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Albany BOE outlines roll-out of state-mandated device-free schools, cites translation costs and logistics
Summary
Superintendent Halkreiter described a summer pilot using Yonder pouches and pledged follow-up reports on LanguageLine usage and possible text-translation tools; board members pressed for plans to avoid morning bottlenecks and clarity on costs for multilingual access.
Superintendent Halkreiter told the Albany City School District Board of Education that the district has piloted the state-required device-free policy in secondary summer programs and will provide Yonder pouches to students on arrival, collect them at the end of the day and differentiate pouches for approved student needs. She said the pilot informed a change from students taking pouches home to picking them up each morning to reduce forgetfulness and anxiety. "The pouches are washable," Halkreiter said, "and we have the opportunity to wash them every so often, and let's just eliminate any sort of barrier or stressful moment."
Halkreiter said the district will maintain limited Wi‑Fi access for students with exemptions and after school hours and emphasized that communications with families who speak languages other than English remain a priority. The district will continue using the phone-based LanguageLine interpretation service and is exploring text-based translation applications; she warned those services will carry additional costs. "I think one of the unexpected hurdles ... is the need to translate on demand quicker," Halkreiter said after discussing the matter with the governor. The superintendent said the district will provide the board a summary of staff and student feedback from the pilot and additional cost information through the School Business Office.
Board members pressed for operational details. Member Austin Wolfgang asked whether having students pick up pouches each morning would create a bottleneck at entry; Halkreiter said secondary schools are planning distribution at multiple entrances and that the district expects to move students through quickly. Member Elman Yavi questioned how families will contact children during the day; administrators replied that main offices and academy principals will relay messages through classroom teachers and that LanguageLine remains a baseline service. Board members also asked about receptacles or unlocking devices for students dismissed early; administrators said schools are discussing receptacle and unlock procedures and will pilot distribution patterns.
The board did not take formal action on the policy during the meeting. Halkreiter noted some implementation elements are regulatory and staff will return with cost estimates, operational plans for arrivals and dismissals, and a consolidated summary of pilot feedback before the school year begins.
