Middletown District Bans Cell Phone Use During School Day

MIDDLETOWN, NY — Students in the Enlarged City School District of Middletown will have to turn off and put away their cell phones during the school day.

That is the latest policy announcement from the district's administration.

In a letter to the community posted on Facebook, Superintendent Amy Creeden wrote that the district will be kicking off the 2022-23 school year with a refreshed set of expectations on cell phone use.

"In order for our collective school community to rally around our vision," she wrote," we need your support."

Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, the following will be in place on all school campuses for kindergarten through 12th grade:

• Cell phones must be turned off and put away during the school day.
• Students may only access their cell phones prior to the start of the school day and then again after the school day ends.
• Students will not have access to their cell phones at any point during the school day, which includes during study hall and lunch periods.
• Students are not permitted use cell phones during passing times.
• To ensure the integrity of assessments, all students are prohibited from having cell phones in a classroom or other location where an assessment in being administered.

Creeden said the new policy was announced early in the summer so families and their children will have time to plan.

"I strongly encourage families to make communication plans this summer and discuss the plan openly as a family," she said. "Our scholars will not have access to their cell phones during the school day."

Besides being able to use their cell phones before the school day begins, students will be able to use them for after-school activities.

Creeden explained that the school's offices will remain a resource to students and families.

"In the event you have an urgent matter, our office staff will get a message to your child or have him/her return your call," she said. "If a scholar must call home, they should go to the main office to place a call."

Cell phones used in violation of the policy will be collected, and a parent or guardian will be required to come to the school to pick up the device. Phones will not be handed back to a student after it is confiscated.

"We know we are better when we work to support one another," Creeden said. "Our young people will be expected to engage with these expectations in positive ways and follow the guidelines we have outlined."

Creeden and the school district will host a discussion Aug. 2 on the topic of cell phones, News 12 reported.

Patch reached out to the school district for a comment but a response wasn't immediately forthcoming.