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Hamburg board: district says state-mandated device policy is in place and largely working
Summary
Superintendent and building administrators told the Hamburg Central School District board that the new state-required internet-enabled-device policy, adopted July 8, has been implemented with generally positive feedback in elementary grades and tracked offense data at middle and high school levels.
Superintendent Mr. Adams told the board the district adopted a state-required internet-enabled-device policy on July 8 after convening a stakeholder group that included students and staff. He said elementary schools reported few problems and that teachers and principals have largely managed implementation with “positive” responses from students, parents and staff.
Middle-school administrator Matt Lowour said the middle school used an offense ladder that predated the district policy and continued it this year: first offense is a warning, second requires turning the device into the main office for pick-up at the end of the day, and third offenses prompt parent contact and further disciplinary action. Lowour said his building’s compensation/turn-in log shows comparatively low volume — 13 devices turned into the office for the year — and praised staff consistency and family support for the approach.
High-school representative John Crangle gave the board the larger high-school figures discussed in the meeting: he reported 287 first-offense incidents and 69 second-offense incidents during the current reporting period, describing these as part of a larger pattern that typically tapers as seniors progress through the year. Crangle said high-school enforcement includes teacher discretion aligned to the student code and that staff and school resource officers are coordinating on consistency and support.
Board members asked whether infractions are concentrated early in the year and whether enforcement is applied evenly across teachers. Administrators said the district maintains logs and follows up with families; repeat offenders are often referred to social workers to examine underlying issues. The presenters committed to continued data tracking and additional staff communication to ensure consistent application.
The board did not take a formal vote on policy implementation during the meeting. Members said they will monitor discipline data and follow up with administrators at future meetings.
