As of May 2025, Governor Hochul put forth the Distraction- Free Schools policy across New York State. This policy creates a statewide standard that includes, “No unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet- enabled personal devices on school grounds in K- 12 schools for the entire school day, including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods.” The policy tasks schools with developing plans for securing smartphones throughout the school day and requires schools to provide ways for parents to contact their students in school if necessary. This policy does not impact internet enabled devices provided by the school for educational purposes (laptops, Chromebooks, etc.). This policy has been implemented as part of the Governor’s commitment to protecting youth Mental Health.
Broome- Tioga BOCES and The Center for Career & Technical Education are committed to implementing the governor’s policy. The following procedures will be followed for all ½ day CTE students:
- All students are expected to leave their electronic devices in their bags or assigned lockers from their arrival time to dismissal from Broome- Tioga BOCES buildings. No electronic devices should be in classrooms unless as instructed by their teacher for an educational purpose specifically for that class.
- Students in the Emerging Battery Technology classroom at Chenango Forks HS and at BOCES Satellite CTE sit at Owego will be provided Yondr pouches and should stow their electronics in them at arrival to their site. Magnets will be available to unlock the pouches at dismissals.
Students found to be in possession of electronic devices during the school day will result in the following actions:
- Students will place their devices in a Yondr pouch for the remainder of the school day and this will be tracked on a referral form. - Students who have more than three instances of using their device without permission will have a conference with an assistant principal and a call will be placed home. The student will be asked to leave their device at home.
- Continuing instances, students will meet with an administrator and an in- person conference will be held with the student and his/her parent/guardian. The student’s home district will be notified. A written plan will be created for internet enabled device storage and expectations moving forward. This will be signed by the administrator, student, & parent/guardian and shared with the student’s home district and all BOCES staff who work directly with the student (teachers, counselor, etc.).
1. Parents/Guardians: You can contact your child via their cell phone/device before they enter the BOCES building, or after their district dismissal time. In the event of an immediate emergency, please call the school’s main office at (607) 763- 3341. 2. If students need to place an emergency phone call during the day, they should request to go to the main office or counselor’s office and will be given access to a phone to communicate with the appropriate person.
3. In the event of an emergency, there are select staff members throughout the building who have access to unlocking mechanisms and who will assist students with unlocking their Yondr pouches as deemed appropriate.
4. This procedure is in place when students are within the BOCES building. Should they leave the building during the school day for a school- related co- op or work experience opportunity, students will unlock their pouches upon leaving the building and are expected to act responsibly, following the expectations of his/her business partner, for device usage while representing BOCES off campus.
5. Students who have specific accommodations in an IEP or 504 plan will be granted access as written in their plan.