Device Policy For Bridgewater-Raritan School Board Members Hits Road Block

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional Board of Education(BOE) had been looking at a policy to control how board members may use electronic devices during public meetings.

However, at the July 21 BOE meeting, the Board tabled Policy 2703 after board members questioned whether the proposed community relations policy could be enforced and whether it should be handled as a board norm instead.

Board President Michael Pepe shared his reservations with the board on the policy.

"I still have some reservations about this policy. I agree with the spirit of it. I think that having a policy that is not enforceable, really, in any way, and I've spoken and corresponded with the board attorney on this, is not a practice that we necessarily want to go down," said Pepe.

Additionally, he worried that the police may turn board members' focus onto "what everyone's doing on their computer at every moment, or what everyone is checking their phone, or texting their kid."

Pepe did suggest that he thinks "it's something we could talk about for board norms."

Board member AJ Joshi said there were similar concerns, while also pointing to security issues raised earlier in the process.

"The only concern I have is what I had brought up before about the security reasons. This could be a board norm, perhaps," said Joshi.

The policy was ultimately tabled.

After the vote, Pepe said, "The policy is tabled for now. The first reading still holds up. So, if the board wanted to bring it up in the past. It will still go to second reading, barring any changes."

See Previous Reporting: Bridgewater-Raritan Board Advances Device Policy For Members At Public Meetings

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