Scotia‑Glenville holds public hearing on 2025–26 student cell‑phone policy; staff outline lockers, exceptions and communications

Scotia‑Glenville Central School District staff heard parents and a teacher raise concerns about classroom distraction and logistics at a public hearing on the district27s 2025–26 draft student cell‑phone policy.

District staff said the policy will require students to store phones in lockers for the school day, that the district provides locks, and that principals will let students practice using lockers during the first days of school and communicate locker assignments in August. Staff also said phones should not be kept in backpacks and should not be used during study hall or lunch.

A district staff member said, "they'll spend time the first couple days of school, giving kids a chance to practice, at their lockers. And then they'll have time before either first period or homeroom that they have it to drop their phones off before school starts. Stays in there for the school day, picks it up after the last period of the day." The staff member confirmed the district provides locks.

Derek Jones, a teacher who said he started teaching in the district this past year, said classroom use of phones was "a huge distraction. It was a huge problem in class." Jones, who said he has three children including two entering high school, urged stronger enforcement and more parent engagement.

Parents asked how the rule would affect students who arrive late and how seniors using QR‑code passes for privileges would access the passes. A district staff member said late arrivals should stop at their locker to drop off a phone when they enter the building, and that "mister Bednarik is gonna have to work out" how senior privileges that use QR codes will operate under the new policy.

On transportation, staff said they did not plan to restrict phone use on buses, including runs to BOCES. On communications, staff emphasized using ParentSquare to notify families and using the public‑address system to announce athletic schedule changes to students as soon as possible.

A parent asked whether devices with parental controls would be allowed; staff said policing parental‑control settings would be impractical and that exemptions would be handled through counselors or administration via a pass. Staff suggested that an acceptable exception might be a non‑smartphone rather than a smartphone with parental restrictions.

A commenter who said they had asked 20 students reported average daytime screen time of "about 3 and a half hours" and urged the district to act. Staff also reported that a vendor contacted by the district said it would not supply a small pilot of lockable pouches and would only sell a schoolwide program; the district said it would explore alternatives.

No formal vote or final policy adoption was recorded during the hearing; staff said additional implementation details and communications (including locker assignment timing) would be provided before the start of school.