Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cell Phone Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent: district testing cell‑phone rollout, summer meals at 11 sites and fall sports registration
Summary
Superintendent Hockrider told the board the district is implementing the governor's announced cell‑phone ban in secondary schools, tested procedures during summer programs, will hold parent forums in August, operates summer meals at 11 sites for residents 18 and under, and set fall sports registration and practice dates.
Superintendent Hockrider told the board the district has been preparing to implement the governor's announced statewide policy to create phone‑free secondary schools and used summer school as a pilot to work out logistical "kinks."
At the secondary level, electronic devices including phones, earbuds and smartwatches will be stored in a district‑issued Yondr pouch for the school day; students may access devices under specified circumstances and an application process will be used to identify students with medical exemptions. "We have an application process...the immediate staff would know who those students are that can access their phones," Hockrider said.
Hockrider also outlined the summer meal program: breakfast and lunch are available at 11 district locations to city residents 18 and under on weekdays, and the district is partnering with the Albany Fund for Education, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and other organizations to expand supplemental food access. He thanked community volunteers and named Kathy Edmonson as the community engagement coordinator overseeing outreach.
On athletics, Hockrider said registration for fall sports begins July 18 for high school athletes and August 18 for high‑school practices; modified programs begin 10 days later. The superintendent said community forums on cell‑phone rollout will be scheduled in August and more implementation details will be posted on the district website.
