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Massena Central Policy Committee requests review of cell phone policy

Superintendent says phones and social media impact learning

Posted 1/12/25

MASSENA -- Cell phones in school have proven to be a major issue for numerous school districts, including Massena Central, prompting the Board of Education to revisit the district's policies …

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Massena Central Policy Committee requests review of cell phone policy

Superintendent says phones and social media impact learning

Posted

MASSENA -- Cell phones in school have proven to be a major issue for numerous school districts, including Massena Central, prompting the Board of Education to revisit the district's policies governing the devices.

The District Policy Committee has requested the policy be reviewed, according to Board Member Zachary Monroe.

Monroe commented during the Dec. 19 board meeting that the topic has come up multiple times in recent months, including the November Policy Committee meeting.

Officials have discussed the impact of cell phones on student learning, socialization and emotional development in many cases.

Superintendent Ron Burke recently told NCTW that cell phone usage, and social media in particular, have proven to be a distraction for young people.

"There is little doubt that cell phones and social media are not only a distraction to our young people but also a contributing factor to their socio-emotional well-being.  At Massena, we already have a ban on the use of cell phones during the school day.  Over time, this policy has drifted from the requirement that cell phones must be stored in lockers during the school day.  This remains a topic of discussion," he said.

Discuss it they will, as Monroe said the committee has voiced more concerns about cell phones, this time outside of school.

“A really good point that Mr. Burke also brought up is that a lot of the cell phone-related issues that he handles are from cell phone use outside of school, issues that stem from social media use or whatever the case may be. It’s not during the school day hours. It’s more or less the major behavioral issues that he has to deal with on the superintendent level,” Monroe said.

Monroe said the Policy Committee is seeking further information to see "what some of the issues are around" electronic device use by students.

Burke recently told NCTW that cell phones are required to be stored in lockers until the end of the day, however he felt that expediting a solution that shifts responsibility solely to schools and away from social media companies and families will only solve part of the problem.

"In my opinion, we have students for less than eight hours a day and therefore a cell phone ban is only part of the solution," Burke told NCTW.

Despite the school's policy, Monroe questioned if some teachers were allowing students to use cell phones in classrooms as an educational tool. He wondered if the phones had become distractions between school periods.

“Are students leaving the classroom to go to the bathroom a number of times during the day to be able to use their cellphones and get away without getting caught? So, those are some of the discussions we had,” Monroe said.

Part of the issue stems from an outright ban in the high school, while policies for junior high students allow them to carry cell phones to school under specific circumstances.

“Cell phone use is prohibited in the school building and on school provided transportation. Cellphones must remain in/at lockers at all times," the policy states.

The policy also states that students may communicate with their family via text at their locker but must return the device to the locker when done.

Due to those factors, Monroe said the Policy Committee recommended reviewing the policy in place which the committee felt "is pretty clear about the use, but also talking about the handling and observations with phones within our schools."

Burke said the topic is one that will be addressed again by the board in the near future.