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Board updates student handbooks to reflect new cell-phone law
Summary
The board approved handbook revisions for 2026–27 to align with Senate Bill 78, extending device rules to personal devices, AI glasses and smartwatches and clarifying progressive consequences for violations.
The Northwest Allen County Schools board approved proposed handbook changes for the 2026–27 school year to reflect Senate Bill 78 and clarify rules on personal devices, including AI glasses and smartwatches.
Dr. Toler said the changes mirror long-standing practice at elementary and middle schools requiring devices to be off and locked away during the school day and that the high school wording has been updated to align with the new law. He described consequences for grades 6–12 as progressive: a first offense is generally a warning with parental notification and students can retrieve devices at the end of the school day; subsequent violations carry escalating discipline.
Dr. Toler told the board the handbook language will be followed by updates to school-board policy; he said he would meet with trustees to schedule those policy revisions for a July meeting.
A board member asked for clarification about the difference between "minor" and "major" device violations. Dr. Toler said "major" violations include videoing in restrooms or recording fights—behavior that may also be a legal violation—and that such behavior has disciplinary consequences beyond the minor, warning-level responses.
The board approved the handbook changes by voice vote.
