Pioneer School District is making parents, students and community members aware of the new policy taking effect on August 1, 2025, regarding Student Use of Electronic Communication Devices.
Starting with the new school year, a ban on smartphones, smartwatches, and other devices is being put into effect across New York State.
Read the entire policy
Pioneer will provide three public forums to familiarize parents and students with the new policy. The high school will host forums on Wednesday, August 6, and Thursday, August 14, from 6-7PM in the aud. The middle school forum will be Tuesday, August 5, in the cafe at 6PM.
The new policy is explained in Pioneer's latest Code of Conduct and is excerpted below:
Student Use of Electronic Communication Devices:
Beginning August 1, 2025, Education Law §2803 requires each school district and BOCES to adopt a policy restricting the use of “internet-enabled devices” during the entire school day on school grounds. Such devices are 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.” However, two categories of devices are excluded:
(1) those which are not capable of connecting to the internet or enabling the user to access content on the internet are excluded from this definition (e.g., voice and text-only cell phones), and
(2) those which are supplied by the district/BOCES used for educational purposes.
Violations
Below is a list of potential student violations. Each of these violations will result in the student’s phone being confiscated by the school administration.
• Cell Phone visible throughout the school day on school grounds.
• Using a cell phone, smart watch, and/or earbuds during school hours.
• Refusing to put the phone back in a backpack/locker/school issued holding container during or after instruction.
• Refusing to turn in a phone to a school administrator.
1st Offense: Warning- Phone will be confiscated and secured in the main office. It is returned to the student at the end of the day.
2nd Offense: Lunch Detention- Phone will be confiscated and secured in the main office. Parent/Guardian must pick it up.
3rd Offense: 1 day In-School Suspension (ISS)- Phone will be confiscated and secured in the main office. Parent/guardian must pick-up the phone.
4th Offense: 2 days of ISS- Phone will be confiscated and secured in the main office. Parent/Guardian must pick-up the phone and conference with administration.
5th Offense or more: Parent/Guardian Conference with administration and phone must be picked up.
For questions regarding Pioneer's policy on electronic communication devices, please contact your child's school.