Dear South Huntington Community,

I hope that this message finds you well and that you are enjoying the first few weeks of the summer with your family.   In order to prepare for the upcoming school year, I would like to bring your attention to an important policy update regarding the use of personal electronic devices, including cell phones, in our schools. This update aligns with a new law enacted by New York State, designed to foster a more focused and distraction-free educational environment for our students.

New York Education Law §2803 prohibits the use of internet-enabled devices during the school day on school grounds. This includes all areas within the school boundary and applies to all times, including classes, lunch, recess, and passing periods. This law aims to enhance student concentration and engagement by reducing digital distractions.  

At the Board of Education meeting on July 8, 2025, the Board formally adopted Policy 5695 - Students and Personal Electronic Devices.  The following information provides an overview of the policy.  Please note that additional procedures and protocols that are specific to each building will be shared by the building principals prior to the start of the school year. 

For clarity, the devices are categorized into two types:

1. Internet-Enabled Devices: This includes smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and any other devices capable of internet connectivity and accessing online content, such as social media. Devices provided by the District for educational purposes are exempt from this category.

2. Other Personal Electronic Devices: This includes devices that do not connect to the internet, such as traditional mobile phones (voice/text only), fitness trackers, headphones, e-readers, cameras, and music devices.

These devices can create significant distractions, impact student mental health, and interfere with emergency protocols. Therefore, we are committed to minimizing their impact during the school day.

Device Storage

Students in elementary school (grades P-5) are discouraged from bringing devices to school. Any device that is brought to school must be silenced and kept in the student’s personal cubby.

Students in grades 6-12 will utilize their lockers for device storage. Devices must be silenced and stored throughout the school day unless an exception is granted.

Communication

Parents wishing to contact their children during the school day should do so through the main office. Students may also contact parents using phones located in the main office of the school.  Additional locations which can be utilized, if available,  will be shared by each individual school building. We will provide a written notification of this protocol at the start of each school year.

Exceptions and Educational Use

Exceptions to this policy are available for specific purposes, such as managing a student’s healthcare, translation services, or care responsibilities for family members, upon administrative approval and with appropriate documentation. Additionally, internet-enabled devices may be used for educational purposes with teacher and administrative approval, provided they align with the District’s Technology Acceptable Use policy.

Enforcement and Consequences

Our building administration will proactively share the rules and procedures with students to make them aware of the expectations.  Some adjustments will be made at the building level to ensure that students have the time necessary to comply with the new requirements. In the event that a student violates the policy, they will face incremental disciplinary actions, including device confiscation, for non-compliance, as outlined in the District Code of Conduct. Our goal is to educate students on the benefits of a distraction-free environment and to support them in complying with the policy.

This policy is available on the District’s website and can be translated into the most common non-English languages upon request. We will also include a summary in student and family handbooks.

We appreciate your cooperation and support in implementing this policy, which aims to create a more conducive learning environment for our students. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please feel free to contact Ms. Amanda Kavanagh, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education.

Thank you for your understanding and partnership in ensuring a productive educational experience for our students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Vito D’Elia 

Superintendent of Schools