Schenectady Schools get new cell phone “pause” policy

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Monday night the Schenectady City School District Board of Education held a special meeting to talk about cell phones. In a four to three vote, the board decided to oust a 13-year-old policy and put in a new cell phone pause. “Again, this is not a cell phone ban. It is a cell phone pause,” reiterated Schenectady Board of Education President, Bernice Rivera.

 In the special board meeting members discussed the cell phone policy for Schenectady schools going forward. “I think it makes sense to have some means in which to support both the balance of what's taking place in the classroom to then also that use of the technology,” said Schenectady City School District Superintendent, Dr. Carlos Cotto Jr.

However, board member Jamaica Miles questioned the proceedings saying, “I object. The agenda denied public comment for this meeting. While I understand it is at the discretion of the president to call a special meeting for special matters to be presented and we were notified as per the requirements, the special meeting is to be run like a regular meeting.”

Yet, superintendent Cotto says it was a choice made for efficiency.  “We asked the community to put it through our Let's Talk. So, I think anything that was shared through Let's Talk has been shared with the board to review those,” said Cotto.

Whether you call it a ban or a pause, school leaders spoke up at the meeting to express how the current policy works. M. L. King Elementary Principal, Kristen Munrett said, “I understand you may want a cell phone on your child, but if we see it, we're going to ask them to put it away and to have it off. So that it doesn't disrupt the educational process.”

Oneida Middel School Principal Antonio Furnina told the board, “I'm not going to reiterate the old policy. But I'm going to say we do not police PEDS (Personal Electronic Device). We set building-wide expectations and supervise those expectations.”

And some leaders already moving forward. “We purchased through our building budget we already purchased receptacles. They're in the classroom. It's basically a case where students can put their cell phones in there,” said Schenectady High School Principal, Dennis Green.

Yet, board members still wanted more information. “While some schools have seen a decrease in cyberbullying incidents there is little rigorous research on the long-term effects of the bans. Nor has there been any presentation of correlation between the ban or cyberbullying,” stated Miles.

The new policy will affect all schools throughout the district. The receptacle that each school picks is up to that school’s administration.