Since the beginning of this school year, New York State’s “Distraction-Free Schools” law has been incorporated into Monroe-Woodbury schools successfully, according to administration. Students with phones at school are required to have them in a locked Yondr pouch throughout the course of the school day.
The Monroe-Woodbury Student Code of Conduct has addressed phone usage for many years, with a general policy that phones were to be “off and away.” The policy was not often taken seriously by students and and difficult to enforce for teachers, with write-ups being a rarity.
Principal Mr. McElroy said that prior to the new policy, cell phone usage in the classroom was common and “classroom teachers just got to a place where they just kept dealing with it.”
In May 2025, a state-wide phone ban was passed stating that phones were to be restricted from bell-to-bell with implementation plans being up to each district. The ban attempts to bring the focus of school back to education and success while protecting students’ mental health.
“I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why New York continues to lead the nation on protecting our kids in the digital age,” said Governor Kathy Hochul.
Math teacher Ms. Sayegh said the new policy has brought positive change to her classroom.
“We as teachers had nothing to stand on before Yondr, but now we do,” said Ms. Sayegh, who has seen student attention increase since the policy’s implementation. “I see eyes instead of the tops of their heads.”
Most teachers had similar reactions.
“Attention and behavior has changed, in that students do not have the distraction of their phones. They are paying more attention and participating more,” said English teacher Ms. McAssey.
Mr. Hodges, another English teacher, noticed something similar. He explained that before the phone policy, phones were always disrupting the class when he was teaching.
“A student would get a notification on their phone, look down for just a second, and all of sudden half the class was also on their phones,” explained Mr. Hodges. “Now more students answer more questions and everybody pays more attention now.”
In previous years, social media usage throughout the school day was common, with students communicating online about meetings in bathrooms. This caused a security issues regarding students possibly vaping or skipping class. Also, social media was used to bully and harass other students.
Last year, the school’s referral count was over 1100 referrals, over 100 a month, said principal Mr. McElroy. As of November, the school had only dealt with 44 referrals. He believes that the distraction-free schools policy has contributed to to less fights and better interactions between students.
“You’re doing a good job,” said Mr. McElroy, addressing the students. “Without your help this would not work. Thanks to the student body for your compliance.”
The state law left each district to administer its own policy. Monroe-Woodbury’s administration had many ideas for implementing the phone ban within the district including storage containers in each classroom. Nearby districts Newburgh School District and Middletown School District had previously implemented the Yondr pouch with success, which pushed Monore-Woodbury to do the same.
At the elementary level (K-5), students are not allowed to bring any electronic devices into the building and at a secondary level (6-12), students are to lock their phones in Yondr pouches which were supplied on the first day of school.
At the high school, students enter the building each day with their Yondr pouch locked with their phone inside. Then, security at each entrance will check that the pouch is locked and grant entry into the building. If students do not have their pouch or their phone, they will enter through the music hallway, fill out a Google Form, and security takes their phone until the end of the school day.
Students have expressed that they don’t mind their phones being locked away during the school day with most not noticing their phone being gone. Yet, many miss the ability to listen to music or contact their parents throughout the day.
“I don’t feel very affected by it [referring to the ban], but it is a little inconvenient to not be able to listen to music,” said Gabi Salazar, a junior.
Some students have seen themselves becoming more aware of their surroundings and interacting with their peers more than they did before the phone ban.
Even though the phone ban affects every student in the High School, some students think that everyone being affected for a few people going on their phones is unfair to everyone else.
“We should not all have to give up our phones because of people that can’t control themselves,” said James McCormick, a senior.
A few students expressed concerns about safety.
“If there is a shooter, you can’t call parents,” said Kiara Eckstein. Another student, Marley Smith, agreed and said that the rule “feels needed, but students should still have phones for emergencies.”
There are still landlines in each classroom and teachers have access to their own phones in the classroom.
Kayla Pitt said that the policy is “not that bad” and so far “doesn’t really impact safety.”
Student Mia Peacock complained about the policy and explained that you “can’t create memories in school” without your phone. Students use their phones to take pictures to record moments with their friends.
One student who the policy has impacted is sophomore Benjamin Francois.
“I get why they’re doing it, but it is annoying when I need to check my phone or something,” he said. “Still, I’ve definitiely been paying more attention in class.”
Freshman Jaylen Smith said that whenever he used to get a social media notification on his phone he felt like he had to check it.
“Now I don’t worry about checking my phone all the time during class,” said Smith. “I just focus on school and use my phone later.”
Parents have expressed fears that they wouldn’t be able to contact their children during emergencies at schools along with not knowing who to contact if they do need to get in touch. Other parents have expressed that their child has lost their Yondr pouch and weren’t able to find it, unless someone turned it in. Despite this, parents have said that they have seen their children becoming more focused on school.
Monroe-Woodbury administration has seen an overall success with the usage of the Yondr pouches and abidance of the new rules enacted for the 2025-2026 school year. Administration does not see the Yondr pouch going away in Monroe-Woodbury, according to Vice Principal Dr. Sciarra.
“We’re just making sure students stay focused in class so teachers can teach without as many interruptions as last year,” said Dr. Sciarra.
