Mahopac policy committee pushes for recorded committee meetings, surveys on cell phones and AI policy work

The Mahopac Central School District policy committee reported a set of early-stage actions on Oct. 29 that include surveying teachers and parents on cell-phone use in classrooms, drafting guidance on artificial-intelligence tools and a proposal to record and publish committee meetings to increase transparency.

Policy committee chair Trustee McCracken summarized the Oct. 17 meeting and said the committee intends to survey teachers about the classroom impact of phones and then survey parents to gather community input. "The first action that we initiated was...we're gonna do a survey with teachers," McCracken said, adding a parent survey would follow.

On cell phones, McCracken said the committee is exploring options and town halls to involve stakeholders rather than issuing a top-down ban. "We want local control, but let's actually exercise it," he said, noting state-level proposals to mandate phone bans exist.

Committee members also discussed artificial intelligence and whether to draft a policy or include guidance in the student handbook. "What AI tools are acceptable? What are not? How can you police it?" McCracken asked; he said further review will continue.

The committee passed, 3–0 in committee, a proposed district neutrality policy that would keep the district from making official statements on issues unrelated to school operations while preserving the ability to speak on issues that materially affect students (the committee's attorney advised the policy would not prevent safety-focused statements). That item was on the board agenda for consideration.

On transparency, McCracken said two proposals would require recording public committee and ad hoc meetings and publishing recordings alongside minutes; that change would need passage at two board sessions before becoming policy. "This is unleashing transparency," he said, urging the board to approve it.

Votes at the meeting: The board accepted a $50 donation of a USB microphone and case for the high-school music department; Vice President Martinez moved the donation and Trustee Mangan seconded; President Schneider called the vote and it passed unanimously. The consent agenda passed unanimously as well.

What happens next: The policy committee will conduct teacher and parent surveys, continue drafting AI guidance, and return neutrality and meeting-recording proposals to the full board for final action.