OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen The Silver Creek Central School District held a recent Board of Education meeting at the Seneca Nation of Indians Early Childhood Learning Center. Pictured below the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Flag, from left to right: Matt Bogosian, Brian Boedo, Martha Howard, Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston, Jerry Cross, Michael Grisanti, and Gregory Cole. Not pictured is Scott Pulver.

IRVING — With many schools in the area evaluating how to address cell phones, the Silver Creek Central School District has been less aggressive than most have been on the matter.

Nearby schools such as Dunkirk and Fredonia have restricted cell phones throughout the school day. Fredonia has seen positive results from the shift, as its student body has complied with the policy and kept phones away in lockers throughout the day. Dunkirk has faced much more pushback as it implemented pouches to lock phones away during the day.

At a recent Board of Education meeting held at the Seneca Nation of Indians Early Childhood Learning Center, Silver Creek Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston said a cell phone restriction on the District’s students would be “an incredibly difficult undertaking.”

As the State evaluates whether to mandate schools to restrict cell phones during the school day, there have been differing opinions. Ralston presented the Board of Education with an article highlighting the Commissioner of Education’s opposition of a cell phone ban, instead favoring an emphasis on how and when to appropriately use cell phones. Ralston said the article she cited is “one of the few times that I’ve seen an actual in-writing opposite viewpoint” from leadership in the State Department of Education.

Ralston said the administration team at Silver Creek has discussed the issue and appears to be leaning toward not banning cell phones like Dunkirk and Fredonia have.

“While there are concerns with students and ‘screenagers’ … there also is the appropriate way to use cell phones and there is the appropriate time to use cell phones,” Ralston said. “We just have to teach them how to do that, like we do everything else in school.”

The District has followed State guidance in the past, such as with its less strict dress code policies in recent years. The State Department of Education has also recently pushed the concept of regionalization, urging districts to partner with neighboring districts to increase educational opportunities. If a change is made regarding cell phones at Silver Creek, it will likely be at the direction of the State Department of Education.

More than two dozen policies were introduced for first readings at the District’s recent Board of Education meeting, which prompted a playful comment from Board President Martha Howard when it came to committee reports. “I know there was a policy committee (meeting),” Howard joked.

The District also adopted its 2024-2025 Professional Learning Plan, which can be found online.

The District will be welcoming community members on Wednesday, Dec. 4 to discuss the upcoming capital project proposal. A morning session begins at 10 a.m., and an evening session begins at 6 p.m., both of which will be held in the Board Room located near the High School Lobby.

The District’s capital project proposal is the largest project in the school’s history, totaling $36.1 million of upgrades, utilizing $5.7 million in reserve funds, and requiring no tax increase from District taxpayers.

The official vote regarding the project will be on Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the High School Lobby. Absentee ballots will also be available ahead of time by contacting the District Clerk’s Office.

The next Silver Creek Board of Education meeting is Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.