Starting in September, students will be banned from using smartphones in school as part of the New York State budget, which includes $13.5 million for districts to implement the restrictions, Gov. Kathy Hochul said yesterday. Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that the proposal, part of a "general agreement" on a $254 billion state budget announced by Hochul on April 28, bans the use of internet-enabled devices such as smartphones, smartwatches and tablets for the entire school day — described as bell-to-bell — including at lunch and during study halls.It aims to decrease screen time and social media use for students to protect their mental health, while increasing opportunities for learning and socialization."I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling," stated Governor Hochul.Bill language had yet to be released as of Tuesday afternoon, but the State Legislature is expected to start voting this week, leaders have said.The proposal, agreed upon by the legislature, would allow schools to develop their own plans for storing the phones throughout the day, but they must include teachers, parents and students in creating the policy, according to the governor’s statement yesterday. The funding is aimed at helping districts purchase storage methods, including but not limited to magnetic pouches.Schools also must provide a way for parents or guardians to contact their students during the day.There would be some exceptions to the restrictions for medical reasons or where required by a student’s individual learning plan, for translation purposes, for family caregiving and emergencies, according to the release.***A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration, restoring nearly $1 billion in COVID-19-era education grants to New York, 15 other states and Washington, D.C. John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that the states had filed a lawsuit last month against the U.S. Department of Education after Secretary Linda McMahon canceled funding from three COVID-19 grant programs: Homeless Children and Youth (HCY), Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS).New York had been awarded $9.3 billion by the federal Education Department for districts statewide under the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, according to the lawsuit. The funding had previously been extended to allow New York school districts to spend the remaining $134 million through March 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a news release announcing the injunction.Judge Edgardo Ramos of the U.S. Southern District of New York approved the states’ request for a preliminary injunction Monday to prevent the liquidation of COVID-19 funds and immediately restore access to the money while the case continues in federal court."The Trump administration’s illegal decision to cut off essential education funding put some of our most vulnerable students at risk of falling behind in school," James said in a statement yesterday. "This is a major win for our students and teachers who are counting on this funding to help them succeed. I will continue to defend New York’s schools and ensure they get the resources they need to provide a quality education to everyone."The remaining grant money for New York was planned for repairs to school ventilation systems and programs such as tutoring and mental health counseling to address learning gaps from the pandemic, according to the lawsuit. It also included classroom upgrades, wheelchair accessible buses, library books, playground equipment and food, classroom supplies and field trips for homeless youth.***Southold Town Senior Services hosts a Health and Wellness Fair tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Southold Town’s Human Resource Center in Katinka House,

Riverhead Town lawsuit forces Maureen's Haven to seek new location