The Yorktown Central School District Board of Education approved the second reading and adoption of policy 56.95 (students and personal electronic devices) during its July 1 organizational meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Ron Hatter reviewed planned policy communications and also outlined summer policy work. Separately, Hatter said the governor's budget funds one free meal per student for the 2025–26 school year: "every student irrespective of income … will qualify for one free meal," he said, and added that a la carte items or additional meals beyond the first would be charged. Hatter said the district will send a mailing to families to clarify the change.

Hatter further described how the district will handle meal account balances. In response to a trustee question, he said the district is “allowing a balance to go no more than $25” and that there are “incidental negative balances” when students make small additional purchases; he said the district will communicate its policy to families. The board conducted first reads on two additional food‑service policies: 8505 (charging of school food items) and 8520 (free and reduced‑price food services).

Why it matters: the device policy sets rules governing students’ use of phones and other internet‑enabled devices in school; the lunch change affects every student and requires family outreach to clarify eligible meals and account procedures.

Discussion vs. decision: the device policy was adopted by vote; the universal first‑meal provision is a state budget provision the superintendent said the district will implement and communicate to families; the board did not vote on the meal entitlement itself during the meeting.

Quotes: “The first meal is included as part of the governor's budget,” Hatter said. On account limits, he said, “we're allowing a balance to go no more than $25. There are some incidental negative balances that happen … so we won't allow balances to go below $25.”

Ending: the administration will mail information to families about device rules, meal eligibility and account‑balance expectations ahead of the 2025–26 school year.