MSD Pike Township to require students to store phones and similar devices during school day under SB78 rules

The Metropolitan School District (MSD) of Pike Township moved toward a storage‑first approach for student personal communication devices as staff walked the board through policy 5136, the district’s local implementation of Indiana’s SB78.

Staff told the board the policy treats smartwatches and smart glasses as personal communication devices only when they are connected to a cellular network, a cell tower, or the internet; if a device can access Wi‑Fi it would count as a PCD under the draft. Dr. Reed, who led the review, said medical devices and communication supports required by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan would remain permitted with documentation in the student file.

Board members debated two statutory models: Option A, which would ban devices during the school day, and Option B, the storage model. The board agreed with staff that Option B best fits the district’s operational realities. Under the storage model, elementary students would keep devices in classroom cubbies; middle‑schoolers would store them in lockers (backpacks are not allowed there); and high‑school students would be allowed to keep devices in lockers or backpacks because of building layout and passing‑time constraints. The board also endorsed allowing device use during after‑school activities and on buses at the discretion of sponsors, coaches or bus operators.

The board discussed enforcement carefully. Members were wary of placing the burden on classroom teachers to confiscate devices and create confrontations, so they favored giving administrators discretion to handle refusals and escalations. The board opted for flexible, non‑tiered consequences (from redirection to office referrals and temporary confiscation) rather than a strict first/second/third‑offense ladder, and agreed that confiscated devices should generally be released to students at the end of the school day while parents are notified; in more serious cases administrators may direct deletion of audio or images in the parents’ presence.

Staff noted the policy’s timeline: districts have until July 1, 2028, to ensure students are using district‑issued devices. The board asked staff to accelerate Chromebook and device distribution where possible so families will not need to provide laptops for classroom work. Staff outlined a communications campaign — multiple ParentSquare messages in June and July, prominent website links, signage and a “Power Down for Education” campaign in school lobbies and daily announcements — to prepare families and students.

Next steps: staff will update the written policy text to reflect the board’s choices (storage model, medical and IEP/504 exceptions, bus and extracurricular discretion, flexible enforcement), add administrative guidelines for transportation staff and principals, and include the consequences language in the student/parent handbook and on the district website before the first reading in the June packet.

Quote: “Smartwatches are not considered personal communication devices unless connected to a cellular telephone, a cell tower, or the internet,” Dr. Reed said while reviewing the statutory language, and added that medical and IEP exceptions would be clearly documented in student files.

The board did not take a formal vote during the discussion; staff will bring the drafted policy language and administrative guidelines back as a first reading in the June packet.