Starpoint board adopts state-mandated ‘distraction‑free’ device policy; clarifies health and emergency exceptions

STARPOINT, N.Y. — The Starpoint Central School District Board of Education on July 21 adopted Board Policy 73.16 to implement New York State's new distraction‑free schools law, a measure that prohibits students from using internet‑enabled devices on school grounds during the instructional day "bell to bell." The board voted in favor of waiving a second reading and adopting the policy.

Superintendent (name not stated) told the board the district's plan is largely set by the state law, saying "about 95% of our plan is dictated directly by the law," and outlined how Starpoint will apply the restriction across grade levels. "Bell to bell" was described as beginning with homeroom or first period and ending with the last class; at Starpoint students will regain device access after 2:20 p.m. when the instructional day ends.

The policy spells out storage and exceptions. For middle and high school students, devices are to be turned off and kept in lockers; elementary students' devices must be turned off and stored in backpacks. The superintendent said the district will not purchase locking pouches used by some districts. Teachers or principals may authorize device use for specific instructional activities, and the district plans to explore lending a class set of devices when teachers request them.

Health‑related exceptions include medical monitoring (for example, diabetes tracking) and other health management uses. The superintendent said parents will be asked to provide a health‑care provider's statement on a district form to document medical necessity; final approval would rest with the school nurse or school physician for medical cases. The district will treat students who are primary caregivers for children as eligible for an exception if documented. If a device use exception is recorded in an IEP or Section 504 plan, the district will require documentation and final clinical approval.

On emergencies and school safety, Starpoint's school resource officer, identified in the meeting as Deputy Butter, cautioned that widespread student phone use during an incident can overload cellular networks and interfere with emergency response. "The amount of use the cell phones would take taken up the towers, it would probably shut down the system," he said, adding that parents arriving at a scene can impede emergency responders and divert officers to crowd control. The superintendent said staff will provide a designated, private area where students may use phones with teacher or administrator permission in family emergencies.

Discipline for violations will follow progressive procedures the superintendent described as grade‑level specific; the superintendent said the district will not suspend students solely for possessing a device. "If a student keeps doing it over and over ... we're gonna have to look at different ways to do that," he said, and noted the implementation plan includes graduated steps.

The district will publish the policy, the implementation plan and explanatory materials on a central website and will provide translations in the 12 most common non‑English languages as required by the law. The superintendent said the policy must be submitted to the State Education Department by Aug. 1, 2025.

The superintendent also discussed state implementation funding: he said the governor's budget included roughly $13.5 million to $14.5 million for statewide implementation, and that "you boil it down, we get $14,911" for Starpoint (the dollar figure was described in the meeting as the district's allocation). The board did not provide an independent verification of that district figure during the meeting.

Parent and community speakers who addressed the board expressed support for the policy after review. Julie (last name not stated), who identified herself as a parent and co‑PTA president, said she had initial reservations but had concluded after reading the plan and speaking with district leaders that "this is gonna be the best thing for the students." The superintendent said the plan is likely to be adjusted during the year based on feedback from students, staff and families.

The board approved the local policy drawn from the state law and will implement the described storage, documentation and exception procedures. The adopted local policy and the superintendent's presentation note where staff will return with refinements as the year progresses.

Sources: presentation and discussion during the Starpoint Central School District Board of Education meeting, July 21, 2025; public comments delivered during the same meeting.