The Middle Country Central School District Board of Education approved a second reading of several district policies, including policy 56-95, Students and Personal Electronic Devices, after a presentation on how the district will implement the new state restrictions on student device use.

District administrator Mister Singer told the board that New York state enacted section 2803 as part of the 2026 state budget, which "banned student use of smart devices from bell to bell." Singer said the district formed a stakeholder committee of students, parents, teachers and administrators to develop bridal-country-specific recommendations for secure storage, parent-student communications and limited exceptions.

The district combined that work into the policy language adopted in July and sent a comprehensive FAQ to families and staff over the summer, Singer said. "Teachers received training on the new policy at opening day faculty meetings, and students were advised by their teachers at the elementary level and by their administrators in grade-level assemblies at the secondary buildings," Singer said. He reported early building-level feedback that classroom distractions have decreased and cafeteria and hallway socializing has increased as students put devices away.

District leaders said principals are redirecting small portions of building budgets to buy non-electronic games for lunch and study halls and that one principal planned an outdoor basketball hoop for Newfield High School. Singer also said infractions are being tracked monthly and that few repeat offenders had been reported so far.

Board President Dawn Chirac called for the second reading of the polices listed on the agenda. The board voted by voice to approve the second reading and adoption of the policies, including 5,500 (Student Records), 56-95 (Students and Personal Electronic Devices), 57-10 (School Safety and Educational Climate), 86-30 (Computer Resources and Data Management), and 86-35 (Information and Data Privacy, Security Breach, and Notification). "Motion carries," Chirac said after the voice vote.

The district will publish aggregate discipline data associated with policy 56-95 at year-end as part of an ongoing evaluation, Singer said.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the second reading and adoption of the listed policies by voice vote; no roll-call or tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

The policy change follows a state statutory change and the board's adoption signals the district will phase in the local procedures described by staff; district administrators said they will continue to update the FAQ and report discipline totals monthly for the school year.