Hamilton Central officials outline plans, concerns for state 'bell‑to‑bell' cell phone ban

Ben, introduced by the Chair as an administrator, told the board the state budget includes a new requirement that all New York school districts adopt a policy restricting students’ use of internet‑enabled devices during the school day.

“The recently enacted law restricts Internet enabled device use by students during the school day, including classroom time, passing time, lunch, and study halls,” Ben said, adding that the restriction is bell to bell — from the time students arrive until they leave. He told the board the district must adopt a policy by Aug. 1, 2025.

Ben outlined the law’s specified exemptions: district‑issued devices used for educational purposes; teacher‑ or principal‑authorized classroom use; devices necessary to manage a student’s medical condition; use that is part of a student’s IEP or Section 504 plan; translation needs determined on a case‑by‑case basis; and “when otherwise required by law,” which Ben said the district’s legal counsel is still interpreting.

The law also bars districts from suspending a student solely for violating the device policy. “The new law specifically prohibits the suspension of a student solely based on the violation of the internet enabled device policy,” Ben said, adding that disciplinary responses must remain consistent with the district’s code of conduct.

Ben told the board the state has allocated $13,500,000 for districts statewide to cover device storage costs but cautioned the district does not yet know how reimbursement will work. “If we decide to purchase, let’s say, pouches, would we have to purchase and then get reimbursed? We don’t know what that looks like yet,” he said. He described likely storage options — student lockers, magnetized pouches, shared drop boxes or bins — and said district planners are considering locking mechanisms to reduce loss, damage and liability.

Board members asked about practical effects on office staff and enforcement. A board member raised concerns that secretaries could face higher workloads if more students are sent to the office to use district phones; Ben said that is likely and that the district is examining logistics. “I think there’ll be more kids coming to the office to use the district phone,” Ben said.

Ben also flagged new reporting obligations: beginning Sept. 1, 2026, districts must publish an annual report showing non‑identifiable demographic data on students who faced disciplinary action for noncompliance and include analysis of any demographic disparities and mitigation plans if statistically significant disparate enforcement is identified.

The Chair and other board members asked the administration to continue developing options and to bring recommended storage approaches and a draft policy to the policy committee. Ben said a more detailed report and sample policy would be available at next month’s meeting for committee review.