State 'bell-to-bell' cell phone ban prompts district planning; students raise Chromebook access concerns

Student representatives and trustees discussed implementation of a New York State "bell-to-bell" ban on cell phones and related concerns about student access to district-issued Chromebooks.

A student representative asked the board: "Will more Chromebooks be purchased? Because it it's really bad if a student forgets their device and they can't participate in the instruction that's happening in classrooms." The student also noted a prior initiative that asked students who had personal laptops to return district Chromebooks to the library so devices could be redistributed.

Board members said the district is working on implementation details over the summer and will rely on guidance from state law and local planning. "The 1 thing that I was pleased to see in the governor's mandates and legislation is that no student can be suspended simply for violating the cell phone ban," a trustee said, explaining that suspension would not be an allowable consequence and the district must identify alternative responses.

Trustees said the executive team (Mary Grover and Carrie Burke were named in discussion) had collected community feedback and would continue to develop a draft policy addressing consequences, staff supports, and Chromebook logistics. The board said it is required by the state to have a policy in place by Aug. 1 but was told that the district would be acceptable if something is in place by the start of the school year.

Board members encouraged students to provide specific ideas on device supply and enforcement, including suggestions about returning unused Chromebooks and how to support teachers in enforcing the ban. The district pledged to continue stakeholder engagement and to return with a recommended policy for board consideration.

No final policy was adopted at the meeting; trustees directed the executive team to develop a draft policy and meet with staff and students over the summer.