You can add another Capital Region school district to the growing list of local educators taking steps to keep cell phones out of the classroom.

If you’re a parent trying to control your children’s use of cell phones and tablets, you know how difficult that task can be. Imagine being a teacher trying to control that use in a classroom full of students. For even the most disciplined child, a smartphone can be a huge distraction. Another local school district is implementing a policy to curb that distraction.

Another school district in the capital region bans personal electronic devices

While Governor Hochul is gathering feedback from local districts to formulate a statewide policy on smartphone use in New York City schools, another school district has proactively enacted its own smartphone policy.

According to a report from the Leader-Herald, the Gloversville School District announced a new policy in a letter to parents last week, which, according to the Herald, “…requires all students in grades 6-12 to place their cell phones, smart watches and earbuds in Yondr bags, lockable bags that allow students to keep their devices nearby but out of reach throughout the day. The bags are kept closed with a magnetic clasp until students have access to their electronic devices again after class breaks.”

Gloversville joins several other school districts that have adopted similar policies for the new school year (see below).