Williamsville Central School District officials and student representatives told the Board of Education Sept. 9 that the district’s new distraction-free school zone policy has produced visible changes in classrooms and common areas, while school staff are working to address device-access and library Chromebook shortages.
Superintendent Dr. Brownhall said the policy, which the board adopted earlier this year, requires elementary devices to be stored in a homeroom teacher’s designated storage space and middle- and high-school devices to be kept in locked lockers. "Elementary schools devices must be stored in the homeroom teachers designated storage space and middle and high school devices must be stored in the locked locker," Brownhall said during the community update.
Student board members from South, East and North high schools described largely positive effects. A South student representative said, "I have not seen a single phone out," and reported more student-to-student interaction in the cafeteria and classrooms. East’s student representative said teachers report students are "much more present in the classroom" and smiling more, but noted East’s library has already run out of Chromebooks available for checkout, creating an access issue for students who need an internet-enabled device during the day.
Schools are trying non-digital alternatives: libraries and commons areas have added board games, word hunts and a wellness cart of low-tech activities. North’s student rep said faculty have modeled the policy by reducing staff use of personal devices in the school day.
District administrators urged families to contact building principals with arrival, dismissal or bus questions and said the district will continue to add menu items as universal meals flows are monitored. The board scheduled a community forum Nov. 1 at Williamsville South for broader public discussion.
The board and students said they will continue to monitor the policy’s implementation and device availability and report back with adjustments as needed.