Spring Valley to ban internet‑enabled devices in schools starting first day of classes

The Spring Valley Board of Education heard a district update Wednesday confirming a districtwide prohibition on internet‑enabled devices during the school day, starting the first day of classes. District administrators said the policy prohibits use of internet‑enabled devices from the beginning to the end of the school day; devices may be carried but must be silenced and kept out of view. The interim superintendent said students will receive one warning per year; after one warning a student may be required to submit the device for storage with the principal (elementary) or principal/teacher (secondary/elementary practices vary by building). The board was told principals have been contacted and that building leaders are preparing plans appropriate to each school’s locker availability and facility layout. The meeting noted that some buildings will provide lockers or “cell phone cubbies” to store devices; other buildings will set building‑specific procedures because not all buildings have lockers for every student. Why it matters: the policy affects how students and staff manage communications and devices during instruction, and it requires consistent building‑level implementation to avoid confusion at the start of the year. District staff said principals and union leadership have already been informed; Mr. Kravitz, a district staff member who led parts of staff orientation, was cited as having shared the policy with union leadership. A district representative said Pomona Middle School had asked families at orientation to bring students early on certain days so staff could print temporary bus passes and prepare for the new procedures. Discussion vs. decision: this report was presented as an operational implementation of an already adopted policy; the board did not take additional formal action on the policy at the meeting. What to watch: parents and staff will seek clarity on enforcement details, locker or storage availability, and any accommodations for students with special needs.