Phone ban violations nearly triple in the first bell-to-bell year

What happened

Under the state's bell-to-bell rule, phones cannot be used from the first bell to the last bell. Recorded violations in grades 6-12 rose from 270 (2024-25) to 746 (2025-26), up 176%. Most were at Ward Melville High School (699).

Why it matters to families

The district says high school students lost lunch, study hall and hallway phone use, and enrollment grew. More than half of violations were first offenses. A third offense means the phone is taken and a parent must pick it up.

The evidence

The August 26, 2026 board slides show the policy (Board Policy 5695, Code of Conduct p. 12), the violation counts by school and grade, the steps of discipline and next steps (re-check mid-year).

The source