WEBSTER, N.Y. – It’s back-to-school time. Tuesday marks the first day of classes for students in several districts across the region, including Webster, Brighton, Gates-Chili, Rush-Henrietta, and Bloomfield. You can see when your child’s district begins its first day here.
Starting this school year, smartphones, smartwatches, personal headphones, tablets, personal laptops, and gaming devices will be banned from public schools across New York State. In most local districts, students will need to put their devices into pouches that lock or the devices must go in students’ lockers during the entire day.
News10NBC’s Kristi Blake is at Willink Middle School in Webster to learn more about how school leaders are enforcing the state’s requirements. Principal Brian Powers of Willink Middle School explained the school’s existing cell phone policy, which aligns with the state’s push for distraction-free learning environments.
“To have our focus beyond, being here, being in the moment, in the classroom, learning, growing and connecting with others,” Powers said. “So there are cell phones and wireless, devices that connect to the internet. From bell to bell. So morning to afternoon are often away.”
Students at Willink Middle School are provided with some technology by the school and are required to keep their personal phones in their lockers. Powers addressed concerns from parents about reaching their children in emergencies.
“As a school-age parent myself, you know, I can I can identify with that,” Powers said. “Our goal is to be very transparent and clear and communication and how parents can, be in contact with their child throughout the school day, whether it’s through our offices, making sure parents have numbers ready, access through our parent portal, parents or other communication tools.”
Powers expressed excitement for the new school year and emphasized the importance of ensuring students’ safety and connectivity with their families.
The school is also highlighting ongoing construction efforts as part of Webster’s 2023 Capital Plan.
The $85 million plan includes the second phase of renovations at Willink Middle School. This phase involves transforming a small empty room into a new bathroom, refreshing the main office and conference rooms, and adding a permanent home for the ‘One Webster Learning’ elementary program.
Blaine Cunningham, manager of buildings and grounds for the Webster Central School District, emphasized the importance of these updates. “First of all, infrastructure, health and safety. And then we also need to support the ever-changing curriculum,” said Cunningham. “It’s very important in terms of, you know, the needs are always changing.” The addition is expected to be finished next year. Students will only notice one closed-off hallway inside the school.
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