'Bring Your Own Device' Test Passes Divided School Board

In an effort to make sure students weren't left behind by the fast pace of technology, school districts used to purchase computers for student use.

At one time, many districts—including Green Brook—looked for ways to buy a computer for every student, but Green Brook Superintendent Richard Labbe said those days are gone.

Instead, the district will expand its testing of "Bring Your Own Device," where students with tablets, laptop computers or even smartphones can use them in classrooms for certain projects. 

The board approved a new policy opening the door for the testing after a lengthy debate at Monday's meeting, and with three votes against the BYOD policy.

"This policy gives us the ability to pilot the program, to see what grades it will work with, to see what grades it doesn't," Labbe said.

He said teachers selected to participate in the pilot will receive training on using the various devices during the fall before implementing it after Jan. 1, and only teachers volunteering to participate will be involved.

The board initially discussed having the pilot in the third- through eighth-grades, but may limit it to fifth- through eighth-grades because of privacy and security concerns.

Several parents, as well as board members Lisa Couch, Mindy Markus-Rodden and Maria Piccirilli, spoke against the policy, citing the lack of control possible over students' use of Internet devices.

Labbe noted the devices will largely only be able to connect to the Internet via the school's Wi-Fi network, which is secure, and while students may be able to use smartphones to text, call or play games—that's something they do now and the district already has policies to address inappropriate use of phones and computers in school.

Students who do not have a device to bring, or do not want to bring thier own, will be provided one to use from the school's inventory of iPads (which Labbe said are frequently overbooked for classroom use currently because of teachers' interest in using them).

After the board approved the new policy, board member Gerry Binder suggested Labbe provide regular updates to the board as the program is implemented.

"I think the more information we can get out, the more people will understand and be comfortable with this program," he said.