Personal Electronic Devices

In May of 2025, New York State adopted a law that restricts the use of personal electronic devices in schools during the instructional day beginning in the 2025-26 school year. As such, the Onteora Board of Education adopted a policy on July 22, 2025, to address this topic. The following is a summary of the policy:

The Board of Education recognizes that students may have personal electronic devices that can perform different functions. Such devices include “internet-enabled devices” defined as: any smartphone, tablet, smartwatch or other device capable of connecting to the internet and enabling the user to access content on the internet, including social media applications, but do not include any such device supplied by the district for educational purposes. Other personal electronic devices include devices which are not capable of connecting to the internet and accessing content on the internet, fitness trackers, wired or wireless headphones and earbuds, e-readers, calculators, voice recorders, cameras, and music devices. These devices can create significant distraction to the school environment, negatively impact student mental health, contribute to disciplinary infractions, and reduce student engagement. Additionally, in an emergency, the use of personal electronic devices can distract students from following the directions of staff or emergency responders, contribute to the spread of misinformation, create congestion in the emergency response system, and interfere with the district’s emergency response protocols.

In addition, the Board of Education encourages faculty and staff to minimize the use of personal devices during the school day.

Generally, the district is not responsible for stolen, lost, or damaged personal electronic devices brought to school.

Communication with Parents/Persons in Parental Relation
During the school day, to minimize distractions, parents, guardians, and authorized emergency contacts may contact their children via the following methods: calling the school office or the school-provided email address. Students may contact their parents by asking to use a phone in the main office, nurse’s office, or counselor’s/service provider’s office. The district will notify parents in writing of the communication protocol at the beginning of each school year and upon enrollment.

Device Access and Storage
As required by Education Law §2803, this policy prohibits student use of internet-enabled devices during the school day (including all classes, homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time) on school grounds (any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, or land contained within the boundary of a school or district or BOCES facility), unless under an exception (e.g., IEP/Section 504 or as permitted below).

Enforcement, Consequences, and Reporting
Enforcement of this policy is chiefly the responsibility of the building administrative staff; however, all designated employees are expected to assist in enforcement. Students will be reminded of this policy regularly and consistently, especially at the start of the school year and after returning from breaks.

For students out of compliance with this policy, the following shall occur:

In the event that a student is observed using an unauthorized electronic device or is seen to have an unauthorized device on their person, the following shall occur:

First Offense: The device will be confiscated by a staff member, and the student will be referred to the administration. Noncompliance will be viewed as insubordination and treated accordingly. The device will be turned over to a building administrator. Students will be provided with the consequence of having to bring their device to the principal’s office each day, for a period of five consecutive school days, so that it can remain out of their possession during the instructional day.

Second Offense: The device will be confiscated by a staff member and returned only to the student’s parent/guardian by an administrator following communication with a parent/guardian. Additional consequences for students, such as detention and in-school suspension, will also be considered.

Subsequent violations of this policy shall result in additional behavioral consequences, including the possibility of in-school suspension. The district will exercise reasonable care to maintain the security of devices that are held by the district, but it cannot guarantee the devices will be secure.

*Please note that if a parent needs to contact a student during school hours, they may call the main office at (845) 657-2373 or the high school office at (845) 657-8200.