Board gives first reading to state-required policies on student devices and student board members

The Cornwall Central School District Board of Education gave first readings July 14 to two new policies the state required by late summer: a policy on students’ personal electronic devices and a policy creating an ex officio student representative position. Board members said the policies arrived late in the state’s rulemaking and that administrators and legal counsel had worked quickly to prepare draft language. Trustees discussed specific points for revision before adoption, and the board approved the documents as a first reading so the district meets the state deadline. On the personal electronic devices policy, board member Jim Cregan raised a practical point: the draft requires high school students to silence devices and store them in lockers, with exceptions for teacher-authorized educational use. Cregan suggested clarifying classroom implementation — for example, confirming whether a teacher may direct students to use phones for a specific activity and how devices are stored during class. Interim Superintendent Megan Argenio and other administrators said the locker-storage rule provides enforcement clarity while the exception allows teachers to plan ahead for class activities. Trustees agreed to use the policy committee and email between meetings to refine language before a second reading and final adoption. On the ex officio student member policy, trustees discussed selection methods, student voice and duties, and whether the policy should explicitly name committee assignments (for example, visitation committee participation). Several trustees said they would circulate suggested language for the second reading. The board’s clerk and legal counsel had recommended passing the first reading now to comply with state timelines and then revising the policies through the policy committee process. The clerk recorded the first-reading approval; trustees said they would continue committee-level review and proposed edits before final vote.