Superintendent Douglas told the HORSEHEADS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Board of Education on May 22 that a newly enacted state law prohibits students’ use of internet‑enabled personal devices during the school day and that the New York State Education Department has not provided operational guidance. "The commissioner of education said they will not provide guidance for this law," Douglas said, adding the district has been advised to await the governor’s office for details before finalizing an implementation plan.

Why it matters: the lack of state guidance leaves local districts uncertain about enforcement details such as approved storage and parent‑communication protocols. Douglas said the law requires that internet‑enabled devices be off and stored during the school day but that the district will provide parents, staff and students with options to communicate — for example, by routing calls through the main office or nurse.

The board also reviewed proposed 2025–26 start and dismissal times tied to the district’s redistricting and bus-routing changes. Key preliminary times presented by administration include: the intermediate/middle schools will have building opening times near 7:00 a.m., a middle-school class start near 7:15 a.m. and a middle-school dismissal at about 2:05 p.m.; the high school building will open about 7:20 a.m. with classes starting at 7:35 a.m. and dismissal near 2:35 p.m.; elementary buildings will keep a roughly 8:40 a.m. class start with staff and optional supervised drop‑off earlier in the morning to accommodate working parents. Douglas said the first year will include an ‘‘asterisk’’ window (extra supervisory coverage) to let families adapt and that the district will evaluate usage and adjust in subsequent years.

The board asked administration to publish the times and run additional communications about the cellphone law and start‑time changes. Administration said it will schedule parent and staff information sessions, add guidance to the district website and release detailed morning and after‑school supervision options (including Kids World, the paid before‑care program).

Ending: with no final policy change adopted May 22, the district said it will await state guidance on device enforcement before issuing formal school rules and will publish the provisional start/dismissal schedule so families can plan for the 2025–26 school year.