At the hearing, Lake Placid Central School District board members presented proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct, including changes to the dress code, academic honesty and cellphone policies.

The current cellphone policies prohibit elementary students from bringing cellphones or personal devices to school. Middle school students are allowed to bring devices to school but must leave them in their lockers during the day. High schoolers were allowed to have their phones on their person during the day, but the proposed change would match the current middle school policy. The new policy also clarifies that cellphones can be searched by administrators if there is a “reasonable suspicion of a Code of Conduct violation.”

Several Lake Placid students and teachers spoke at the hearing to express strong objections to the plan. Abby Light, one of two high school students to speak during the hearing, raised numerous objections to the policy. Light argued that students need their phones for things like uploading homework assignments promptly, using graphing calculator apps and contacting their parents with quick texts during the school day. Student athletes in particular rely on their phones to text their parents about gear that they accidentally leave at home or about plans to get picked up from practices, Light said. Light also highlighted safety concerns, saying that having a way to contact police or parents during emergencies would be critical.

“Smartphones might seem to be a distraction, but just because some kids abuse the privilege of having them doesn’t mean all students should have to deal with those consequences,” Light said. “Times are changing and smartphones are a big part of society nowadays.”

Similar concerns were raised by Frank Brunner, a Lake Placid High School teacher who spoke at the board’s meeting on July 15 against efforts to ban phones from the high school. He also argued that there isn’t enough evidence that cellphones harm students and warned the board not to simply jump on the bandwagon.

“There is no evidence, guys. This is a rush to judgment,” Brunner said.

A Pew Research Center poll published in June found that 72% of high school teachers believe cellphone distraction is a major problem. However, the same study highlights a disconnect between teachers and students. According to the study, 70% of students say the benefits outweigh the harms when it comes to cellphone use.

In addition to the public comments at the hearing, the district received several letters from residents commenting on the policy. One letter listed several concerns, including that the policy should allow for teacher discretion in allowing phones for educational purposes.

Four letters were sent from residents voicing their full support for the new phone policy. Among them was elementary school parent Kim Piorkowski.

“One hundred percent support this proposal,” Piorkowski wrote. “This is a no-brainer.”

Piorkowski was also one of two residents who suggested that the ban should extend to school buses, writing that she believes younger students on the bus should not be exposed to inappropriate content on older students’ phones.

This conversation comes amidst a nationwide effort to mitigate the potential harm posed by cellphone use among students. In the spring of last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a health advisory on the effects of social media use on mental health. In July, Gov. Kathy Hochul began a listening tour intended to discuss smartphone use in schools as she considers a policy proposal that could ban cellphones in New York schools.

Seymour said on Aug. 20 that Hochul’s potential policy proposal was the tipping point for LPCSD, but that numerous studies and the warning from the Surgeon General contributed to the school district’s decision to seek to amend the phone use policy. However, Seymour also said that the district’s stance on phone use stems from positive feedback from students participating in the WOODS program, a wilderness immersion experience that also helps students disconnect from technology.

At the close of the hearing, Seymour told the audience to expect a response to their comments during the “information for the public” portion of the next meeting, which will take place on Sept. 3