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Bell-to-Bell INternet Connected Device Policy

STUDENT PHONE POLICY & GUIDELINES

New York State has implemented a “bell-to-bell” ban on smartphones in K-12 schools. Cell phones, smartwatches, and wireless earbuds/headphones are not to be used during the school day. Every student is assigned a personal Yondr Pouch. While the Yondr Pouch is considered school property, it is each student’s responsibility to bring their Pouch with them to school every day and keep it in good working condition. 

DAILY PROCESS

As students Enter the School Building, they will: 

  1. Turn their phone off.
  2. Place their phone/smartwatch/earbuds inside their Pouch and secure it in front of school staff. Headphones should be stored in student lockers.
  3. Be responsible for carrying or storing their Pouch. 

As students Exit the School Building, they will: 

  1. Unlock their Pouch.
  2. Remove their phone/smartwatch/earbuds.
  3. Close their Pouch and take it with them. 

Students must bring their Pouch to school with them each day.

*Students arriving late or leaving early will lock/unlock their phone/smartwatch/ear buds in the High School Office/Vestibule. 

DAMAGED/LOST/FORGOTTEN POUCHES

Damaged Pouch

If a Yondr Pouch is ripped, cut, torn, damaged, signs of force to the black button on the back or opened in any way other than prescribed by the district:

  • The student/their caregiver is responsible for purchasing a new Pouch ($35 USD)
  • The student also serves a 2:35-5:30 P.M. detention on that day and cannot attend clubs, sports, dances or any extracurriculars that day. 


Examples of damage:

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Forgotten Pouch

If a student forgets their Pouch, their phone/smartwatch/ear buds will be collected and stored in the High School Office for the day. A member of the administrative team will call home to remind the parent/caregiver of the cell phone policy. The student may retrieve their phone from the High School Office at dismissal. 

Lost Pouch

If a student loses their Pouch, the student/their caregiver is responsible for purchasing a new Pouch ($30 USD).

SENIOR PASS & MERIT PASS PROCESS

Before students Exit the School Building, they will: 

  1. Sign out in the High School Office.
  2. Unlock their Pouch.
  3. Remove their phone/smartwatch/earbuds.
  4. Close their Pouch and LEAVE IT on the table until they return. 

As students Enter the School Building, they will: 

  1. Sign in through the High School Office.
  2. Turn their phone off.
  3. Place their phone/smartwatch/earbuds inside their Pouch and secure it in front of school staff.
  4. Be responsible for carrying or storing their Pouch. 

CONTACTING STUDENTS AND/OR FAMILIES

The Jr./Sr. high school has Voice over Internet Protocol phones in each classroom and main office.

Students can contact parents/guardians/caregivers by:

      1. Utilizing the student phone in the high school main office

      2. Utilizing a classroom phone, with teacher permission

Families can contact their student by:

1. Calling the high school office at: (518)-295-6601, and have a message relayed to the student or request the student call their parent/guardian/caregiver. Please note, calling the office is the suggested means of contact.

2. Emailing the high school office with a message or request for the student to contact their parent/guardian/caregiver. Please send an email to any of the following individuals:

APPENDIX D—YONDR PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE

Phone Use Progressive Discipline

Failure to comply with the district’s cell phone policy

1st offense

If a phone is seen (or heard) in a classroom/hallway/school space during school hours:

  • The phone is immediately given to the adult in the space for the entirety of the day and can be picked up in the High School Office at the end of the day.
  • Student will complete a reading and guided questions focused on cell phone impact on education and will serve an after-school detention from 2:35-3:10 p.m.
  • If the phone isn’t immediately given to the adult, the phone will be confiscated by someone from the administrative team. The phone will remain in the High School Office until a caregiver comes to pick it up.

2nd offense

If a phone is seen (or heard) in a classroom/hallway/school space during school hours:

  • The phone is immediately given to the adult and a parent/caregiver needs to pick up the phone in the High School Office at the end of the school day.
  • Student serves a lunch period detention and a 2:35-5:30 p.m. detention on that day and cannot attend clubs, sports, dances or any extracurriculars that day. If the infraction takes place after the student’s assigned lunch period, the lunch detention will take place the following school day.
  • If the phone isn’t immediately given to the adult, the phone will be confiscated by someone from the administrative team. The phone will remain in the High School Office until a caregiver comes to pick it up. Student serves In-School Suspension on that day and 2:35-5:30 P.M. detention. Students cannot attend clubs, sports, dances or any extracurriculars that day.

3rd offense

If a phone is seen (or heard) in a classroom/hallway/school space during school hours:

  • The phone is immediately given to the adult and a parent/caregiver needs to pick up the phone in the High School Office at the end of the school day.
  • Student serves 2:35-5:30 p.m. detention that day. A lunch detention and second 2:35-5:30 p.m. detention will be assigned the next scheduled school day.
  • If the phone isn’t immediately given to the adult, the phone will be confiscated by someone from the administrative team. The phone will remain in the High School Office until a caregiver comes to pick it up. Student serves an additional two (2) 2:35-5:30 p.m. detentions, in addition to the third offense disciplinary disposition.

Damage to Yondr Pouch

If a Yondr Pouch is ripped, cut, torn, damaged, shows signs of force to the black button on the back or opened in any way other than prescribed by the district:

  • The student/their caregiver is responsible for purchasing a new Pouch ($35 USD)
  • The student also serves a 2:35-5:30 p.m. detention on that day and cannot attend clubs, sports, dances or any extracurriculars that day.