Dear Gananda Families,
I hope this message finds you well as we prepare to welcome students back for the 2025–2026 school year. I’m writing to inform you about an important change that will affect all students across our district, in accordance with a new mandate from New York State.
Beginning September 3, 2025, Gananda Central School District will implement a ban on internet-enabled personal devices during the school day. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and personal laptops that are not issued by the school district. While cell phones are often the focus of these conversations, this law is broader—it applies to any device capable of accessing the internet and potentially distracting students from learning.
The full policy can be found here: https://boardpolicyonline.com/?b=gananda&s=47048
Key Details:
- September 3 (First Day of School): Staff will provide reminders and warnings to students about the new policy.
- September 4 (Day Two): The policy will be fully enforced. Staff will confiscate internet-enabled devices if they are visible, even if not in use.
- Elementary Schools: Devices must remain in backpacks, stored in cubbies or lockers.
- Middle and High Schools: Devices must be stored in lockers throughout the day.
- Confiscated Devices: Students will need to retrieve their devices from the main office at the end of the school day.
Our middle and high school principals will meet with each grade level on the first day to explain the policy and expectations. At the elementary level, homeroom teachers will introduce the policy to students.
We understand that implementing a new policy of this scale may require adjustments as the year progresses. We are committed to keeping families informed and will share updates as needed.
This change is part of our ongoing effort to create a focused, distraction-free learning environment for all
students. Thank you for your support and partnership as we begin a new school year.
Warm regards,
Shawn Van Scoy
*Please see documents below outlining this policy, as well as a podcast created in Notebook LM (AI), that explains the policy in a clear, approachable way.