Goodwell Schools Bans Student Cell Phones During School Hours, Citing SB 139

Goodwell Public Schools has posted a district-level policy that bans student use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices from the first bell to final dismissal each school day, and the district cites compliance with Oklahoma Senate Bill 139 on its News & Announcements page. The single-sentence announcement frames the change as a classroom conduct measure and is now the district’s public statement of policy.

The district announcement states, “Goodwell Public Schools bans student use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices from the first bell to final dismissal, in compliance with Oklahoma Senate Bill 139, to maintain a focused, safe, and respectful learning environment.” That language is the only policy text published on the Goodwell news page excerpt provided; the district did not include the full written policy, a posting date, or an effective date in the material available.

The enrolled text of Senate Bill No. 139 sets the statewide legal framework Goodwell cites. The bill states, “For the 2025-2026 school year, each school district board of education shall adopt a policy prohibiting students from using cell phones and personal electronic devices while on the campus of a public school district from bell to bell.” The bill snippet lists sponsors Seifried and Bergstrom of the Senate and Caldwell, Chad, and Moore of the House, and the enrolled text records that the measure “Passed the Senate the 13th day of March, 2025” and “Passed the House of Representatives the 29th day of April, 2025.”

SB 139 also prescribes that “The policy shall include disciplinary procedures for violations” and allows districts to include limited exceptions, specifically noting, “The policy adopted pursuant to subsection B of this section may provide for exceptions including, but not limited to: 1. Emergency use of cell phones or personal electronic devices by students during the school day; and 2. Use of cell phones or personal electronic devices by students who use them to monitor health issues.” The enrolled bill further states a different timeline for later years: “For the 2026-2027 school year and each school year thereafter, each school district board of education may adopt a policy prohibiting students from using cell phones and personal electronic devices while on the campus of a public school district from bell to bell.”

Available materials do not show the governor’s signature or the date of approval, as the enrolled bill excerpt includes blank placeholders for Office of the Governor receipt and approval. Goodwell’s announcement likewise omits the district’s disciplinary procedures, whether the district will expressly adopt the emergency and health exceptions listed in SB 139, and whether a board resolution or meeting minute formally adopted the policy.

The Goodwell News & Announcements page that carries the cell-phone statement also lists other items appearing alongside the notice, including December Breakfast and Lunch Menu, Thanksgiving Break, Yarbrough JH Basketball Tournament, Coats For Kids with thanks to the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and the Texas County Farm Bureau, No School-Labor Day, School Starts August 14th, 2025-2026 Supply List, Goodwell Pre-K Enrollment, and a 4H April Newsletter entry with RSS Feed pagination.

Parents, staff, and community members seeking the full policy text, the district’s disciplinary procedures, any formal board action and the effective date will need to consult Goodwell Public Schools directly or watch the district’s News & Announcements page for the district to publish those documents and details. Until the district posts the complete policy and enforcement guidance, the single-sentence announcement is the district’s public position on a bell-to-bell phone ban tied to SB 139.