Board approves policy banning internet-enabled devices during school day; committee to publish enforcement details

The Horseheads Central School District Board of Education approved Policy 53.15, a prohibition on internet-enabled devices during the school day, at its July 1 meeting following a second reading and committee recommendation.

Policy committee members said they added language requiring the district to publish information about enforcement, as mandated by state law. Board members discussed related issues including storage options for devices, whether “non-internet” devices are treated differently, and how rollout and vendor support (for options such as storage pouches) would be funded and implemented.

The committee reported it had solicited input from staff, students and community members; that feedback included both support and opposition. One board member said those comments should be shared with the full board; the committee chair said a report of the community input had been reviewed by the committee prior to the meeting.

During debate some members asked that any future regulations be more specific about permissible instructional uses and logistics such as storage and communication between caregivers and students. The board left those details to be spelled out in regulations and directed the administration to develop guidance for teachers about permissible educational uses.

The motion to approve the policy was adopted by the board (one no vote was recorded). Board members noted the law (Education Law §409-n) imposes a deadline for districts to adopt a policy restricting internet-enabled device use; the board and administration said they will continue work in the policy committee and with administration on regulations and implementation steps, including possible grant reimbursement for storage pouches.

The policy will be posted and the administration will prepare implementing regulations before the start of the school year.