Frontier Central rolls out administrative guideline limiting student cell phone use for UPK–8; board says rule is administrative, not policy

The Frontier Central School District told trustees it will begin enforcing administrative guidelines for cell-phone and digital-device use for UPK–8 students immediately as an administrative action rather than a new board policy.

Superintendent Dr. Thuman said the guidelines are "on the honor system" for students and direct them to secure phones when entering school buildings; the guidance allows appropriate use on district transportation but asks students to store devices once they arrive at school. The administration said repeat violations would trigger school-level remedies described in the guidance.

Board members discussed practical questions about lockers, after-school sports and using alternative spaces for testing. Trustees emphasized the document is an administrative guideline, not a new board policy, and several said they supported implementation while awaiting the governor’s final guidance for broader K–12 policy.

A board member asked whether a testing center move (for AP exams) or restricting access to the back gym might reduce disruptions during testing; administrators said they would explore options. The administration asked permission to put the guideline into effect the next school day and said principals and administrative teams had been notified.

The board did not adopt a formal policy at the meeting; the guideline will be implemented administratively and may be refined based on state direction and building-level feedback.