Locust Valley officials outline plan to implement New York’s bell-to-bell cell phone ban

Locust Valley Central School District administrators told the Board of Education Tuesday they will phase in New York State’s new bell-to-bell ban on personal internet-enabled devices and outlined exemptions, enforcement steps and a community engagement plan.

The district’s high school administrator, Patrick DiClemente, told the board the state “has implemented a statewide bell to bell ban on cell phones, meaning no phones can be used or possessed during the school day,” and described how Locust Valley will translate that mandate into local practice.

Why it matters: The change affects every student’s day, from arrival to dismissal, and prompted questions about health exemptions, parent communication and whether the district will buy equipment or require lockers.

DiClemente said the district plans an incremental approach at the high school: devices will be prohibited in instructional spaces and students will be encouraged to use lockers without backpacks or bags during the day. He described a process for exemptions tied to health needs and said schools must provide parents “a way to contact their students during the school day.” He also said the district will collect feedback from parents, staff and students in meetings scheduled in the coming weeks.

DiClemente summarized how Locust Valley will handle noncompliance: “They’re kind, they’re respectful, they’re demanding, and they’re reasonable, and they’re progressive,” he said, describing steps that begin with a dialogue and can include confiscation with end‑of‑day pick up and parent involvement.

Board members emphasized communication and partnership. Board member Lauren Themis said the district has been on the “journey” for years and pledged the board’s support: “This board of ed is here to fully support you and your team as you implement this over the course of the year,” she said.

What administrators said they will do: DiClemente listed concrete measures the high school will pursue before the fall semester — convening teacher and student task forces, holding parent meetings (including a June 20 meeting), reviving locker use for most students, and piloting the messaging and progressive discipline approach so adjustments can be made after collecting data. He said the district will not purchase additional devices for the policy rollout and expects to use existing lockers and equipment.

Legal and policy context: DiClemente repeatedly cited the state-level ban as the driver of local changes and noted that New York’s rules allow exemptions for medical needs and other documented purposes.

Discussion vs. decision: The board did not adopt a new, district‑level phone policy at the meeting. Trustees expressed unanimous support for DiClemente’s calibrated, high‑school‑led implementation plan and asked administration to return with materials and opportunities for community feedback. Separately, the board later approved a set of broader policy updates and the abolishment of the district’s existing “students and personal electronic devices” policy (Policy No. 5695) as part of a package of policy changes; that vote was unanimous but the cell‑phone implementation details remain an administrative plan to be implemented and refined.

Next steps and public engagement: DiClemente said the district will host parent and student meetings in the two weeks after the meeting, invite staff volunteers to join a task force over the summer and collect feedback at the first faculty meeting in August. The administration plans to publish clear, prior written guidance to families and staff before the start of school.

Attribution: Direct quotes and details in this article come from Patrick DiClemente (Locust Valley High School administrator) and Board member Lauren Themis (Board of Education). No other attributions are made.