As statewide student cell phone ban looms, Newfield district’s mandate rolls on

New York state will soon put its student cell phone ban for every school district into effect.

The statewide ban commences at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year. Meanwhile, the cell phone ban is already in effect at Newfield Central School District (CSD).

Newfield CSD, which initiated its ban in Sept. 2023, is one of many school districts across the country to implement cell phone restrictions for its students.

“It hasn’t been perfect, but it has kept the phone usage down,” said Newfield CSD Superintendent Eric Hartz. “But I like it. The students will be less distracted.”

At the Nov. 21, 2024 board of education meeting, Newfield CSD Director of Curriculum Sunny Miller, Middle School Principal Melissa Addy and Elementary School Principal Kym Stine gave a presentation on the positive impact of the district-wide ban.

Students, staff and parents have expressed how making cell phones obsolete during the school day has provided a better outlook on schoolwork and more.

According to the presentation, the ban’s goals are to decrease discipline referrals, increase classroom engagement, strengthen social skills and foster a positive school culture.

During the early stages of the ban, the presenters noted that students expressed frustration, resistance and the fear of missing out (FOMO).

“Some students experience a peak of negative emotion when the ban is first introduced due to withdrawal from phones,” the presentation noted. “It comes with initial refusal to comply, with the feeling of losing autonomy or entertainment. [FOMO] follows, with concerns over social connections, missing notifications and updates.”

A plan of action from school officials led to improved engagement and enhanced social connections from students, as well as positive teacher feedback.

“Students notice they can focus better in class without distractions,” the presentation stated. “It allowed opportunities for deeper face-to-face conversations and participation in group activities. Teachers also reported fewer behavioral disruptions and better classroom classroom dynamics.”

Curriculum numbers for the stretch of the ban between 2023 and 2024 were provided. In grades kindergarten through 12, 75% of students will be on or above grade levels.

According to state test results, grades three through eight saw a 34% increase in math and an 18% spike in English/language arts in terms of improvement in the classroom.

“I think overall it is welcoming,” Hartz said. “There will always be people who don’t see things the same way.”

Hartz said the overuse of cell phones was a “very large distraction,” noting that it caused issues with students in terms of picture-taking and texting.

“The fewer distractions the students have, the more they will focus on work and other things like socializing with friends,” he added. “With the procedure we have in place now, we see students being more social at lunch. There are far less distractions.”

Update on Newfield CSD’s capital project

The Newfield Central School District provided an update on its $21 million capital project at a recent board of education meeting.

The district discovered that the foundation of the bus storage area, which was built in 1976, is “inadequate,” and additional work at the bus garage will be needed.

Due to the extra work added to the garage project, blacktopping the bus garage area will be delayed until summer 2026.

Newfield CSD Superintendent Eric Hartz previously noted that upgrades to the bus garage, which is the “first of the larger pieces” to start the project, began on May 12 and will continue through the summer.

The bus garage — which Hartz said in the past needs significant work done — will include updating the structure’s security cameras and PA system, adding bus charging stations for the electric buses and infrastructure, paving the bus parking area, updating the HVAC system, renovating offices and bathrooms, reconstructing steel columns and improving mezzanine access.

Paving of the Main Street parking lot is still on schedule to begin after Newfield High School’s June 27 graduation.

The update also noted that the road to Cancro field has been torn out, as crews prepare it for new pavement and sidewalk.

According to the update, the parking area at Cancro field “will be much larger and have appropriate drainage to mitigate water issues at the elementary school.”

Smith Site Development, a site contracting company attached to the capital project, provides progress on work being done at Newfield CSD at smithsitedevelopment.com.

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Reading with dogs event at the library on July 2

The Newfield Public Library will hold an event where children can read to volunteer therapy dogs on Wednesday, July 2, at 3:30 p.m.

The library invites the public to read with dogs from Cornell Canine Companions, an all-volunteer organization sponsored by the Cornell University Veterinary College.

For more information, go to newfieldpubliclibrary.org.

Town meetings in July

The Newfield Town Board will have its monthly meetings on July 10 and 24, with each meeting starting at 7 p.m. The town’s planning board is scheduled to meet on July 2 at 7 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the meetings in person or via Zoom.