Board pushes internet-connected devices policy forward but asks for procedures before final vote

The Greenville Central School District board took the first reading of proposed policy 62-32 on internet-connected devices and discussed whether the text as written creates enforcement loopholes.

Board members agreed in principle that students should focus on instruction and that devices may need to be restricted during the school day. Several trustees argued the policy title and opening sentence should explicitly include ‘cell phones’ because phrasing that references only 'internet-connected personal devices' could allow work-arounds such as flip phones or walkie-talkie devices.

One board member urged the policy be clear and stated: “If we just go bell to bell on all devices, it may be a little bit easier and kind of across the board.” Another trustee emphasized the board’s responsibility for policy while stressing that administration handles procedure: “We’re in charge of policy and Adam is in charge of procedure,” and asked for the related procedures and consequences to be provided prior to a final vote.

Administrators reported that the code-of-conduct language is being drafted by the building leadership team and that consequences for cellular devices are already being addressed at the code-of-conduct level; the board asked that the administration bring a clear set of procedures tying into the policy for review at the June meeting so it could proceed to a second reading in July.

Next steps: the board asked staff to amend the policy language to explicitly reference cellular devices in the title and opening sentence, and to provide proposed procedures and code-of-conduct consequences before the next reading.