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Brighton principals and superintendent highlight student programs; district says cell-phone ban is working
Summary
Principal and district reports at the April 28 Brighton Central School District meeting covered student events, clubs, transition activities and an update on the district’s no-cell-phone policy; administrators said phones are largely out of sight, behavior has improved and a secured phone-storage system is in use with limited medical exemptions.
District leaders used regular principal and superintendent reports on April 28 to highlight academic and extracurricular programming and to update the public on safety and discipline policies.
Principals described classroom projects (an egg-drop STEM exercise), peer-to-peer music visits, coding introductions for kindergarteners, transition activities for students moving between schools, and a slate of end-of-year events including open houses, book fairs and concerts. The district also noted strong participation in extracurriculars (Science Olympiad, band, and school theater), upcoming career-and-college sessions for students and community partnerships such as performances by Eastman School guest musicians.
On discipline policy, Dr. Edmonds reported that the district’s cell-phone policy — summarized as phones being “not seen, not heard” and kept in lockers or backpacks — has produced positive results. “I would say overall extremely positive,” Dr. Edmonds said, adding that when phones are collected they are placed into a secure storage system the administrators call a phone “hotel.” Administrators said there are a small number of medical exemptions (for devices used for conditions such as diabetes) and that, on a typical day, only a handful of phones are kept in the storage system.
Principals also highlighted safety and transportation drills, bus-driver appreciation, and hands-on learning such as tinkering lessons that paired ELA modules with practical technology work. High-school programming noted included an energy-and-sustainability course, service clubs and an expanded Springfest designed to bring colleges and employers into the building for rotating sessions with students.
Why it matters: The reports give local residents insight into how district resources are used to support student learning, extracurricular opportunities and routine safety and discipline practices. Administrators said the phone policy has reduced distraction and increased student engagement in lunchrooms and classrooms.
What’s next: The board announced its next meeting is May 12, which will include the budget hearing and further discussion of the proposed referendum and district finances.
