At the Somers Central School District Board of Education meeting on Oct. 21, student ex officio members told trustees that a recent district cell-phone policy and a blanket block on YouTube are disrupting instruction and study routines.

The students — co-chairs of the superintendent's student leadership committee — said the district-distributed phone pouches and bell-to-bell restrictions are unpopular, and that the YouTube block stops access to AP review videos and other materials students and substitute teachers need. "A lot of AP review videos are on YouTube. ... we couldn't access it," one student said, describing a substitute teacher who left a YouTube link embedded in Schoology that students could not open.

The ex officio co-chairs said they surveyed high school students to gather perspectives on the policy. "We only received 102 responses," one said, adding that feedback was "largely negative" about pouches, the bell-to-bell rule and limits during lunch and study halls. Students urged administrators to find a balance that reduces distractions while preserving access to educational resources.

Board members and administrators asked clarifying questions during the meeting about legal and technical limits, including whether compliance with Education Law 2-d affects how the district manages third‑party streaming content. District staff acknowledged the technical constraints and indicated ongoing discussion to refine access while maintaining student privacy and classroom focus.

The student leaders said other recurring concerns from the leadership committee include cafeteria food, bus schedules, school start times, locker and backpack use, bathroom access, student involvement in events and technology accessibility more broadly.

No formal policy change or vote took place at the meeting. Board members said they valued the student feedback and that staff would continue discussions with students and teachers to explore technical and policy fixes.

The report and the question-and-answer exchange appeared during the student ex officio agenda item and the subsequent public Q&A on Oct. 21.

Looking ahead, students asked the board to keep communication channels open so the leadership committee can continue to refine the policy and share outcomes with classmates.