Connersville board adopts student handbook with new state cell-phone rules

The Connersville School Corporation Board on April 22 approved the 2026–27 student handbook, which includes new restrictions on student personal-device use that the administration says stem from recently passed state law. The handbook was adopted as written and will take effect for the next school year in August; administrators said they will update specific language after formal guidance arrives from the state Department of Education.

Superintendent (unnamed in the record) told trustees, "The statute is passed, Don," and urged the board to adopt the handbook now so families and staff have a single document to review before August. Board members pressed for clear parent communication and asked that the district emphasize that the change comes from state law rather than local policy.

Trustees and administrators discussed how the new rules will be enforced, whether staff or administrators will handle exceptions, and what constitutes the school day. Administration said medical exceptions and IEP/504 accommodations will be honored with appropriate documentation (medical note or plan). The record shows administrators recommended requiring exceptions to be approved by administration rather than individual teachers.

Board members raised practical concerns about enforcement in classrooms and with wearable devices; administrators said the handbook language already names medical/IEP exceptions and that implementation details (for example, whether students store devices in lockers or check them at the office) will be handled locally and communicated during enrollment. The board also discussed phasing out bring-your-own-device arrangements noted in the law.

The board approved the handbook with no roll-call recorded for the handbook item (voice vote). Administrators said the district will prepare communications for families during the summer enrollment period and will issue any required updates after state DOE guidance is published.