District reviews safety plan, prepares for state-mandated student cell phone restrictions

Superintendent Douglas R. Scofield told the Iroquois Central School District Board of Education the district has an updated districtwide safety plan and is preparing to implement a state-mandated policy limiting student use of Internet-connected devices when the new school year begins.

"Plans are confidential. So, therefore, they're not subject to disclosure," Scofield said, describing how safety procedures are tiered by role and why some operational details are withheld from public materials. He explained that building principals, school resource officers and local law enforcement coordinate on drills and emergency response and that prior changes required by state guidance have already been incorporated.

Board members raised questions about parent communication and how families can be assured they will be notified in an emergency even if students cannot use personal devices. Scofield said parents will be notified through district communications and building principals, and he urged reliance on trusted adults in the building for immediate student support: "If they're being bullied right away, they should go to a trusted adult in the building much faster than calling a parent," Scofield said.

The meeting also addressed the state law and budget changes that prompted the district policy. A board member summarized the situation: the rule was inserted at the state level and limits local discretion on device rules. The board noted a significant operational constraint in the law: while districts implement restrictions on use, the law also limits punishment for mere device possession; administrators can, however, address insubordination when a student refuses to comply with a directive to stow a device.

Student board member Lucia Donato spoke about how the rule could affect students differently. "I think it is different for every kid because some people probably, like, communication to their parent isn't, like, the first thing," she said, describing varied student responses and the difficulty of enforcement at different grade levels.

Trustees directed administration to prepare communication materials and a district FAQ for parents and staff, and to work with building principals to develop consistent practices while allowing limited, documented exceptions (for health needs, for example). Board members emphasized the need for a living document that can be updated as the district tests enforcement practices in the weeks after school opens.

No formal vote was required; the discussion identified next steps for staff: provide districtwide communication before school starts, publish an FAQ explaining common questions and exceptions, and coordinate building-level procedures that align with the state requirement and district expectations.