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Rome board adopts student cell-phone policy and approves multiple contracts and staffing moves
Summary
The Rome City School District Board adopted policy 5695 restricting student access to personal electronic devices, approved transportation and consulting contracts (not to exceed $200,000 and $50,400 respectively), created four transportation positions, confirmed the tax warrant, and approved several athletics and housekeeping resolutions; public commenters urged action on parking at Stokes Elementary.
The Rome City School District Board of Education met on Aug. 18 and moved through a package of routine and substantive actions, adopting a student personal-electronic-devices policy and approving contracts and staffing changes the district said are needed for the 2025–26 school year.
Policy adoption and public comment
The board held a public hearing and later adopted policy 5695 on students and personal electronic devices after a second reading and voice vote. Jackie Nelson, who identified herself as Western Region Education Chair for the NAACP New York State Conference, addressed the board during public comment and expressed the NAACP's support for limiting student access to personal cell phones during the school day. "This is something that the NAACP is in favor of," Nelson said, adding that the restriction can give students a break from bullying and distractions and that the NAACP is willing to assist with community education and conversations.
Board actions and contracts
In finance and operations the board approved several resolutions by voice vote:
- A contract to reimburse Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District $2,008.96 for health and welfare services provided to four Rome resident students who attended nonpublic schools in 2024—25 (authorized under NY Education Law §912).
- Confirmation of the school tax roll and issuance of the tax warrant for fiscal year 2025—26, authorizing collection in two installments and setting the total warrant at $39,699,188.
- Authorization to enter a transportation agreement with M.O. BOCES for regular and summer student transportation in 2025—26 at a cost not to exceed $200,000.
- Approval of a consulting agreement with KB Educational Consulting to support districtwide MTSS implementation and related services for 2025—26 at a cost not to exceed $50,400.
Human resources and facilities
The board created two bus driver positions and two school bus monitor positions. District staff explained monitors may be aidable if tied to an IEP, while drivers are not; staff estimated hiring drivers could save roughly $150,000 compared with current contracted costs. The finance committee reported that leftover funds from the 2022 capital project were being considered for new bleachers at the stadium and that staff were obtaining quotes for two ADA-compliant bleachers plus two regular bleachers (roughly $160,000) with building aid possible; additions such as bathrooms and girls'-side bleachers would be considered in later project phases.
Athletics and governance
The board approved combined-team arrangements under NYSPHSAA guidelines for boys varsity wrestling with Clinton Central and for girls varsity gymnastics with Vernon-Verona-Sherrill for the 2025—26 season. The board also adopted governance materials for 2025—26 (board norms, proposed goals, communication plan, committee assignments) and approved the SAVE legislation documents, the districtwide safety plan and attendance protocol as presented.
Public petition on Stokes Elementary
In non-agenda public comment, Joe Mastrangelo spoke for the Town of Lee and presented a handwritten petition with about 153 signatures calling on the district to improve parking and traffic flow at Stokes Elementary School. Mastrangelo said the town has asked the district to consider parking-area improvements in light of safety concerns and that NYSDOT is evaluating the roadway.
Votes and process
Most motions were carried by voice vote after a motion, a second and the chair's call for "All in favor? Aye." The minutes and consent agenda were approved; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the public transcript. The meeting moved into an executive session to discuss the superintendent's formative goals and did not return to public session.
What to watch next
The board set a finance committee meeting for Sept. 9 at 8 a.m. and discussed monitoring the implementation of transportation changes, MTSS consulting outcomes, and capital-project purchases such as the proposed bleachers. The petition regarding Stokes Elementary parking prompted a request for follow-up from district staff and NYSDOT coordination.
