As students move through the halls, they’re smiling, chatting and connecting with one another — a shift, according to students and school officials alike, from recent years that saw students more absorbed by their smartphones than their classmates and teachers.
Since returning to classrooms in September, Yorktown and Lakeland students have been adjusting to the state’s “bell-to-bell” ban on smartphones and other devices. While some parents and students were initially hesitant, the policy is earning stronger marks than expected at the midpoint of the school year, fostering more social interaction even as some say there is still room for improvement.
The rule, set by the New York State Education Department after being previously adopted in other states, applies from the first bell to the last—including lunch, free periods and everything in between. The goal is to both create a more focused learning environment and support students' mental health.
The goal, administrators said, was to ease everyone — students, parents and teachers — into the transition, making them aware of expectations and potential consequences.
At Yorktown High School, Principal Joseph DeGennaro said 331 phones have been confiscated so far out of 1,130 students.
“It is going a lot better than I thought,” he told Yorktown News, and called the shift to the policy “not as contentious,” crediting the administration’s early approach to setting expectations for students.
While administrators and teachers reported increased student engagement, they said they plan to continue collaborating to make sure all students receive support and their needs are met.
Yorktown High School has added more announcements and updates on screens throughout the building. Parents who need to reach their children call the office, and the message is passed along.
Before the school year began, Superintendent of Schools Ron Hattar sent families an update explaining that the law provided schools with clear guidelines but “very limited flexibility.” A district survey before the program began found then that 54 percent of families supported the ban, while 45 percent opposed it.
“Regardless of one’s feelings on this new legislation, our district will always comply with the law,” Hattar said at the time.
If students were skeptical as the school year began, many are finding the ban to be more of a relief than an inconvenience.
Addressing the Yorktown school board in the fall, senior Hunter Mezzatesta– the district’s first ex officio student member of the Board of Education – reported that while students were worried about not having access to their phones at first, the ban had produced positive results.
“It’s working out better than many expected,” he said. “Students are more focused and less distracted in the classroom.
"That said, there are certainly some adjustments that would make this policy less restrictive, while maintaining the benefits of student learning," he added.
He suggested allowing phone use during free periods as one possible adjustment.
“We’re hopeful that as time goes on, appropriate adjustments will be made to the policy,” he said.
While the district has said it will comply with the law, it has some leeway in how it implements the policy, including where and how devices are stored during the school day. High school students are not allowed to use personal devices during the school day, and they must be kept in backpacks or lockers. Many students opt to keep their devices in their backpacks.
Faculty support has been strong. A survey of 97 Yorktown CSD staff members conducted earlier in the school year showed that about 69 percent said the policy “very positively” affected students. Teachers reported an overall improvement in the learning environment. Early observations included fewer classroom disruptions, increased focus and engagement, and more in-person interaction among students.
The reaction has been similar across the Lakeland Central School District. Before the policy took effect, Lakeland High School student Aiden Buehl said he mainly used his phone to listen to music and questioned whether a full ban is necessary.
“I can't even take my phone out to check the time without getting warned of confiscation,” Buehl said.
He believes students should decide how to spend free periods, and that the policy shouldn’t be so strict during that time.
“It should be up to students to get work done. If they want to go on their phones all day and fail, then that's their choice,” he said. “All this ban does is punish people who can multitask and leaves introverts with nothing to do but stare at a wall.”
Lakeland student Nada E., said the cell phone ban has done little to solve the real issues with phone use in school.
“It prohibits teachers from being able to actually provide solutions for the cell phone problem instead of pretending that they aren't there. Teachers cannot require kids to put cell phones in cell phone racks because kids shouldn't even have their cell phones out in the first place,” she said. “However, they take them out anyway, and the teacher is reduced to either turning a blind eye or constantly worrying and scolding the ones with phones instead of having all phones in a visible spot and focusing on teaching.”
If a student breaks the phone rules, staff take stepped-up actions. The first time, the phone is taken and returned at the end of class, with parents notified. A second offense means the phone stays with staff until the end of the day, and parents are again informed. After that, the phone is only returned following a meeting with the student, parents, and a teacher or administrator. Across both Yorktown and Lakeland districts, students will not be suspended solely for accessing an internet-enabled device in violation of this policy.
Lakeland officials did not respond to Yorktown News’ request for comment on student compliance with the ban or on enforcement.
The sophomore added that while overall phone use has dropped, the same results could be achieved with phone racks, which she believes would provide a clearer, enforceable system.
“Rarely are students given actual consequences for using their phone,” she said. "Most of the time they are given a verbal warning and nothing more. “
At a Lakeland Board of Education meeting last August, trustees voted 6-1 to adopt the policy. Former board president Adam Kaufman cast the lone no vote, calling it “the textbook definition of government overreach.” While acknowledging the policy is required by the state, he said young people have grown up in a digital world.
“Technology is part of our world," Kaufman said.
In Yorktown, Band Director Emily Kluga, whose classes range from six to more than 50 students, described the policy as “effective” and said her “students are adjusting well.” She said she has noticed a new respect with the policy.
“When I walk around the classroom during a rehearsal, the only items on the music stands are sheet music and a pencil,” Kluga said, adding that she doesn’t see students hiding phones in their laps or sneaking a look at texts.
“Students are more engaged with the lesson, with the rehearsal, and with each other,” she said.
Outside of music classes, Kluga said she has seen a “refreshing change,” with students bringing card games to school, playing UNO in the lunchroom, and enjoying time together.
According to DeGennaro, YHS principal, the socialization benefits have made a major difference.
“You have a lot more student engagement, a lot more kids are at tables, a lot more conversation,” he said. “You see faces more. You make more eye contact. And that's really important for teenagers.”
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