Dear Parents and Guardians,
This letter is to inform you of an important new policy regarding cellphone use in schools, which will take effect for the 2025-26 school year. New York State’s Distraction-Free Schools Law prohibits the unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day 7:55am-2:29pm, including classroom time and other settings like lunch and recess. This also includes activities during the school day that may be outside of the building or off campus (i.e., CTE programs, field trips, PE classes, etc.).
To ensure a successful implementation, these restrictions must be applied district-wide. Here in the elementary school, if a child is found to be in possession of a cell phone during school hours, the device will be put in a secure location in the office. The child will be able to retrieve the phone at the end of the day. We understand that parents may be concerned about not being able to contact their child during the school day. We will work to ensure that channels for communication remain open in case of emergencies. Parents can contact their child by calling the main office to leave a message. District phones are available in all classrooms and the guidance office for emergency use. In addition, email can be utilized to contact office staff throughout the day.
All districts must provide clarity regarding consequences if the law is not abided by. District wide we will utilize the existing progressive discipline structure for the “cell phone policy violation” referred to in the code of conduct. The progressive discipline will include placing the phone in a secure location within the main office and the student retrieving it at the end of the day and requiring parents to pick them up after repeated offenses. Our hope is that the initial response will be sufficient and that instances will not escalate to insubordination, thereby progressing the consequence.
For this policy to truly benefit the FFCS learning environment, we request parents collaborate with the district to ensure devices are secured and out of sight from bell to bell. We are confident this new approach will foster a more concentrated and interactive learning atmosphere for all students. We will keep you informed of further updates and details regarding this policy’s implementation, and the full policy will be available on the district website for your reference and review.
Sincerely,
Eric Romano
Elementary School Principal