Southern Tioga School District Cell Phone Policy (2026)

Southern Tioga School District enrolled 1,694 students in 2024-25 according to federal data. Its proposed phone policy drew an organized student response in 2026.

Southern Tioga phone rules today

Tioga Publishing reported on July 15, 2026 that administrators introduced a policy in May to make schools phone free from the start through the end of the school day starting in 2026-27; it had not been adopted. Phones would be stored "Away for the Day" in lockers or backpacks, silent and not visible, with no access in bathrooms, and students would use the office phone to reach families. A first offense would bring a verbal warning; a second, confiscation, an office referral, parent notice and the phone kept in a pouch during the day for the rest of the year. Students with documented health conditions could use a device as part of an IEP.

The students' counterproposal

Kyle Early and student board representative Joseph Stitz collected signatures and proposed a one-strike system sending a phone to a lockbox for the rest of the year, teacher-approved educational use for students without infractions, continued lunch use and an online list of revoked privileges, which they said would avoid crowded office phone lines. "We believe that cell phones are a problem, but they can also be a solution," Early said. Board member Kyle Heyler noted the problem of different teachers enforcing differently and that a state ban was coming, and Superintendent Sam Rotella said, "I applaud your effort and your willingness to step up."

What Act 117 requires of Southern Tioga by 2027-28

Gov. Josh Shapiro approved SB 1014 on October 26, 2026. It is Act 117 of 2026, and it took effect that day. The text is Printer's No. 1697 on palegis.us. Every school entity must adopt a bell-to-bell policy by the start of the 2027-28 school year.

Act 117 requires	Southern Tioga today	What changes by 2027-28
No student use for the whole school day, including homeroom, lunch, recess and passing time	Proposed: start to end of day (2026-27)	Aligned with the whole-day rule if adopted; the student plan's lunch use is not.
The board decides how possession is restricted (taking phones is not required)	Locker or backpack; pouch for repeat offenders	Aligned: Act 117 lets boards decide possession.
Required exceptions: documented medical need of the student or an immediate family member, IEP or 504, English learner translation, limited teacher-approved instructional use	Health conditions via IEP	Add family medical, 504 and English learner translation.
Optional: a principal may approve another exception for up to one school day, with notice to the superintendent within 5 days after	Not stated	Teacher use must meet Act 117's three conditions; other exceptions capped at one day.
Written notice each year and on enrollment: a staffed way to reach your child, and how to sign up for emergency notifications	Office phone for families	Written notice each year and on enrollment of a staffed contact method and emergency sign-up.
Tell families, teachers and students about the policy each year; verify to PDE within 5 business days that it is posted online	Proposed policy (not adopted as of July 2026)	Board policy posted, announced each year and verified to PDE.

Where LockedIn fits

Southern Tioga students worried about crowded office phone lines. LockedIn locks students' own phones from an admin dashboard with nothing to collect, so there are no pouches for repeat offenders and no lines at the office, and the rule is the same in every classroom, which addresses the enforcement gap the board raised.

Act 117 has no general student emergency-use exception. The closest tool is the optional principal exception, which is capped at one school day and reported to the superintendent within five days afterward. LockedIn's Emergency Mode unlocks every phone on campus at once, so districts should have counsel review how that fits their emergency procedures and Act 117's exception rules.

Private and independent schools in Blossburg

Act 117's definition of "school entity" includes private schools, approved private schools and nonpublic schools, so Blossburg's private, independent and parochial schools need their own bell-to-bell policy by 2027-28. For those schools, the governing body plays the role the superintendent plays in a district, including receiving notice of any principal-approved exception.

Draft a policy that tracks Act 117's required exceptions and family notices with our policy generator.