Blue River Valley board adopts bell-to-bell wireless-device rule required by state law

The Blue River Valley Board of Trustees on July 23 approved a district policy implementing state law that requires personal wireless devices to be powered off and stored during the school day. Administrators told the board the change responds to Senate Enrolled Act 78 and that the district will notify families and enforce the rule with a progressive-discipline schedule.

"It was Senate Enrolled Act 78 that states that personal wireless communication devices are not to be, on students from bell to bell," an administrator said, summarizing the legal mandate and the district's proposed implementation. The presentation listed exceptions for students with documented IEPs or 504 plans, office procedures for contacting students, and graduated consequences the staff recommends (for example: first offense — an hour detention and parent pick-up; second offense — additional detention; subsequent offenses escalating to multiple days of in-school or out-of-school suspension, with final decisions at administrative discretion). The board approved the guidelines by voice vote (motion carries 3–0).

Administrators said the district will distribute family-facing communications and review teacher/administrator procedures during the first days of school. The policy language presented to the board also enumerated prohibited personal devices (cell phones, smartwatches, personal tablets, fitness trackers, AI glasses, wireless headphones and gaming devices) and described accommodations for after-school contact through the main office.