As the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year wraps up, Superintendent Tom Oestreich said the school board is already planning policies for next year, primarily the phone ban.

“It is a new law, so we have to follow that law. Right now, we’re awaiting guidance from the Indiana Department of Education on the implementation of students not being able to use cell phones from bell to bell. I also am attending a law seminar to learn more about the specifics and what we can and what we cannot do with regards to student cell phone use during the school day,” Oestreich said. “Certainly, they cannot use it during the school day but there are exceptions. Students that have Individual Education Plans (IEP) and students that have to use their phone for medical reasons like checking their blood sugar will be allowed (to use their phones).”

Junior Matthew Mayberry said he relies on his phone throughout the day to keep in contact with friends and family and worries about the enforcement of the phone ban.

“I use my phone productively in most of my classes. I use it to scan QR codes in class, search things up for clarification or text my parents on what time I’m getting home from school. I think students should be able to access their phones regularly, especially in cases of emergency,” Mayberry said. “I also think it will be a difficult adjustment for a lot of students, especially if they are in classes or programs that previously required phone use, it will be difficult for them to adjust to using their Chromebooks instead.”

Oestreich said he understands the phone ban will be a difficult adjustment for students but hopes to have a test run before the new school year starts.

“One of the things we’re thinking about is that we may do a practice day sometime this semester or before the end of the (current) school year. Not that it would be enforced necessarily, but just as a practice to see how long students could go without checking a cellphone. What I shared with our Superintendent Principal Advisory Council (SPAC) was that I believe our students will meet the expectation,” Oestreich said. “It will take some transition time, no doubt about it, but who I think will have the hardest time with this might be parents. Parents have gotten used to sending messages to their children for all sorts of reasons, so parents might have a harder time adjusting than students.” By Mahitha Konjeti