Shawnee Mission Weighs Phone Ban Update Under Kansas Law, Leaving Storage to 27,000 Students
Updated
Updated · Johnson County Post · Jun 24
Shawnee Mission Weighs Phone Ban Update Under Kansas Law, Leaving Storage to 27,000 Students
1 articles · Updated · Johnson County Post · Jun 24
Summary
Shawnee Mission school board members gave a first reading to a policy aligning with Kansas’ new phone ban, requiring devices to be off and inaccessible during learning hours.
The draft does not call for schools to collect and return phones; instead, students and parents would handle storage, including in locked vehicles, to avoid logistical and financial burdens.
Students who bring phones without a legal exception could have them confiscated and face discipline, though administrators want initial penalties kept relatively light and reviewed after a few months.
The state law overrides Shawnee Mission’s earlier 2025 plan, which would have allowed middle and high school students to access phones during passing periods and set different rules by grade level.
Critics said the approach may leave teachers policing violations and could disadvantage students without cars, while the board is expected to revisit the policy for a later vote.