SCS Prepared for New State Cell Phone Ban

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Schoharie Central School, which adopted a new student cell phone policy in September 2022, is prepared to implement the new state cell phone ban this fall.

Starting in the 2022-23 school year, SCS students had to place their cell phones in locking pouches for the entire school day.

That new policy has been deemed a success and requires only a minor addition before the district meets the state requirements for the new state policy, said Superintendent David Blanchard.

The district, Mr. Blanchard said, only needs to add policies concerning the notification of parents. The policy, which will be adopted for the fall, will state that the parents will be allowed to call in and connect with students, which is in the Governor's final plan.

Parents will call the schools to connect with their children, "just like in the past," Mr. Blanchard said.

"Our approach is very much in concert with what the state put into the new law," Mr. Blanchard at the July 9 school board meeting.

"Our kids have learned a lot of self-control and self-discipline" with the 2022 cell phone policy, Mr. Blanchard added.

The state policy will restrict Smartphone use in schools throughout the entire school day and requires schools to give parents a way to contact students during the school day.

Schools have the flexibility to create their own implementation plan. The budget allocates $13.5 million for pouches, cubbies or other storage devices.