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Policy committee refines staff cell‑phone rules; district phones required for social workers and psychologists
Summary
Niskayuna Central School District policy committee discussed revisions to the employee cell‑phone policy on May 13, 2025, clarifying which employee categories receive district phones, offering stipends for some roles, and rejecting a strict reimbursement requirement for incidental personal use.
On May 13, 2025, the Niskayuna Central School District policy committee reviewed proposed revisions to the district's employee cell‑phone policy, clarifying which employees must receive district‑owned phones and which may accept a stipend for using a personal device.
Committee members said the revisions organize employees into categories that either will receive a district phone or may accept a stipend if they use a personal number for district business. A staff presenter said the district expanded the list of employees who must receive district phones to include building social workers and psychologists so the published contact number remains consistent when personnel change: “The decision was made to provide them a phone and not give them the option.”
The proposal also spells out security expectations and a regulation that establishes the stipend process. District staff said the changes aim to ensure continuity of contact (for published numbers and district communications such as ParentSquare) and to modernize the policy by assigning responsibilities for device security, inventory and contactability.
Committee members debated language that would require employees to reimburse the district for nonwork use of district phones. One committee member said, “I don't really pay for calls these days anymore, and I I have a work phone. I do personal stuff on it too,” arguing that tracking and enforcing reimbursement for incidental personal use is impractical. Members agreed to remove or soften language that would require employees to reimburse the district for incidental personal usage while retaining expectations that staff maintain appropriate security and accept responsibility for inappropriate use.
Staff said the policy changes will be implemented administratively before formal board approval and that the revised policy will be brought forward as a first read to the full board.
Next steps: staff will finalize regulatory language and send the revised cell‑phone policy to the board for first reading and subsequent consideration.
