Board advances student conduct and safety rules: cellphones, deep‑fake media and graduation protocol reviewed

At its June 9 business meeting, the Albany County School District #1 board approved several governance items and advanced multiple student‑facing policies.

Cellphone and smart‑device rules (Policy 4025): The board approved a second reading of a district policy that implements the state law requirement for student phone policies but delegates details to each school. District leaders asked principals to submit school‑level procedures by the August board meeting so the board can review them before the next school year. Mr. O'Day described high‑school practice as "away for the day," with an escalating discipline matrix: for the high school, the first two semester offenses result in a device taken and returned at the end of the day, the third offense requires a parent to pick up the device, and later offenses include parent pickup plus detention. The policy will be placed in student handbooks and the board will review school procedures once principals submit them.

Deep‑fake policy (Policy 4050): The board approved first reading of a policy that prohibits students from creating, distributing or presenting deep‑fake images or other synthetic media that depict identifiable students, staff, community members or other private individuals. The policy contains a categorical prohibition on deep‑fake media that includes nudity or sexually explicit content and establishes that such violations may be escalated to law enforcement. The board directed annual review of the policy to keep pace with rapidly changing technology; the policy as drafted applies to student conduct in the student‑policy section (4000 series), and administrators noted staff conduct would be addressed under other district policies if necessary.

Graduation ceremonies (Policy 4055): Trustees approved the first reading of a new graduation‑ceremony policy that clarifies eligibility to participate, affirms that students must meet diploma requirements in board policy 4030 to walk, and instructs wearing the designated cap and gown (gowns zipped) during the ceremony. The policy explicitly permits tribal regalia and items of cultural or religious significance so long as they do not replace the cap and gown; it also requires that fees be paid or appropriate waiver arrangements made for participation but states that unpaid fees should not prevent awarding of a diploma. For deceased students who met graduation requirements, the policy allows a representative to receive the diploma on the family's behalf.

Several trustees asked the administration to refine language about adjudication and implementation details and to ensure principals have clear procedures and staffing for enforcement. Policy 4050 (deep fakes) will return for additional review and Policy 4055 will be brought back following committee feedback.