RCS committee advances personal-communication-device drafts, favors storage option and prepares enforcement guidance
June 03, 2026 | Richmond Community Schools, School Boards, Indiana
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The Richmond Community Schools policy committee advanced draft policies addressing personal communication devices after staff described a state law change that narrows teacher discretion and restricts on-campus device use during the instructional day.
Staff described two broad approaches required by the law: an outright ban on personal devices during the instructional day, or a storage policy (Option B) that allows devices on property but requires them to be powered off and stowed (for example, in lockers or backpacks). Several committee members said Option B was more pragmatic, noting parents’ need to contact students after school and transportation situations such as extracurriculars or practice.
The committee discussed key exceptions staff recommended keeping: medical devices, IEP and 504 accommodations, and narrowly defined instructional devices provided by the district. Staff also recommended the district supply devices for instructional use rather than rely on a bring-your-own-device approach; members agreed that fees, if charged for outside participants, should be based on actual district costs.
Members debated technical edge cases — for example, whether smartwatches connected to a phone or cellular network should be treated as personal communication devices — and asked staff to keep statutory-consistent language. Staff advised developing administrative guidelines to define enforcement procedures so principals are not boxed into rigid responses and to align enforcement with building handbooks.
On specific operational items, the committee endorsed allowing device use while students travel on district buses so parents can text en route, and recommended that staff return with clear draft language, redlines and administrative guidance. Because the law imposes a tight timeline, staff said they would target policy adoption and accompanying AGs by mid-July to ensure implementation before school starts.
What happens next: the committee moved the device-policy drafts (5136 and related 5136.01) to first reading and asked staff to prepare final drafts and administrative guidelines for enforcement and special-device categories.
Staff described two broad approaches required by the law: an outright ban on personal devices during the instructional day, or a storage policy (Option B) that allows devices on property but requires them to be powered off and stowed (for example, in lockers or backpacks). Several committee members said Option B was more pragmatic, noting parents’ need to contact students after school and transportation situations such as extracurriculars or practice.
The committee discussed key exceptions staff recommended keeping: medical devices, IEP and 504 accommodations, and narrowly defined instructional devices provided by the district. Staff also recommended the district supply devices for instructional use rather than rely on a bring-your-own-device approach; members agreed that fees, if charged for outside participants, should be based on actual district costs.
Members debated technical edge cases — for example, whether smartwatches connected to a phone or cellular network should be treated as personal communication devices — and asked staff to keep statutory-consistent language. Staff advised developing administrative guidelines to define enforcement procedures so principals are not boxed into rigid responses and to align enforcement with building handbooks.
On specific operational items, the committee endorsed allowing device use while students travel on district buses so parents can text en route, and recommended that staff return with clear draft language, redlines and administrative guidance. Because the law imposes a tight timeline, staff said they would target policy adoption and accompanying AGs by mid-July to ensure implementation before school starts.
What happens next: the committee moved the device-policy drafts (5136 and related 5136.01) to first reading and asked staff to prepare final drafts and administrative guidelines for enforcement and special-device categories.
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