White Plains Board adopts student cell-phone policy for 2025-26 after public comment on enforcement

The White Plains Board of Education voted to adopt a district-wide student cell-phone policy to take effect in the 2025—26 academic year, following a public comment period in which a teacher-parent urged a clear, tiered enforcement protocol.

Parent and White Plains High School teacher Sarah Jabbour told the board that New York State's classroom ban on phones will need firm, consistent consequences to succeed, saying a ban "will fail and the school culture will not change" without them. She recommended a tiered approach: "first tier being a warning, second, office confiscation with release to the student at the end of the day, third, office confiscation with release upon parent pickup, and further consequences for repeat violations," and urged clear communication to parents and teachers before the school year begins.

Board members, student representatives and district leaders said the policy adoption follows student feedback and was developed to allow local boards discretion in how to implement a state-level expectation. President Eller noted the policy adoption "is adoption, which would put the policy in place to begin officially in the 20 25, 20 26 academic year," and board members thanked student representatives for soliciting input from peers.

Implementation details discussed by the board include incorporating the policy into the district code of conduct, communicating expectations and consequences to students and families before the school year, and planning staff supports for consistent enforcement. Officials said some classroom-level solutions (phone pockets, locks) may work differently across classrooms, so local adjustments are expected.

Ending: The board adopted the policy; district staff said they will proceed with implementation planning and community notification over the coming months, and will revisit the specific language if state law or the governor's final budget requires changes.