Students in Peekskill are adjusting to a new normal under New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s new state law known as “bell-to-bell,” which prohibits the use of smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, and other internet-connected devices from the moment they walk into the school building to the ring of the last bell.
While the policy is designed to eliminate distractions in the classroom, its implementation has sparked a variety of reactions from students, parents, and educators.
According to school officials, the district’s plan to enforce the law wasn’t made overnight. They say that a collaborative approach was taken to create a system that was age appropriate, complied with the state law, and supported the needs of all students.
“We wanted to be transparent in how we were approaching this,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Mauricio. Last year and over the summer, focus groups were held with students, teachers, and parents to gauge reactions and brainstorm solutions. Public meetings were also conducted at both the middle and high schools, ensuring that the community had the opportunity to provide feedback before the policy was finalized.
The consensus from parents is that they are concerned about the amount of time their children spend on their phones at home. For their part, teachers say that cellphones are a major distraction in the classroom.
Dr. Mauricio told the Peekskill Herald that he asked students to check their daily screen time and compare it to the time they spend reading, studying, playing or connecting with family and peers. “If it’s out of balance, then an adjustment needs to be made,” he said. Implementing this policy is “allowing them to disconnect to reconnect.”
For some students the shift feels jarring. Betsy Merchan, an 11th grader at Peekskill High School, told the Herald she had conflicting feelings about the cellphone ban. “My first thought was, ‘I don’t know how I’ll get through the day.’ I use my phone for assignments and to contact family members often, so it’s something I’ll have to get accustomed to.”
For others, the transition has been easier than expected, particularly for those who have already noticed a difference in the way they interact with their classmates. Alyssa Copelend, a senior and the class president, said she’s noticed people talking to each other more. “Usually we’re on our phones during lunch or study hall, but this year people have been doing puzzles, coloring, and actually talking to each other, so socially, school has been a lot better.”
Copelend described the system in place for managing phones at Peekskill High School: Students are permitted to keep their phones in their backpacks or lockers, but if they’re caught using their phone, they’ll receive a warning. After that, the school will provide a Yondr pouch— a magnetic locking case, similar to security tags used on clothing. The pouch locks the phone away securely and can be picked up at the end of the school day.
While students adjust, parents have also had to grapple with the implications of the new law. In the focus groups, parents expressed concern about not being able to reach their child during the school day, especially in case of emergency. The district says parents can contact the main office of the student’s school if they need to reach their child. In the event of an emergency affecting an entire building, the district has protocols in place to send messages to parents.
It’s still too early in the new policy’s implementation to gauge its effectiveness, but the district is hopeful that the ban will help students achieve a better balance between the digital world and the classroom. While the process of adapting to the new normal will take time, the district says its goal remains unchanged. As Dr. Mauricio noted, “Together, we will adapt and be better for it in the end.”
