Mountainside Board of Education Reviews School Reopening Plans, New Cell Phone Policy, and District Strategic Goals

The Mountainside Board of Education approved an immediate restriction on student mobile devices during its regular session on September 3, 2026. The trustees voted to suspend traditional multi-reading protocols to ensure the revised personal device rules took effect before the official return of students.

Under the newly codified Policy 5516, the district will enforce a strict bell-to-bell ban on student cell phones across all local building footprints. Union County Life learned that exceptions will only be granted for documented medical necessities authorized by a school nurse or during off-campus field trips under explicit administrative supervision.

Superintendent Christopher Kinney, concluding his first year directing the district, also presented the state-mandated School Safety Data System report. The metrics revealed two confirmed harassment, intimidation, and bullying incidents at Deerfield School alongside nineteen separate investigations, while Beechwood School reported zero incidents across all safety and discipline categories. To start the academic term, Deerfield School will reduce its active arrival locations from three doorways down to two, permanently bypassing the front vestibule entrance for morning student drop-offs. New Business Administrator Bernadette Pinto also previewed $26,296 in extraordinary state aid earmarked to offset specialized out-of-district student placement costs.

FAQ:
Q: What are the primary rules under the new Mountainside school cell phone policy?
A: Students face a total bell-to-bell restriction on cell phone use unless the device is required for a medical condition verified by the school nurse.

Q: When are the back-to-school nights scheduled for Mountainside public schools?
A: The district will host the Beechwood School back-to-school session on September 16, followed by the Deerfield School session on September 17.

Q: What new specialized student programs were approved during the September board meeting?
A: Trustees approved an agreement for a school-based mental health clinician alongside a self-contained autism and Applied Behavior Analysis program at Deerfield School.