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Kings Park board to revise code of conduct to comply with new state internet‑device restrictions
Summary
At the June 3 meeting administrators outlined draft code‑of‑conduct changes and the district’s planned compliance with the new state law (section 2803) that restricts student use of internet‑enabled devices during the school day and requires a policy on storage and reporting by Aug. 1.
KINGS PARK, N.Y. — Kings Park Central School District administrators told the board on June 3 that they will revise the district code of conduct and adopt a separate policy to comply with a new state law restricting student use of internet‑enabled devices during the school day.
“It’s actually a little bit more than that. It’s an Internet enabled device ban,” Deputy Superintendent Ralph J. Cartesano told the board, summarizing the provision that was included in the recent New York state budget and signed into law as section 2803.
Administrators said the statute expands the definition of the school day to include lunch, recess, study halls and passing time, which broadens the periods when student possession and use of internet‑enabled devices may be restricted. Cartesano said the law also requires districts to publish an internet‑device policy on the district website by Aug. 1 and to include one or more on‑site storage methods for students’ devices (the statute cites lockers as an example).
District staff emphasized a number of statutory exceptions that will be retained in the local policy: provisions in students’ Individualized Education Programs and Section 504 plans; devices that are necessary for a student’s health‑care management; translation services for students with limited English proficiency; court or legally required communications; and teacher‑ or principal‑authorized educational use. Cartesano told the board emergency communications will be handled through building offices and that the district will continue to post principal and main‑office phone numbers for parents.
Administrators also said the statute contemplates an annual report posted to the website about the district’s internet‑device policy and that the district will embed the device rules in its code‑of‑conduct materials. Cartesano said the Legislature and governor included an appropriation in the budget to help districts implement storage options, but the district has not seen an application process and is proceeding under the assumption no state funds will be available for this purpose in the immediate term.
Next steps outlined by staff: the proposed code‑of‑conduct updates are in draft form and will be returned to the board for further reading and formal approval at upcoming meetings (the superintendent said the board will consider related policy language at the June 17 meeting and again before the August 1 deadline). Administrators said they will seek input from teachers, building administrators and parents while finalizing the policy.
No formal policy vote was taken June 3; the presentation was informational and intended to give the board direction on timing, required website postings and the limited set of exceptions authorized in the statute.
