Before the school year started, Farmingdale High School Principal Jed Herman worried his job would be consumed with enforcing the state’s bell-to-bell cellphone ban .

"I thought I’d be more of a phone police," he said recently. "I thought I would constantly fight this battle."

But in reality, that didn't happen.

Instead, Herman said he has seen his students engage more in the classroom and socialize during free periods. The teens are playing board games during lunch and talking more among themselves. He said he's even noticed they are more likely to make eye contact.

WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND

Nearly two months into the school year, many Long Island educators said the rollout of the state's school cellphone ban has played out "better than expected."

Students are more engaged in class, s

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