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Whitney Point CSD

Whitney Point CSD Where Kids are the Point

Cell Phone Protocols/ Tech Safety

Cell Phone Management and Tech Safety

For the 2025-2026 school year, the Whitney Point School District, following input from students, educators, and families, implements a plan to minimize cell phone distractions during instructional hours. Whitney Point Central School District will continue its work to create a more focused, respectful, and productive learning environment for students in grades 6 through 12. Building on last year’s success, we will utilize Nukase cases to manage cell phone use during school hours.

  • The products, NuKase and NuKase XL , are a lockable phone case engineered specifically for K–12 schools to meet new state and district phone-restriction policies. Designed for durability, transparency, and ease of use, NuKase eliminates the operational challenges of soft pouches while giving educators complete control over when and how devices are accessed. Once locked at the beginning of the day, the case remains in the student’s possession but cannot be reopened until dismissal at a designated unlocking station.

    This approach, already used in many schools nationwide, has received positive feedback from educators, students, and families alike, and our own experience confirms its benefits.

  • New York State Education Law § 2803 is a statewide "bell-to-bell" mandate requiring all school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) to adopt written policies prohibiting student use of personal internet-enabled devices anywhere on school grounds during the school day. 

    Annual Enforcement Report: Distraction-free Schools Policy 

    1. Fewer Distractions: Limiting access to phones helps students focus more fully on learning.
    2. Improved Academics: Research shows that students perform better academically in phone-free settings.
    3. Stronger Social Connections: Reducing screen time during school promotes in-person interaction and community.
    4. A Safer Environment: Nukase cases help reduce the use of phones in harmful or inappropriate ways, including cyberbullying and unauthorized recording.

  • Below are key reminders and updates for families:

    • Device Storage: Students in grades 6–12 will be issued a Nukase case for storing phones, smartwatches, and similar devices each day upon arrival.
    • Pouch Access: Devices remain secured until dismissal, when students unlock their cases at staffed stations throughout the school.
    • Opt-Out for Non-Phone Users: If your child does not bring a phone to school, a “no phone pass” will be issued through the school’s main office.
    • Family Communication: If you need to reach your child during the day, please call the main office. Students also have email access through their Chromebooks.
    • Emergencies: In urgent situations, students may access phones via the main office or a staff member.

More information