On May 6, 2025, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced a major investment in distraction-free schools, making good on an earlier promise to parents, educators and administrators to create healthier and safer learning environments for students by restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools across the state. This historic cell-phone policy will go into effect for the 2025-26 school year, restricting all phones “bell-to-bell.”
The bell-to-bell policies have already been successfully adopted in districts throughout New York, with school leaders reporting positive results. But what does this change mean for administrators, students and teachers at Westhampton Beach High School? The answer depends on who you ask.
How does the administration think this new policy will be implemented? Assistant Principal, Mr. Bookamer, explained, “With the Governor’s order, students will not be able to access their phones at all from the beginning of the school day until they leave the building. It will be different this year because students will not be able to access their phones during passing times or at lunch.”
With students used to having access to their phones throughout the day, these changes will feel much more restrictive to students and leads to a totally different way of operation at the school.
Many students expressed frustration about the impending policy and how it could affect them personally. Max Atkinson, a junior in the high school, shared his opinion on the upcoming change to the school. He said, “I disagree with the phone ban upcoming next year because it restricts my right and this device is my own personal device therefore the school should not control it. Also if there is an emergency where I need to contact someone, I would not be able to.”Sentiments like this show the policy is not without controversy and is sure to be met with frustration by students, particularly those in the high school.
So while Governor Hochul and her supporters cheer “we got it done,” questions of how the high school administrators and teachers will actually implement and enforce such a significant change still remain. Moreover, student reactions are strong and there will undoubtedly be many difficult conversations among district officials, parents and students going forward.
The cell phones may be shut off next school year, but the reaction to this controversial change is only just heating up.
