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Elwood board gives first read to policy banning student personal electronic devices; forum and survey planned before Aug. 1 deadline
Summary
The board reviewed policy 5695, required by New York state, which would prohibit student personal internet-enabled devices during the school day; the district will post the draft, host a public forum and issue a bilingual survey ahead of a special meeting to adopt the policy before Aug. 1.
The Elwood Union Free School District Board of Education held a first reading of policy 5695, a district policy to implement a New York state requirement that districts bar student personal internet-enabled devices during the school day and on school grounds. The board directed staff to post the draft, run a bilingual survey and hold a public forum so the board can adopt the policy before the statutory implementation deadline of Aug. 1.
Why it matters: The policy would change in-school access to cellphones, smartwatches and other personal internet-enabled devices for students across the district and requires local procedures, exemptions and communications to families and staff.
Superintendent Adam Steele told the board the state requires districts to adopt a policy and that the draft includes guidelines and exemptions. "This policy has to be implemented by August 1," Steele said. He said the draft will be posted on the district website, a public forum will be held next Wednesday, and the district will send a survey in English and Spanish to collect both specific-question responses and open feedback.
Board members discussed outreach to make the draft visible to all community residents, not only families with students who receive ParentSquare messages. The district said it will use flyers, social media, the electronic marquee, the district bulletin and library notices to publicize the forum and the policy posting. Building administrators will develop building-level protocols that align with the law; those procedures will be communicated in orientations, handbooks and other materials.
Board members noted the compressed timeline — because the state deadline falls before the start of school — and staff said they will schedule a special board meeting before Aug. 1 to adopt the policy after the forum and survey.
No formal vote to adopt the policy took place; the board conducted a first read and directed staff to schedule the next steps for community input and a second read prior to the implementation deadline.
