[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6709610,"mediaKeyId","5334420-2e45099e97e34e1aced6c1ad553322fa","parentId",5334420,"title","Sewanhaka board advances cell-phone ban policy to second review after parent support and questions about enforcement","audioSeconds",803,"startMs",870585,"endMs",1674050,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334420-2e45099e97e34e1aced6c1ad553322fa&start=870&end=1674","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334420-2e45099e97e34e1aced6c1ad553322fa/thumbnail_870585.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6709610/New-York/Sewanhaka-board-advances-cell-phone-ban-policy-to-second-review-after-parent-support-and-questions-about-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709610-bf2fdeafccfab0f5684c424bcb49b873/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162877&Signature=ene9n3L~F-Qn-MXMlwBDtS8Dsl2XdPmrASeMOtB8f-iKYxKNmjY6H-bM05AWQxRFlNJCID9DTlPS8OpicM3L5n8Z4q83sczYeRsJCJlxmO8A2uAkQk0snI2zUx~5BPHfE-CfWKq3gjU7-ohJe~LJap78P1BoA3eAxqUDLWq8OhcG5EPi~5vhgDawLF0PEvOInT8yrilzlsxcPPWK-IS35oonTDD9CD6xJV5o2wLKoLO~exuI-HC3W1UBGljSI7FQkqX8xJJvkTVNmiynQ5JXVLnGeS3gB5Y6l3Kzk4g1-xl2UWvvctau1ExwCtVfIf2CLTIEC~0X3bdZEJhezZ3Kxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sewanhaka CSHD","date","2025-07-09T01:42:22.867Z","article","The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education discussed the proposed student use-of-personal-electronic-devices policy at its July 8 meeting, heard multiple public commenters in support of a school-day phone ban, and continued the policy on second review rather than taking final action.

The draft policy would require students to secure cell phones in lockers for the school day, with limited exceptions for seniors leaving campus for lunch and students participating in off-campus CTE programs or field trips. Board members and the superintendent said implementation will include student assemblies and staff training to encourage compliance; the policy was listed on the agenda for second review and no vote to adopt the policy occurred that night.

Public comments were strongly in favor of the ban. Speaker Miss Alfonsi, identified as a Floral Park parent, told the board she had polled dozens of students and said, “Dozens of kids from 12 to 18, every single one of them realizes there's a big problem,” arguing that phones introduce “equally dangerous threats to children's health.” Makayla Beeman, an Elmont parent, thanked the board for calendar changes and urged the board to follow through on athletics-related disciplinary steps and referee training previously discussed during a town-hall process.

Superintendent Grusza acknowledged the policy will require a phased implementation and cooperation across stakeholders. “The implementation of this policy will take time and a dedicated and committed effort by all stakeholders,” the superintendent said, adding the district will hold assemblies the first week of school to explain expectations and will provide access to telephones in emergencies.

Board members noted the district will monitor implementation and revisit the policy as needed. Trustees said middle-school students may transition more quickly than older students and that administration will provide follow-up reports to the board on where the policy succeeds and where additional supports are needed.

The board did not adopt the policy at the July meeting; it remains a second‑review item on a future agenda. Several parents and trustees asked for patience and collaboration during rollout and for the district to monitor and report on early implementation challenges.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sewanhaka CHSD Board of Education Board Meeting 7/08/25 @ 8pm","oneSentenceSummary","The Sewanhaka Central High School District’s draft student personal-device policy, which would require students to store phones in lockers during the school day, was the subject of extensive board discussion and public comment at the July 8 meeting; the policy remained on second review and no final vote was taken.","taxTitle","SEWANHAKA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",66402,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6709614,"Sewanhaka board swears in trustees, elects officers and approves contracts, calendar and capital work",2426,1761,2427871,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334420-2e45099e97e34e1aced6c1ad553322fa&start=1&end=2427","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334420-2e45099e97e34e1aced6c1ad553322fa/thumbnail_1761.jpg","/articles/6709614/New-York/Sewanhaka-board-swears-in-trustees-elects-officers-and-approves-contracts-calendar-and-capital-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709614-519a46b28d83e42348109908fde8841d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162877&Signature=IGOXIQF7OAVlfO9676u4aaSHxIGX4M-~8CTNVIpdDmnvHBe-raMXu4aXtyIOmzVZvCO9v-RKb8RqeQKqAmHzhy25OG3XdSE8XGstCW-Z6FexnMsOB5SgJEc5oxqvMTuKf6pCNV1f4ilhbynIbmPgrngTtmp4bXIC4BpRtG7dKjCGwwAk-uPHO~5WknOK-PBr4rXZ7V96n-rkCV8jKqrQZi42Lw~Le693iyMtyTAd87Dmq1ZoXXF~4Sca1q4Uh0F5xgRpO8doAoYh2n7OzGndljh57PvYKRAYNiVeVpJvP0cs3ltfRava2GU~KO7~Mx5NV26RN3j73Jk8N~Axe9i9TQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trustees were sworn in and board officers were elected at the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education reorganizational meeting on July 8, 2025, and the board approved a slate of routine and calendar items, a contract for graduation ceremonies and multiple capital-project authorizations.

The board swore in representatives from member districts and appointed Joanne Murnane as district clerk before electing a board president and vice president. The board then moved from its organizational session into the regular meeting and approved consent-agenda items across administrative, curricular, finance, personnel, civil-service and support-services categories.

The routine approvals included authorization for the district to enter into a contract with Hofstra University for graduation ceremonies set for June 27–28, 2026; approval of a professional membership agreement with SCOPE Education Services; and final approvals tied to New York State Education approvals that permit the start of restroom renovations and a new press box at Elmont High School. The board also approved revisions to the 2025–26 school calendar, including replacing the Nov. 4 parent-teacher conference day with a back-to-school night on Sept. 18 and closing school May 27 in recognition of Eid al-Adha while adding Dec. 23 as a regular school day.

Superintendent remarks during the meeting highlighted recent graduate outcomes and summer programs. The superintendent reported that 1,387 students graduated across the district’s five high schools, 97 percent of graduates received a Regents diploma, about 70 percent planned to attend four-year colleges and 99 percent of the class graduated. Summer programs noted included an extended school year program at New Hyde Park serving about 75 students, a student enrichment program for incoming seventh graders with more than 500 participants, and summer school at Elmont Memorial with roughly 200 students preparing for Regents exams.

The board also received an update that New York State Education approval cleared the 2024–25 capital projects for Elmont — work on boys’ and girls’ restrooms and the Elmont press box began July 7, 2025 — and that remaining items tied to the 2021–22 Capital Reserve Fund remain scheduled for completion this summer. The administration said it plans a red‑ribbon cutting and a public ceremony when work is finished.

On the legal agenda, the board reappointed Nicholas Marra as treasurer and authorized the posting of the district safety plan for 30 days on the district website ahead of an August public hearing. The board also moved forward with several policy reviews that are on second review or for annual administrative review, including the student code of conduct and the student use-of-personal-electronic-devices policy, which remains under consideration.

The meeting included several motions carried by voice vote. Where abstentions were recorded, the board noted two abstentions on the administrative recommendations motion (Miss Capers and Miss Battle) and two abstentions on minutes approval.

Board business concluded with the board announcing its next meeting on Aug. 26, 2025, and adjourning.

","At its July 8 reorganizational meeting the Sewanhaka Central High School District board sworn in newly appointed and elected trustees, elected board officers, approved multiple consent-agenda items including a Hofstra contract for 2026 graduations and revisions to the 2025–26 school calendar, and authorized posting the district safety plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sewanhaka board advances cell-phone ban policy to second review after parent support and questions about enforcement

Sewanhaka board swears in trustees, elects officers and approves contracts, calendar and capital work