Union School District Cell Phone Policy (2026)

Union School District in Clarion County enrolled 503 students in 2024-25 according to federal data. It launched Yondr pouches in 2026-27.

Union phone rules today

The Leader-Vindicator reported on November 26, 2025 that the board approved buying about 350 Yondr pouches. "We're still seeing kids on phones," High School Principal Andrew Carlson said. "We're to the point we need to make sure kids are learning, paying attention." The board approved handbook changes on July 16, 2026, and the district's letter to families says that from the first day of 2026-27, students lock phones, smartwatches and earbuds in their assigned pouch on arrival, keep it in a backpack or locker, and unlock it at stations at dismissal.

Exceptions and contact

Families seeking a medical exception had to send documentation to the school nurse by August 15, 2026. Parents reach students through the high school office. Carlson said that in a true emergency students can force the pouches open, and Superintendent John Kimmel said most parents surveyed favored limits but some wanted access after school for activities: "The Yondr bags would do both as they would only limit access during the school day." Damaged pouches carry a $30 replacement fee.

What Act 117 requires of Union 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	Union today	What changes by 2027-28
No student use for the whole school day, including homeroom, lunch, recess and passing time	Arrival to dismissal (2026-27)	Aligned with the whole-day rule.
The board decides how possession is restricted (taking phones is not required)	Yondr pouches	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	Medical, with documentation	Add family medical, IEP/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	High school office	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	Handbook changes (July 16, 2026)	Board policy posted, announced each year and verified to PDE.

Where LockedIn fits

Union charges $30 for a damaged pouch and relies on breaking magnets in an emergency. LockedIn locks students' own phones from an admin dashboard with nothing to collect, so there is nothing to damage, and Emergency Mode unlocks every phone on campus at once, subject to counsel review.

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 Rimersburg

Act 117's definition of "school entity" includes private schools, approved private schools and nonpublic schools, so Rimersburg'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.