Ithaca · Local digest

The City of Ithaca is accepting applications from Fourth Ward residents to fill a vacant Common Council seat left by the resignation of Alderperson Patrick Kuehl. Applications must be submitted by September 11 through the city's online form, and a selection committee chaired by Mayor Robert Cantelmo will review candidates. The committee must recommend a candidate within 30 days, with the full council voting on the appointment at its October 7 meeting or at a special meeting held earlier. The selected applicant will represent the Fourth Ward, which includes Collegetown, until the next municipal election in November 2027.

The Ithaca City School District Board of Education paused efforts to revise its cell phone ban policy after school principals pushed back against the proposed changes at an August 11 meeting. The board had voted in July to direct administration to implement a stricter policy, with Superintendent Luvelle Brown recommending hiring five full-time employees at an estimated $500,000 initial cost to manage phone collection and storage. However, principals from across the district criticized the board for excluding them from discussions about the significant policy revision, noting the current pouch-based approach had resulted in more engaged students and improved classroom focus. Board members apologized for not consulting stakeholders and unanimously voted to rescind the July motion, agreeing to pause further discussion and gather more input before proceeding.