[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6221462,"mediaKeyId","3613814-59cf9a11502a728cd077c68b66e004d9","parentId",3613814,"title","District survey finds families rely on WITS, want emails and websites rather than meetings; many unaware of strategic plan details","audioSeconds",424,"startMs",2922000,"endMs",3346000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3613814-59cf9a11502a728cd077c68b66e004d9&start=2922&end=3346","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3613814-59cf9a11502a728cd077c68b66e004d9/thumbnail_2922000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221462/New-York/District-survey-finds-families-rely-on-WITS-want-emails-and-websites-rather-than-meetings-many-unaware-of-strategic-plan-details","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221462-17ef7e01d12e9b1b35e8b50211e5a543/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171589&Signature=C0pi5SFvLZMHIdhj42KwZnVBBA7KrQGsOUhygPWEEMxRLK0r51ME~g9JwCdQbF8vtcNF5G55nJuhSqWEiG26pt6yCB8bosOF5TStVceyZkdj1EevGHcvqulOmgT5txzR6puwmvj2t~esG7ifDwuIm~9zb7Hio8e4VzzCvGyt3S0xZnDH9zO7kERCvcixzf8fjPOpquHgjOUW6qh0y8RIGPwFFrkhi612U1Wrfy5KHZrSeLuuskbBA1wv~HLSGsRvVizWIixzt6FGjYu82hzEZaOaom2yykpbLkIyLYhFHASZpfBgF7AnPDL7zmU53fEF-W10MNUPikNjrKnRX0Qp3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-28T00:54:22Z","article","Caroline Taggart of Via Evaluation presented three parent/family surveys the district administered this spring to gauge awareness of district communications, the strategic plan and the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) plan. Taggart told the Board the surveys were sent to randomly selected heads of household representing about 60% of the district’s households; response rates ranged from 13% to 18% across the surveys.

Taggart said the communications survey had a 13% response rate and found most respondents feel district and school communications keep them \"very\" or \"somewhat\" informed. WITS emerged as the most‑used communication channel, followed by district and school websites and newsletters; social media and meetings were less used for obtaining district information. Taggart said the district’s new mobile app has been downloaded by over half of respondents and that among those who use it, two‑thirds engage with it.

On the strategic plan survey (15% response rate), Taggart said 72% of respondents were aware the district has a strategic plan but only about 11% said they knew what was in it. Among respondents who wanted more information, the overwhelming preferred method was a dedicated email or newsletter and then the district website or mobile app; attending meetings or town halls ranked low. Taggart emphasized the small number of respondents who reported knowing the plan’s contents — she said only 17 people answered some of the deeper satisfaction questions — and cautioned the board to interpret those subresults with care because of very small sample sizes.

The DEI plan survey had the highest response rate (18%). Taggart said 80% of respondents were aware the district had a DEI plan and that respondents expressed higher familiarity with the plan’s details than with the strategic plan. Satisfaction was modestly higher for the DEI plan; however, Taggart said many respondents still selected \"I don’t know\" when asked how much progress had been made toward DEI goals. As with the strategic plan, respondents preferred written communications (dedicated emails/newsletters and website) over meetings for learning more.

Taggart described the sampling method: the district provided about 6,100 head‑of‑household email addresses; Via Evaluation randomly selected three groups (each about 20% of the list) so roughly 60% of households received one of the three surveys. Taggart said she used anonymous email collectors so she could send targeted reminders without being able to link responses back to individual respondents. She noted that response rates for parent/family surveys vary widely across districts and that parent surveys are among the hardest to get high participation for. \"This is not great,\" she said of a 13% response rate, adding that \"parent and family surveys in schools and districts are the hardest to get responses.\"

Board members raised clarification and next‑step questions. Vice President Maureen Poulin and board member Mark Manna noted the high percentages of respondents who said they felt informed and praised district communications; others asked how the district defines a head of household and whether the district might use incentives or alternate outreach to boost response rates. Taggart noted some private vendors use incentives but said the district must consider public‑fund restrictions on gifts. Taggart recommended written, on‑demand communications because survey respondents said they prefer to \"stay informed on their own schedules.\"

No action was taken; Taggart encouraged the board and community to review the full reports and open‑ended responses posted in the board documents for more detail.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 27, 2025 - Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Via Evaluation presented results from three parent/family surveys showing that families most often use the district’s WITS system, websites and newsletters for information, prefer dedicated emails to learn about plans, and that awareness of the district strategic plan and DEI plan is limited in depth despite moderate awareness levels.","taxTitle","WILLIAMSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",13432,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6221467,"Williamsville committee proposes full school‑day ban on personal internet devices; 30‑day public comment set",2479,5768000,8247000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3613814-59cf9a11502a728cd077c68b66e004d9&start=5768&end=8247","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3613814-59cf9a11502a728cd077c68b66e004d9/thumbnail_5768000.jpg","/articles/6221467/New-York/Williamsville-committee-proposes-full-schoolday-ban-on-personal-internet-devices-30day-public-comment-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221467-a385ecf961ad802a8c81d2ff49c1b276/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171589&Signature=V-fqI5tSaUcBLNhYj3Gg8veT9KbUFZwlLckUV2Aa6Fj5mEd2MsG~kNfhFZJ-429kap-YL-9ZiUy1fZgoSSxAHjp6-kfzgKaYCvUdF4Xul824-vVcGXT7UCYV5nPe5LHjfaMlDJ0RuUzFFTYw~jIiy0idFa-Ps~h4w2QuM6O0~kWZG0paINrdtgbzPnE7ixQBl5x8euCYhpVEhayc-UM3Tc3xkYKIe2j~rg0WJncHHfPU9BWGiF7TRFR7J5GvQ0T4DVMwrKw3cuKHpZxnvGoZag9hIs7mdtM-1uwvWmjIAFB06TXPCBVThrco9LfxLkAiI883BExMzfoAyFTJXlRGwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Williamsville Central School District presented a proposed \"distraction‑free school zones\" policy that would prohibit student use of personal internet‑enabled devices during the full school day, require storage procedures for different grade spans and set a timeline for public comment and implementation. Principal Andrew Bowen, who chaired the district committee that drafted the proposal, said the committee’s recommendation is a response to concerns about phones’ effects on attention and student mental health and to requirements from state executive guidance.

The proposal calls for a full school‑day ban, \"bell to bell,\" on personal internet‑enabled devices and associated headphones or headsets unless use is explicitly authorized by a teacher for a specific educational purpose. Bowen told the board that elementary students who bring devices would be required to keep them turned off in backpacks; middle and high school students would be expected to store devices in lockers and keep them locked for the day. \"Our students said, ‘if it's on me, if it's in my book bag, if it's in my pocket, I'm going to use it,'\" Bowen said, and the committee used that feedback to recommend lockers for older students.

The committee included staff, parents and two student members; Bowen said student input influenced the recommendation. He cited national research and commentary, including references to The Anxious Generation and Pew Research Center data, to explain the committee’s rationale. Bowen also described specific exceptions the draft policy would allow: teacher‑authorized instructional use, health‑care needs documented in an individualized health plan (for example, diabetes monitoring), emergency situations that require parent contact (with the caveat that in a lockdown students should follow staff directions), translation services for English learners, case‑by‑case caregiver‑responsibilities exceptions, accommodations required by law, and individualized allowances in IEP or Section 504 plans.

On enforcement, the draft recommends progressive consequences: first offense — device confiscated, parent notified, student warning and device returned to student at the end of the school day; second offense — device returned to parent or guardian; third and subsequent offenses — continued confiscation with additional school consequences. Bowen said refusal to surrender a device when asked would be treated as insubordination and could result at the middle and high school level in a day of in‑school suspension for the refusal, not for the device use itself. The committee discussed, and recommended reserving tools such as Yondr pouches as a tier‑two intervention rather than initial, universal equipment.

On logistics, Bowen said the committee considered locker access and mechanical issues: a student survey conducted by a student committee member found roughly one‑third of students knew their locker and combination, one‑third did not, and one‑third were uncertain; the district will include locker orientation in the start‑of‑year program. The draft also outlines parent contact methods (parents call main office or rely on classroom phones, and parents may enable certain district features if desired), and communication plans for families, students and staff, including summer outreach, classroom lessons and teacher training before school begins.

The board did not vote on the policy at the meeting. Bowen said the draft is posted for a 30‑day public comment period on the district website; the committee will reconvene June 25 to review feedback, the district must post the final policy by Aug. 1 in the district’s 12 most‑spoken languages, and the policy must be implemented by Sept. 1. Bowen also noted that the legislation requires annual public reporting on enforcement, including demographic breakdowns.

Board members questioned logistics and enforcement. Board member and teacher Mr. Stewart Buellen said the change ‘‘puts a ton on the teacher’s plate’’ and raised concerns about classroom enforcement dynamics; Bowen responded that consistent, districtwide training and unified expectations are key. Board member Dr. Spicer asked about locker mechanics and CSE/IEP reviews for accommodations; Bowen said families should request reviews with case managers and the district will create a procedure for individualized considerations. Board member Mr. Frank Biscalia raised concerns about severe withdrawal or addiction‑like responses and urged planning for students who may need support; Bowen said the committee discussed replacement activities (for example, board games in cafeterias) and emphasized the need for supports during the culture shift. Vice President Maureen Poulin and several other board members praised the committee’s work and said one year of implementation will require review.

No formal board action was taken at the meeting; the item will return to the board process after the public comment period and the committee review.","A district committee led by North High principal Andrew Bowen recommended a bell‑to‑bell ban on students’ personal internet‑enabled devices, with lockers required for secondary students, a list of exceptions, progressive discipline and a 30‑day public comment period before a final policy is posted and implemented this fall.","actionData","errors"]

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District survey finds families rely on WITS, want emails and websites rather than meetings; many unaware of strategic plan details

Williamsville committee proposes full school‑day ban on personal internet devices; 30‑day public comment set