Administrators say new phone‑lock plan is working; infractions remain low

Assistant Principal Matt Angel described the implementation and early results of the high school’s new internet‑enabled device policy, telling the board that the district placed students’ devices in rostered plastic boxes with unique keys and implemented a three‑strike discipline process for violations.

Angel said school staff and volunteers helped front‑load the rollout by explaining the process on the first day, assigning boxes and keys to each student and holding code‑of‑conduct meetings the next day. If a device is found during the day, Angel said office staff confiscate it for the day, assign a detention and call the parent; repeated violations escalate to additional detentions and a parent/guardian must pick up the device after a third strike.

Angel presented early compliance numbers: of approximately 259 secondary students, there were 13 reported device infractions through the first marking period (about 2.6% of that student group). He told the board fewer than 20 students across grades 6–12 were found with devices in the initial rollout and said no one had reached the third‑strike threshold yet.

Angel and Principal Nate Schneckenberger also reviewed related student‑behavior data: averages of less than four tardies per day in September and a low number of suspensions (four instances for September and October), and multiple content areas ranking among the top five in the Wayne Finger Lakes region on new state assessments. Administrators credited proactive supervision, restorative practices and regular parent communication for the positive trends.

Board members asked clarifying questions about supervision during trips and enforcement; administrators said they would continue to collect data and follow up where necessary.