AKRON SCHOOLS HOSTS INTERNET-ENABLED DEVICE TOWN HALL EVENT ON JULY 8th

     Akron Central Schools is hosting a town hall-style meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 6:00PM in the school’s Multi-Purpose Room located near the main flag pole entrance to the school. Development of the district’s policy to adhere to New York State’s newly approved legislation regarding the bell-to-bell restriction of student cell phone and internet-enabled device use at school, is the topic. The meeting is open to parents and students, faculty and staff, and other interested community members.
     Background information about the new law will be given and the draft of the new policy will be presented. A panel comprised of the superintendent, school administration, and board of education members will frame the discussion around the state mandates and the location decision making.  A Q & A session will follow.
     The state has mandated that devices must be restricted during instructional hours. Exceptions can be required for students with Individual Education Plans, 504 plans and other documented needs.  The policy will apply to internet-enabled devices such as cell phones and smartwatches; it does not apply to district or BOCES-issued devices used for educational purposes. The district must clearly communicate the new policy to all families and staff.
     How and where devices will be stored in each building, multi-tiered consequences for violations, communication systems for parents during the school day, staff and student support resources, and the approach for the roll-out, is left to the local decision-makers.
     Akron Board of Education members were updated on the development of the policy during the board meeting held June 11th. Development continued at a Policy Advisory Committee meeting held June 16th with parents, students, union representatives, administrators, principals and board of education members. Data from a survey that was sent to parents, students, faculty and staff members to receive feedback regarding the new legislation, was discussed.
     The Board of Education had the first reading of the policy at their June 25th meeting; it can be viewed at https://go.boarddocs.com/ny/akroncs/Board.nsf/Public. A public comment board is also available for submissions at www.akronschools.org along with the timeline for the implementation. The Board will have the second reading of the policy at the July 9, 2025, reorganizational meeting.   
     For questions about the event, please contact the District Office at (716)542-5006 or districtclerk@akronk12.org. For more information about the legislation, please visit the Latest News section of the school website at www.akronschools.org.

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