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Gov. Hochul holds roundtable at MHS
Gov. Hochul holds roundtable at MHS
 
Governor Kathy Hochul today held a roundtable with Middletown school district leaders, administrators, stakeholders, educators and scholars to highlight the state’s new bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions this fall, with Middletown being one of the state’s first districts to begin this in 2021.
 
The roundtable, hosted by BOE President Edwin Estrada, featured BOE Vice President Denise Romero, Superintendent Amy Creeden, MHS Executive Principal Bill Donohue, OU-BOCES CEO and District Superintendent Deborah Heppes, MHS Dean of Students Nagla Elsakka, MTA President Robbyn McCauley, recent graduate and scholar BOE member Norma Avila, as well as MHS seniors Noopur Patel and Eden Lugo.
 
Today’s event follows previous roundtables held by the Governor this summer in New York City, the Capital Region, Central New York and the Rochester area with additional roundtables to come before the start of school.
 
BOE members Andrew Moore, Freddie Williams, Rose Tobiassen, Curtis Rhett and John Williams also attended the closed event, as well as Assistant Superintendent Camille Adoma and MHS Associate Principal Kate Sheedy.
 
“Our kids succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why schools across New York State will be ready to implement bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions this fall,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re continuing to provide the resources and support to ensure that every school finalizes and publishes their distraction-free policy in the coming days.”
 
The Distraction-Free Schools law signed by Governor Hochul requires bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions in K-12 school districts statewide, starting this fall for the 2025-2026 school year.