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Wabash City Schools board holds first reading of wireless-device policy ahead of July 1 deadline
Summary
At its June 9 meeting the Wabash City Schools Board held a first reading of Policy 4307, restricting student possession and use of personal wireless devices during the school day with several explicit exceptions; a second reading is scheduled before the state-mandated July 1 compliance date.
Wabash City Schools Board of Education on June 9 held the first reading of Policy 4307, an updated wireless-electronic-device policy the district says is required under a new Indiana law that takes effect July 1.
The policy, read aloud at the meeting by the superintendent, defines a wireless electronic device to include cellular phones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, gaming devices and smartwatches and generally prohibits possession or use of such devices during the school day "except as specifically provided herein." The stated exceptions include teacher-approved school devices for educational use; authorized use during emergencies; devices used to manage a documented medical condition; use as part of an individual education program or 504 plan; use for language translation when district devices are not available; and limited unobtrusive audio recording for note-taking that captures only spoken words and is visible to the teacher.
"This is just our first reading, so no action is required tonight," the superintendent said, adding that the board will conduct a second reading later in the month and must have the policy in place by July 1.
Board members pressed staff on enforcement logistics for students who attend offsite programs. One board member asked whether devices should remain in lockers or travel with students who leave campus for Hartley and the career center; an administrator said most students will keep devices in book bags and that, if problems arise, devices could be turned into the office at the start of the day. "If we have problems, we'll probably have to turn them into the office at the beginning of the day," the administrator said.
The policy text included disciplinary consequences for violations and allows confiscation of devices that would be returned to a parent or guardian. The superintendent said discipline could include suspension or expulsion for misuse that violates the policy.
The board’s next procedural step is a second reading and formal vote later in June so the district can certify compliance before the state deadline.
The district scheduled a special board meeting for June 15 to hear public comment on a proposed superintendent contract; the policy vote will proceed on its regular timeline, the superintendent said.
