Henning School Board adopts cell-phone ban for students
News | Published on August 1, 2026 at 2:24pm EDT | Author: Chad Koenen
0Bell-to-bell ban does not apply to staff
By Chad Koenen
Publisher
The Henning School District will no longer allow students to access personal electronic devices, including cell phones, during the school day.
During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the Henning School Board approved a new personal electronic device policy, as well as changes to the student handbook regarding everything from cell phones to smart watches.
According to the new policy, students are prohibited from using personal electronic communication devices on school premises from 8:10 a.m. to 3:12 p.m., which not only includes instructional time, but second chance breakfast, passing time between class periods and even open lunch periods when students are no longer on campus. Students also cannot bring the devices to school-sponsored programs like events or activities on or off campus during the school day.
The policy states all devices must be stored in a secure place like a student’s locker, a closed backpack, a storage device provided by the school or the principal’s office and powered off. Devices can also be stored in a vehicle on school property.
There are medical exceptions that have been built into the policy, but students caught with devices in their possession during the hours of 8:10 a.m. to 3:12 p.m. will have the devices confiscated by administration.
Though discussion has been had in the past about staff members and their use of personal electronic devices during the school day the student handbook only addresses student usage of the devices.
Following the meeting, Henning School Superintendent Melissa Sparks said staff members are expected to model the cell phone ban policy.
However, there is nothing in the new personal electronic device policy explicitly banning the devices from use by staff members.
In addition to banning cell phones, the school board approved additional language in terms of attendance. Moving forward, if a student attends a state tournament as a spectator, and is not there as a participant or practice partner, their absences will now be coded as a Parent Excuse and will count towards their maximum of six in a semester. The policy also states a parent will be allowed to excuse an additional three days of absence beyond the parent maximum of six days in a semester for a vacation/trip. Communication is required to be at least a week in advance with the principal’s office and the three days will be counted towards the overall maximum of 10 days absent total in various categories.
In other news
• Approved the milk bids for the 2026-27 school year to Stony Creek Dairy at a cost of $34,474,67. The school board received just one other bid for milk at a cost of $48,806.
• Approved the hiring of Bill Klaers as the ag teacher for the fall semester, as well as the FFA advisor for the fall semester.
• Approved the hiring of Jayma Lawson as the ag teacher, as well as the FFA advisor for the spring semester upon successful completion of her student teaching and obtaining her teaching license.
• Accepted the resignation of Logan Aaron as FFA advisor for the 2026-27 school year.
• Accepted the resignation of Brendan Hart as half time bus driver for the 2026-27 school year.
• Approved a joint collaboration with the City of Henning to pursue a COPS grant. The federal grant could cover the cost of 75 percent of a full-time police officer’s position that could enhance the security and mentorship within the school building and the community.
• Approved setting a special board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss a potential operating referendum question on the November 3 ballot.
• Approved a 2.45 percent salary increase for the head building grounds and transportation director, as well as assistant business manager for each the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school year.