Monroe County school board adopts state-mandated 'bell-to-bell' wireless-device policy after debate over equity and enforcement

The Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) Board of School Trustees voted June 23 to adopt Policy 5136, a districtwide "bell-to-bell" policy that requires students to power off and store personal wireless communication devices during the school day to comply with Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 78, which takes effect July 1.

Alexis Harmon, who presented the policy, said the district favored a storage approach required under the law and had sought community input. "We had 424 responses. Eighty-two percent of them preferred the storage approach," Harmon said, describing administrative guidance that will designate consistent storage locations by school level (lockers, classroom pouches or secured backpacks) and require devices be powered off and inaccessible during school.

Harmon outlined exemptions the law allows and the district will document: IEP or 504 accommodations, documented medical uses, use of school-issued internet-connected devices for instruction, and access during emergencies when authorized by administration. She described the administration's intent to train principals and teachers on consistent implementation and recommended developmentally appropriate discipline tiers, beginning with a warning and confiscation for a first offense.

Public commenter Susan Allenwood told the board she supports parents' ability to contact children during drills and emergencies, saying parents often "contact our kids, check in, make sure that they're okay." She also cited a tally of school shootings she said dated to 1999.

Several trustees voiced concerns about enforcement and unintended consequences. Board member April said she worried about "inconsistent application" across buildings and the potential for inequitable disciplinary outcomes depending on how storage is implemented. Several trustees also criticized the state mandate as imposing additional administrative work without new resources.

Board members asked the administration to monitor implementation and report data on discipline and disparities. Harmon agreed: the district will provide guidance in administrative regulations and training and said the administration could provide quarterly updates on disciplinary data.

The motion to adopt Policy 5136 passed by voice vote; the record shows at least one trustee voted against the measure. Trustees said they were approving the policy primarily to remain in compliance with state law while seeking to minimize the burden on staff and prevent inconsistent discipline.

The board directed staff to finalize administrative procedures for storage, exemptions and training before the start of the 2026–27 school year and to return with monitoring data after implementation.