Hello to our Farmingdale Family. This is Paul Defendini, Superintendent of Schools, and today is Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
I hope this message finds you well. As the summer rolls along, I'll admit that I'm enjoying the change of pace and the chance to spend more time with family and friends. This summer is extra special, as my kids have started visiting colleges in our area, which has been both rewarding and a little overwhelming. It's awesome watching my kids evolve, but Sharlene and I know we'll be empty nesters in just two short years. It feels like only yesterday we were getting them ready for their first day of school at Northside.
At the same time, it's right around now that I start to long for the hustle and bustle of the school year. To be honest, I miss having our entire family back together. Our students are the heartbeat of our schools, and I miss the beating of our heart.
This week, I had a chance to visit our summer band camp. Band camp always reminds me of the fall season, and it brought out my excitement for September and the start of the 2025/26 school year. I'm sure that cell phone use has been a topic of conversation in many of your households this summer, especially if you have a rising sophomore, junior, or senior. We've been working on developing a policy that is both fair and reasonable for our schools, beginning in September.
Today, I'm sharing an initial document with some basic information about what students can expect when they return after Labor Day. This isn't the final word on the matter—our building principals will be sharing more detailed information with you before the school year begins.
In short, we're aiming for a very manageable situation where students can learn that schools are a place where cell phones should be put away. This is no different from the kind of experience we would expect from our students in a professional setting, a place of worship, a library, a theater, or a government building or hospital. As adults, we understand there are places where cell phones are permitted and places where they should be stored away. Our protocol is designed to teach them that same lesson, which will be vital no matter what path they choose after high school.
Please take a minute to review the attached document that provides some of these basic details. I hope you find time to enjoy the remaining few weeks of summer.
Cell Phone Policy Change
Frequently Asked Questions