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Huntington schools’ first reading of state‑mandated cellphone policy would require students’ devices be secured during school day
Summary
Under a first reading to comply with recent state legislation (referred to in the meeting as SDA 78), HCCS staff proposed a policy requiring that personal communication devices be powered off and secured (for example, in lockers) during the school day; the board scheduled additional handbook language and a final vote at a later meeting.
At first reading June 22, the Huntington County Community School Corporation board reviewed a new personal communication device (PCD) policy designed to comply with recently enacted state legislation referenced in the meeting as SDA 78.
Ms. Trantow told trustees the statute presented two options; staff recommended option two, which permits students to bring devices to campus but requires devices to be switched off and stored in a secure place during the school day. "Any personal communication device can be used before and after school . . . But, when they get to the school, they need to be locked in the locker," she said, describing how the policy would work in secondary schools.
The policy’s wording also broadens the covered items to "personal communication devices" — language intended to capture smart watches and other emerging devices that use cellular signals. Administration noted implementation details (for example, locker availability and device management for school‑issued devices) and said additional handbook edits will be presented in August. Trustees were encouraged to review the redlined policy language and submit questions before the next reading.
This item was a first reading only; the board did not adopt final policy language at the June meeting.
