Niskayuna board adopts student cell‑phone policy, 7-0, to meet state deadline and secure implementation funds

Niskayuna Central School District Board of Education members voted 7-0 on July 22 to adopt draft policy 7316, governing student use of cell phones and other internet‑enabled devices during the school day. The board held a special meeting to meet a state deadline and to secure approximately $22,000 in implementation funding.

The superintendent said the policy has been under development since late spring and was advanced to a special meeting because "the state education department announced that policies needed to be adopted by August 1 in order for schools to secure funding for any implementation of this policy. That is the only reason that we are holding this as a special meeting is to secure approximately $22,000 in funding to offset implementation costs." The measure passed on its third read.

Board members and district staff described the policy as aimed at reducing classroom distraction while allowing a…