Monroe-Woodbury board adopts statewide "distraction-free" device policy; district to buy lockable pouches

The Monroe‑Woodbury Central School District Board of Education voted July 23 to adopt a district policy banning the use of internet‑enabled personal devices during the instructional day, complying with a recently enacted state law and a state adoption deadline of Aug. 1, 2025. The board also approved implementation steps including the purchase of lockable pouches to secure students’ phones and similar devices.

The district presentation said the law is part of the 2026 state budget and requires public schools to bar internet‑enabled devices during the bell‑to‑bell instructional day. “The most important requirement ... is a ban on a use of Internet enabled personal devices in K‑12 schools, throughout the entire instructional day,” the district presenter said. District staff told the board the state has allocated $13,500,000 statewide to help districts pay for storage solutions; Monroe‑Woodbury’s share is about $36,000.

Why it matters: District and union representatives said removing device access during class time can increase student engagement, reduce…