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Easton committee debates community-use booking, Brightly glitches and BYOD clarifications
Summary
Committee members pressed staff on the community use policy and the Brightly booking platform (which can overwrite calendar entries), and discussed a clarified BYOD policy allowing personal portable wireless devices for classroom use under teacher direction.
Committee members spent an extended portion of the Oct. 15 workshop reviewing the KF community use policy and related operational procedures for booking district facilities.
Staff explained the policy prioritizes school events and noted the district’s platform for reservations (Brightly) is not yet configured to prevent external users from overwriting school entries; staff said they will consult Tony (technology/facilities) and pursue a fix. Committee members suggested posting clear contact information on the district website or creating a central events email so community groups know whom to contact.
Why it matters: Community organizations, theatrical groups, booster clubs and athletic programs rely on predictable access to school facilities. Committee members said double-bookings and unclear contact procedures could damage relationships and revenue from facility rentals.
Key operational details and quotes: Mrs. Pruitt and staff confirmed that vocational-school tours and transportation costs will be covered by the vocational schools, not Easton’s operating budget. On Brightly, staff warned: "They can go in and overwrite that." The chair reminded members that anything visible during a public meeting may be subject to a public-records request: "Anything that is in view on the table being used in a meeting is subject to a public records request."
BYOD (bring-your-own-device): The committee discussed IJNDE and agreed the policy should allow "personal portable wireless devices" (tablets, laptops, phones used for teacher-directed tasks) while leaving classroom-use rules to teachers and the handbook. Members asked for wording to be made future-proof (e.g., "internet-connected devices" or "personal portable wireless devices, including but not limited to...") to avoid listing quickly outdated device types.
What’s next: Staff will investigate fixes to Brightly and return recommended guidance; the policy subcommittee will continue detailed edits on Oct. 28 and bring finished language back to the full committee for final votes.
