MCS Ready for New State Cell Phone Ban

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh Central School is "fully prepared" to implement the new state cell phone ban this fall.

"We are fully prepared for the upcoming ban on internet-enabled devices," MCS Superintendent Mark Place said last week. "Prior to the end of the school year, we communicated these changes to families, and (high school Principal Matthew) Sloane also hosted a Google Meet to answer parent questions."

Mr. Place explained the new ban.

"In accordance with the Governor’s order, phones may not be kept on students’ persons or in their backpacks. At MCS, students will be required to store their phones in their lockers for the entirety of the school day. Parents who need to reach their child — or vice versa — can do so by calling the school’s main office."

To help keep students updates, "At the high school, we have also invested in large-screen displays in the lobby outside the main office and in the cafeteria to share timely updates, such as sports schedule changes or after-school activity cancellations," Mr. Place added.

Reminders will be sent out before school starts next month.

"Mr. Sloane and I will also be sending reminders to families in the coming weeks to ensure everyone is fully aware of the expectations before the start of the school year," Mr. Place said.