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District to adopt NJSBA policy manual; trustees review student-device ban and immunization timing
Summary
Administration proposed migrating district policies into the New Jersey School Boards Association model, including a draft restricting privately owned internet-enabled devices for K–8 (with middle-school pouch exceptions) and a review of updated Tdap/meningitis grade requirements; the board will solicit surveys and aim for early-year approval.
The administration told trustees it is migrating district policies into the New Jersey School Boards Association model manual and showed a crosswalk between current local language and the NJSBA drafts.
On student devices, the proposed policy (modeled from Straus 6142.11) would prohibit students K–8 from accessing or using privately owned internet-enabled devices (including smartphones and cell phones) during the school day while preserving middle-school exceptions for pouch-based programs. "The crux of the entire policy encompasses that students K through 8 shall not be accessing or using any Internet privately owned Internet accessible devices, which includes smartphones and cell phones," the superintendent said. The administration plans multiple surveys (staff, middle-school pilot participants, K–8 caregivers) to collect feedback before final approval.
Trustees also reviewed a Department of Health regulation update about Tdap and meningitis immunization timing for students entering middle school; the district's draft retains the requirement at 6th grade after consulting nurses and the district physician, citing American Academy of Pediatrics guidance that most 6th graders (age 11–12) remain the recommended group.
The board did not adopt final language July 22; trustees and administration agreed to public engagement and a follow-up at the August meeting or early in the school year to meet New Jersey requirements.
