Distraction-Free Learning & Raptor

June 9th, 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we look forward to the 2025-26 school year, I want to ensure families are aware of some changes that will enhance safety and the student learning experience in our schools. The New York State Distraction-Free Schools Law (2025) is designed to help students stay focused and engaged during the school day with the goal of minimizing distractions from personal electronic devices.

As a result of this state-wide law, effective for the start of the 2025-26 school year, all personal devices such as cell phones, smartwatches, and other internet-connected devices must be “off and away for the day” as soon as students arrive at school. This applies across all grade levels, from Pre-K to 12th grade, and includes lunch, hallway transitions, study halls, and other non-classroom times. In short, from the start of the instructional day to the end of the instructional day, all personal devices must be turned off and stored away. By reducing the presence of these devices, we’re helping students to increase their attention on schoolwork, enhance face-to-face communications with their peers, and participate more actively in their learning.

Currently, we are working with leadership teams from our schools for input on the management of this change. Additionally, I met with student leaders at West Senior today, and will be meeting with student leaders from East Senior on Thursday to seek their feedback. Parents can provide input for consideration as we develop our policy by completing the feedback form linked here, or by clicking the button below that says, "Feedback Form". Please complete this form by Friday, June 13, 2025.

We will be sharing additional details with students and parents throughout the summer regarding this change. Additionally, we will share information on how you can reach your child during the school day in the event of an urgent matter or emergency. Likely, this will entail methods of communication that we all used prior to the widespread use of cell phones (i.e. call the main office). More information will be shared in the coming weeks and months.

Also this fall, we will be launching a visitor management system.

This tool, called the Raptor Visitor Management system, is used in schools, hospitals and day cares throughout our region and nation-wide. Visitors who would like to enter our schools during the school day will be required to present government-issued identification, which will be scanned. The Visitor Management system will check the identification against the National Sex Offender database and registry. This system does not allow us to access Department of Motor Vehicle records or criminal records beyond those in the sex offender database.

Parents entrust us to maintain the safety of their students, and this is a responsibility we take seriously. Therefore, starting this fall, all visitors including parents, service or repair technicians, contractors, etc. will be processed through this system prior to being granted entry into our schools during the school day. This does not apply to public and after school events such as concerts, school musicals, Open House, or athletics.

More information regarding our new Raptor Visitor Management system will be shared on our website and with you in the coming weeks and months as we prepare for the new school year.

We strive to deliver a high quality education in an engaging and safe learning environment. These enhancements will help to support our mission, and we thank you for your continued support during these changes.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lisa Krueger

Superintendent of Schools