Citizen Portal
Sign In

Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!

Get email alerts on the Student Device Policy topic

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Board holds first reading of proposed student phone ban; students raise concerns about team communications

Avon Central School Board of Education · August 11, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

During a first reading of Policy 7316, board members discussed a proposal to ban internet-enabled devices during the school day; student ex officio members and the district technology director flagged potential communication impacts and proposed mitigations.

The Avon Central School Board held a first reading on Policy 7316, a proposed rule limiting use of internet-enabled devices during the school day. Vice President Steve Comeau asked whether enforcing the policy could create an undue burden on office staff; Superintendent Ryan Pacatte said that will be something to watch as the policy moves forward.

Student ex officio member Maria Geary said, "when teachers enforce the no phones rule, students tend to comply, and she feels the plan is fair and will be beneficial." Student Lauren Hill cautioned that the ban "could complicate communication of changes for sports teams." Michelle Burke, the district's director of digital systems, said "all teams are set up in ParentSquare and coaches will be trained on using it, so that may be a useful tool." The board agreed to a second reading and a vote at its next meeting.

The exchange left open questions about enforcement logistics and potential exceptions; board members signaled a willingness to explore alternatives and monitor impacts before adopting the policy.