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Board adopts policy implementing new "bell to bell" restriction on personal devices
Summary
The Shawnee Board approved Board Policy FNG, aligning district rules with a recently passed state "bell to bell" requirement and specifying in-school exemptions for emergencies and documented medical needs; secondary students will scan IDs on buses, the superintendent said.
The Board of Education of Independent School District No. 93 approved Shawnee Board Policy FNG: Wireless Personal Devices on June 30, 2025, adopting district rules to implement a recently passed state "bell to bell" restriction on personal electronic devices during the instructional day. Superintendent Dr. James told the board that the Legislature passed a mandatory "bell to bell", no cell phone law and that the district policy treats personal electronic devices — including devices with Wi‑Fi or cellular capability and wearable devices — as prohibited during instructional time.
Dr. James said there will be exemptions: "If there is an emergency, with an example being, that if the school goes on lockdown, the policy is lifted so the student can communicate with their parent," and medical needs documented in an IEP or 504 will also be exempt. He also said secondary students will use IDs "to scan on and scan off the busses," and credited Jackie Noble and her team of principals for producing a best-practice guide. The board approved the policy on a motion by Casey White, seconded by Mandy Hillhouse; the vote was recorded as Yes: 5, No: 0, Absent: 2.
The policy applies only during the instructional day and the transcript states that parents will determine the start and end time for the school their student attends. The board did not specify implementing dates in the recorded motion; the policy is identified in the minutes as FNG: Wireless Personal Devices.
