Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Penfield outlines new Internet‑enabled device policy; district to distribute Yonder pouches
Loading...
Summary
The district described implementation steps for a new Internet‑enabled device policy required by recent state law: Yonder pouch distribution, orientation plans, exception protocols and monitoring. Administrators said they will track implementation and adjust as needed.
The Penfield Central School District told the board on Aug. 19 it is rolling out a new Internet‑enabled devices policy that restricts student use of personal devices during instructional hours and requires district procedures and secure storage for eligible devices.
Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services provided the update and said the district’s approach follows Education Law 2803 and recent state guidance. Under the district’s plan, personal devices are not permitted on school grounds or buses for grades PreK–5. In grades 6–12, students must power devices off and place them in district‑issued Yonder pouches during the school day; Yonder provides magnetic unlocking stations to release pouches at dismissal points.
The district said it began family communications in July (initial letter), followed up with clarifications on Aug. 8 and provided an FAQ. Building principals met with a Yonder representative to map station locations and to finalize rollout logistics; the district plans to distribute pouches during grade‑level orientation events and on the first day of school for students who do not attend orientations. Two caregiver webinars with Dr. Lisonbee Stiles (URMC) were scheduled to help families adjust; one webinar was offered during the Aug. 19 meeting time and another was scheduled the following day. The district said recordings will be available.
The policy includes exception protocols for documented medical needs, IEP and Section 504 accommodations, translation services and caregiving responsibilities. Assistant Superintendent Perez said building‑level staff will supervise initial pouch check‑ins and that principals chose magnet locations to streamline end‑of‑day pouch unlocking.
On evaluation, the district said it will use a mix of informal and formal feedback: regular meetings with building administrators, teacher and staff reports, family input from webinars and orientation events, and monitoring of disciplinary and engagement measures to determine how the policy affects student behavior and academic outcomes. Perez said that, in the first days of school, staff expect adjustment‑period anxiety among students and will station support staff and safety personnel to assist.
Why it matters: the change affects daily routines for all students and families, and the district said the move aims to reduce distraction and support student focus and safety. The district emphasized ongoing family communication and a willingness to adjust procedures based on implementation feedback.
Direct quote: Assistant Superintendent Perez summarized research cited in local planning by quoting an outside author’s line as an illustrative argument: "Phones are not just in the way — they've hijacked our children's focus and fractured their ability to stay present in the classroom," attributed in the meeting to Dr. Paul Miller’s published commentary and cited during the district presentation.
