Superintendent's Message 6/23/2025

Dear Iroquois Family,

Good afternoon, here is important information for the week of June 23rd:

Board of Education

This year, New York State enacted Education Law 2803, which prohibits the use of internet-enabled devices by students during the school day. In compliance with this law, the Iroquois Central School District is required to create and implement a policy aligned with these new state guidelines. Below are the key points families should be aware of:

1. For students in UPK through 8th grade, very little will change. These grade levels already had restrictions in place, so the new law will have minimal, if any, impact on them.
2. At the High School, the current plan is to adopt the same procedures used at the Middle School to ensure consistency across the entire district.
3. “Internet-enabled devices” include any device capable of connecting to the internet such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, or similar technology that allows access to online content, including social media apps.
4. The law does not apply to non-internet-enabled devices, such as basic cellular phones or traditional flip phones that do not have internet access.
5. Students will still be permitted to use their internet-enabled devices on school buses and during after-school activities.
6. The restriction applies only during the instructional day — from the start of homeroom to the end of the last class period.
7. Exceptions to this rule are allowed for specific, approved purposes, such as healthcare, translation services, or as required by other applicable laws.

Please know that while Iroquois is legally obligated to follow this new state law, the District will continue to advocate for decisions like these to be returned to the control of local school districts, where they can be tailored to meet the unique needs of our students and community.

Additional information will be available from your building principals.

The Board of Education is in the process of approving this amended policy and is available for your review HERE under the June 11^th Board meeting agenda.

 

Strategic Plan Survey

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Parent and Student Survey as we update our Strategic Plan.

 

For Parents to Know

As you may be aware, we are experiencing unusually high temperatures this week. Please know that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority.

Our schools are taking proactive steps to ensure students stay as comfortable as possible. This includes providing additional water and rest breaks, adjusting physical activity when needed, and utilizing cooler indoor spaces for learning whenever possible.

We appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate this stretch of hot weather together. Please encourage your child to dress in light clothing and bring a refillable water bottle to school each day.

 

As we head into the final days of school, this will be our last Monday Message of the year. It’s been a year filled with growth, learning, and many proud accomplishments by our students. From academic achievements to personal milestones, our students have shown resilience, curiosity, and joy in their learning.

We are so grateful to our parents and families for your ongoing support, encouragement, and partnership throughout the year. Your involvement truly makes a difference in the lives of our students and in our school community.

Wishing you all a safe, relaxing, and fun-filled summer. Take time to rest, explore, and enjoy time with family and friends. We look forward to seeing everyone again in September!

 

Upcoming events on the calendar:

June 23rd-25^th Early Release Grades 4-8 11:00AM

June 24^th-25^th: Regents Exams

June 25^th: Early Release Grades UPK-3 12:00PM

June 25^th: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

June 27^th: Graduation

September 3^rd: First day of Classes for the 2025-2026 School Year

 

Douglas Scofield 

Superintendent of Schools