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.
Evertech will implement a Distraction- Free school environment with the following procedure:
? Students will enter the school building between 8:00 and 8:30am and will report to the Student Cafeteria. Upon arrival into the building, students are expected to secure their device(s) in a Yondr pouch. This will allow the student to keep his/her/their device(s) in his/her/their possession while still ensuring that it is secure and out of use during the school day. This includes time when the student is participating in on- campus CTE classes and in the cafeteria as well as in traditional classrooms.
? At dismissal, students will unlock their Yondr pouches at wall mounted unlocking stations placed near exits throughout the building restoring access to their personal devices.
? During the school day, should a student need access to his/her/their device, a staff member can provide him/her/their with access to an unlocking device. Parents can contact their Evertech student by calling the Evertech Main Office at (607)766- 3722. We have worked to ensure that calls are forwarded if the secretary is away from her desk at any given point throughout the school day.
To preserve the teaching and learning environment, this document is to clarify the personal electronic device procedure for Evertech Academy, including the Futures program.
The procedure is: Cell phones and all functions within the cell phone (i.e. cameras and all other applications) are prohibited while inside the school building during the regular school day (8:00am- 2:30pm) in the following areas: Classrooms, Science Labs, Restrooms, all Physical Education Areas and all School Office Areas. All personal internet- enabled devices should be turned off and stored securely in Yondr pouches while students are at school. In addition, wireless headphones (both ear buds and over the ear style) are not permitted during the school day. We will provide wired headphones (ear buds or over the ear style) to students for use with school provided electronic devices (computers, chromebooks, etc.) as needed.
The use of cell phones/personal internet- enabled devices is no longer permitted in the school cafeteria during breakfast or lunch or on school grounds between the hours of 8:00am and 2:30pm.
Violation of the internet- enabled electronic device rules as stated above will result in the secure storage of the device according to the following plan:
First Offense - Student will receive a verbal warning, store their device appropriately, and will review the internet- enabled device procedure with an administrator or counselor.
? Second Offense - Student will meet with an administrator and the student’s device will be stored securely for the duration of the school day. A call home to the student’s parent or guardian will be made in order to review the electronic device procedure and expectations moving forward.
? Third Offense - Student will meet with an administrator and the student’s device will be stored securely for the duration of the school day and a plan will be created for cell device storage moving forward at the discretion of the administrator. A phone call home to parent or guardian will be made.
? Fourth Offense - Student will meet with an administrator and an in- person conference will be held with the student and his/her/their 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.).
*It should be noted that refusal to surrender an internet enabled device when requested to do so by a school staff member, teacher or administrator is a violation of this procedure and may result in an additional consequence. Additional Information:
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) 766- 3722. 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/their business partner, for device usage while representing BOCES off campus.
5. The staff of Evertech Academy requests your full cooperation with our procedure.
6. Students and their parents must read the cell phone procedure and return a signed copy to Mrs. Klein by September 15th.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call Mrs. Falank or Mrs. Klein at (607)766- 3722.