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Iroquois board discusses new state cellphone rules; parents and board urge workable local procedures
Summary
Board members and a public commenter debated a New York State law requiring restrictions on "internet-enabled" devices in school. Topics included lockers vs. pouches, medical exceptions, funding for equipment, and an August 1 implementation deadline.
Trustees of the Iroquois Central School District discussed implementation of a recently enacted New York State requirement that limits use of internet-enabled devices during the school day.
A public commenter urged the board to avoid blanket restrictions that would cut students off from emergency contact with family. The commenter suggested classroom "bins" or individual bins for students to store phones, and said the policy draft showed inconsistent language on discretion and enforcement. "I'll be damned if I'm gonna have government or school dictate when my child can have a lifeline to me in an emergency," the speaker said, adding concern that the draft used "may" rather than "shall" in places and that enforcement might be uneven.
Board members and district administrators said the law requires the district to adopt a policy and that some existing local practice — middle-school rules keeping phones out of students' hands during class by having them stored in lockers — already aligns with the new requirement. Administrators said the district must have a policy in place by August 1 and that the law limits local flexibility in some respects.
Trustees and staff discussed options used in other districts, including classroom pouches with keys and locked bins, and noted trade-offs: pouches can create operational difficulties (finding keys during an emergency), while locker storage can lead to increased hallway or bathroom movement. One board member reported ECASB (Erie County Association of School Boards) and many districts opposed mandatory statewide rules and argued for local control; administrators said they will continue to advocate at the state level while implementing the statute as written.
Officials and board members also discussed exempting medically necessary devices and flagged privacy concerns about identifying students who carry devices for medical reasons. Administrators said they will seek more legal guidance and that policies and implementing procedures will evolve; they told the board they will solicit additional input from PTOs and committees and continue public communication before implementation.
Ending: The board directed administration to firm up procedures, answer specific questions about lockers/pouches and enforcement, and return with clarifications; the district said it will provide public guidance on allowable device types and implementation steps before school starts.
