Board weighs options on state-mandated ban of internet-enabled devices in schools

The Eastchester Union Free School District Board of Education discussed a state-mandated policy that requires public school districts to adopt rules restricting internet-enabled devices — especially cell phones — by Aug. 1, 2025, focusing on enforcement, age-based scope and exceptions.

Dr. Villanueva told the board the state governor has enacted a law requiring districts to have a policy in place by Aug. 1, 2025, and presented a draft model policy supplied by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSBA). She said the draft offers model language the district can adopt or tweak to local needs.

"The goal is to essentially have a distraction-free environment for our schools and for our students," Dr. Villanueva said, describing two principal objectives: classroom focus and teaching students self-regulation. She outlined the draft's enforcement ladder: an initial verbal reminder, subsequent temporary confiscation or office pickup for the day, parent pickup for repeat infractions, and restorative measures and counseling for continued issues.

Board members debated whether the middle school should be treated like the high school (devices silenced and stored in lockers or classroom caddies) or whether a stronger prohibition is appropriate at younger grade levels. Trustee Matt Fanelli said the community's characteristics — students who walk home or pick up siblings — counsel for consistent rules across buildings but with practical exceptions.

"I would just say for my fellow trustees ... I would love to see something here across the board that is just more consistent across all of the schools," Fanelli said, while adding he favored restorative enforcement and less punitive initial responses rather than a strict prohibition for all younger grades.

Trustee Jill Constantino raised concerns about elementary logistics: elementary classrooms have no lockers and teachers sometimes hold devices and forget to return them. Principal/faculty handling and a consistent collection/storage routine were discussed as implementation details. Dr. Villanueva said administrators and faculty will work on routines such as caddies or storage, and noted the district will provide training for staff.

Trustees also discussed specific issues raised in the draft and in local practice: smart watches at the elementary level, the use of phones to communicate changing after-school plans, how BYOD (bring-your-own-device) computers interact with enforcement, and reporting and recordkeeping.

On devices for instruction, Dr. Villanueva noted the draft includes exceptions: teachers may permit device use for learning activities, field trips or other instructional needs. Regarding secondary devices and BYOD, Rob said incoming ninth graders will receive district-issued MacBooks, and that BYOD is not foolproof for classroom control; district-managed devices will phase in to give staff more control.

The board noted that the district must report data to the state about device-related disciplinary actions. Dr. Villanueva said the district already logs disciplinary incidents in its system and will discuss whether to keep phone infractions on formal records or track them in a separate spreadsheet for reporting purposes.

Trustees asked for follow-up details before approving the policy's first reading: whether the district will specify communications channels (main office call, email, app or web portal), how elementary devices and watches should be stored consistently, how staff training will be scheduled, and how IEP and 504 accommodations will be documented as exceptions.

No final local policy was adopted at the meeting; the board discussed language options and directed administrators to return with recommended, locally tailored language and implementation procedures.