NYS Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed the Distraction-Free Schools Law, which outlines a statewide bell-to-bell policy to ban cell phone usage in public and charter schools. You can view the official announcement from Gov. Hochul here. In order to comply with Gov. Hochul’s mandate, the Sharon Springs Board of Education has adopted a policy for cell phone usage for students during the school day. As required by NYS, this policy applies to all students (even upperclassmen). Students who do not provide a phone to be locked up, will have their parents contacted to be assured the phone is not in school.
Review the entire new use policy from the SSCS Student Handbook and consequences for noncompliance at the following link.
DAILY PROCESS FOR STUDENTS
K – 5 Students: All devices must be turned off and stored out of sight
6 – 12 Students: Place their personal electronic device(s) (i.e. smart device, smartwatch, earbuds, etc) inside a designated, labeled shelf inside of a container that is locked and stored in the main office.
As students in grades 6 – 12 enter their first period classroom, they will:
- Turn their device(s) off.
- Place their personal electronic device(s) (i.e. smart device, smartwatch, earbuds, etc) inside a designated, labeled shelf inside of a container that is locked in the main office.
- Be responsible for picking up their device(s) during homeroom.
*Students arriving late or leaving early will put their personal electronic devices (i.e. device, smartwatch, earbuds, etc) inside a designated container in the Main Office.
**Morning BOCES students will leave their device(s) in the main office as they arrive on campus for lunch.
***Afternoon BOCES students will pick up their devices from the main office at 11:15am (prior to departing for their program)
DEVICE USE PROGRESSIVE CONSEQUENCES
If a student violates the district’s internet-enabled device policy, the following will occur:
First Offense: If a device is seen (or heard) in a classroom/hallway/school space during school hours:
The student is immediately instructed to bring their device to the main office. The student’s parents will be contacted about this infraction and required to pick up the device. The student will be assigned lunch detention or homeroom detention (depending on the time of the infraction)
Second Offense: If a device is seen (or heard) in a classroom/hallway/school space during school hours:
The student is immediately instructed to bring their device to the main office. The student’s parents will be contacted about this infraction and required to pick up the device. The student will serve 3 days of lunch detention ahd homeroom detention. Prohibited from participating in any after school activities for the day of the infraction.
3. Third Offense (& beyond): If a device is seen (or heard) in a classroom/hallway/school space during school hours:
The student is immediately instructed to bring their device to the main office. The student’s parents will be contacted about this infraction and required to pick up the device. The student will serve 5days of lunch detention ahd homeroom detention. Prohibited from participating in any after school activities for the day of the infraction and 4 additional days.
*If the student does not cooperate in bringing their device(s) to the main office, this action will result in ISS, prohibited from after school activities for up to 5 weeks, and a ban of the device from school grounds for the remainder of the year.
**The administration reserves the right to adjust these consequences on a case-by-case basis if needed. For example, extreme behaviors that break the law or engaging in bullying/harassment of other students may result in suspension.
