Phones banned bell to bell, with the second reading waived

What happened

On August 25, 2026 the board took the first reading of a rewritten Policy 5516, Student Use of Internet-Enabled Devices, and in the same motion suspended Bylaw 0131, which normally requires a policy to be read twice at meetings a month apart, and abolished the older Policy 2363 on student use of privately-owned technology. The policy prohibits student use of internet-enabled devices on school grounds during the school day under N.J.S.A. 18A:36-40b and the Commissioner of Education's guidelines, covering regular school hours, school buses and school-sponsored events supervised by a district employee. Bell-to-bell is defined as the opening bell to the dismissal bell and is stated to include the time between class periods and lunch. The policy lists the exceptions: a documented medical need, an individualised education programme or other plan, a family member's health or well-being, circumstances where no reasonable alternative exists with the superintendent's or principal's authorisation, a legal requirement, and an emergency. The superintendent must inform students and parents of their right to request an exception. The superintendent's report the same evening led with the new bell-to-bell law.

Why it matters to families

This changes the ordinary school day for every Summit student, and by suspending its own two-reading bylaw the board put it in place immediately rather than a month later, so families had little notice. The detail families most often miss is that passing time and lunch are covered, not just lesson time, and that smartwatches and similar devices count. The exception process matters too: a parent who needs to reach a child during the day has to go through the superintendent or principal rather than relying on a phone in a pocket. The district's own 2026-2027 goals show this is not finished: they commit to developing a clear purpose and guiding principles for when student technology should and should not be used, and to a districtwide committee deciding when it belongs in instruction.

The evidence

The August 25, 2026 agenda and minutes carry the policies motion for first reading of Bylaw 0131 suspension, abolition of Policy 2363 Student Use of Privately-Owned Technology and revision of Policy and Regulation 5516 Student Use of Internet-Enabled Devices. The full policy text on the board's own policy portal records it as created May 2010 and last edited August 2026 and contains the prohibition under N.J.S.A. 18A:36-40b, the bell-to-bell definition including time between class periods and lunch, and the eight enumerated exceptions. The August 25, 2026 minutes record the superintendent's report on the new bell-to-bell cell phone law and the policy committee's review of policies on student use of internet-enabled devices.

The source