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Tag: NYC Schools

  • NYC students try to find ‘creative’ ways around school cellphone ban

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    Less than a week into the new academic year, some New York City public school students are already testing the limits of the new cellphone ban.

    Students said the policy, which also restricts other electronic devices, has been tough to adjust to.

    “I do miss my device. But I’m studious and I don’t mind not having something to distract me,” said high school senior Ambar Sanchez.

    Fellow senior Olivia Roman said the rules are broader than just cellphones.

    “The bigger thing was all electronic devices in total. Because before, we were able to bring in our AirPods,” Roman said.

    Reports from principals suggest some students may be finding workarounds by putting a backup phone in the school-issued Velcro pouch designed to store devices during the day. That possibility didn’t surprise NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos.

    “What I know is always expect young people to try and work around us,” Aviles-Ramos said. “Am I right young people? You’re always going to find a way.”

    Not all students were familiar with the so-called “burner phone” tactic, and Mayor Eric Adams brushed off the concerns, framing the creativity as part of youth culture — handing out an A for effort.

    “This is all part of their creative spirit and energy. We did it. Let’s not act like when we were in school, we didn’t have all our little tricks on how we got around things. This is all a part of creativity,” Adams said.

    At the same time, the city rolled out a major investment in classroom technology. Adams, joined by Yankees star Jazz Chisholm, distributed the first batch of 350,000 new Chromebook laptops with built-in internet access. The $300 million initiative, which T-Mobile and Dell are a part of, aims to close the digital divide.

    “It’s a shame that we have so many people that go home and they don’t have access to internet at home. So the connectivity that we’re providing today, the devices we’re providing today, is a lifeline for the future writers, for the future leaders of the city,” said Matthew Fraser, the city’s chief technology officer.

    School officials emphasized the ban is not meant to block technology altogether, but to cut down on distractions in the classroom that can impact learning. The Chromebook program, they said, is a sign of the city’s commitment to improving access to learning.

    This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication.

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    Andrew Siff

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  • Brooklyn school gym deemed unsafe after Friday’s magnitude 4.8 earthquake: DOB

    Brooklyn school gym deemed unsafe after Friday’s magnitude 4.8 earthquake: DOB

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    What to Know

    • According to the city’s Department of Buildings, on Friday, they conducted a structural stability inspection of School for Classics High School after receiving reports of cracks in the interior.
    • Because of these safety concerns, it was determined that the gymnasium will be vacated until the repairs are finished.
    • Inspectors did not find other areas of concern at other points in the school — eventually determining that the rest of the school can still be occupied.

    The gym of a Brooklyn school has been deemed unsafe following Friday’s earthquake, officials said.

    According to the city’s Department of Buildings, on Friday, they conducted a structural stability inspection at 370 Fountain Avenue after receiving reports of cracks in the interior.

    Inspectors found step cracking and vertical cracks in the interior masonry walls of the school’s gymnasium and because of this it was determined that the bricks near the cracks could pose a safety issue, the DOB said. Because of these safety concerns, it was determined that the gymnasium will be vacated until the repairs are finished.

    Inspectors did not find other areas of concern at other points in the school — eventually determining that the rest of the school can still be occupied.

    Friday’s magnitud 4.8 earthquake rattled the tri-state area, an area where seismic activity is not common. The DOB said that following the quake, the department received about 80 reports of earthquake-related damage, most of those coming from Manhattan and the Bronx. Inspectors went to all the locations to investigate and found no major damage or collapses. They did find cracks in walls at few locations.

    Additionally, out of caution, the DOB added extra engineering and inspection staff over this weekend to respond to any new reports of building damage.

    According to DOB Commissioner Jimmy Oddo, possible damage could be discovered in the days or weeks ahead so it is important to remain vigilant and report any damage.

    “To New Yorkers, we at the Department of Buildings are concerned about some of the downstream possibilities — cracks that you might see that may materialize or manifest in a week or a month, scaffolding retaining walls,” Oddo said. “If you see something that is problematic, please call 311.”

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    NBC New York Staff

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