.
Why it matters: The measure changes daily routines for students and staff and will appear in school handbooks. District staff said they are preparing handbook language and will align administrative procedures with the new policy so implementation begins with the next academic year.
Board and staff context: Dr. Simpson presented the update as part of his superintendent's report and noted the attorneys are working to craft language for board review. He said the district intends to present a first-read draft in June and seek approval at a following meeting to meet the statutory deadline.
Implementation details discussed: Dr. Simpson and staff indicated the law allows limited exceptions, including emergencies and health monitoring; the district’s attorneys will bake those exceptions into the policy. The superintendent indicated the administration is taking steps now to minimize the number of subsequent handbook changes needed when the policy is adopted.
What remains unresolved: The board has not yet reviewed the attorneys’ draft, and no final policy text was presented at the May 12 meeting. The exact enforcement mechanics, discipline steps and any building-level implementation guidance were not specified on the record and will be determined as the policy draft is developed.
Outlook: The district expects the policy to take effect for the 2025–26 school year after the board’s review and formal adoption.
