The Maple Grove High School played the “Screenagers” film that details the positives and negatives of cellphone use during a community meeting Wednesday. The film is being played for middle and high school students throughout the week. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

Julie Verdonik, Maple Grove High School principal, stood in front of community members and parents to discuss the debate of whether cellphones are more of a useful device or a distraction to students.

“We have run into some issues with kids and cellphones, and they’re not being used appropriately,” Verdonik told The Post-Journal. “We’re realizing that if we don’t work with kids and teach them how to be responsible digitally … using their cellphones responsibly, they’re more of a weapon quite honestly.”

A film titled “Screenagers” was presented to parents on Wednesday night and to middle and high school students throughout the week that detailed the pros and cons of cellphone use. The film is directed by filmmaker Delaney Ruston that details the story of buying her own child a smartphone at a young age and trying to find the balance of cellphone use.

The film discusses the impact cellphones, video games and computers have on teenagers’ brains and even the risks of using such devices.

Without going into specifics, Verdonik said the school district has experienced students violating the code of conduct in terms of cellphone use. Verdonik said the policy for students in grades sixth to 11th is to have their cellphones kept in their lockers throughout the school day. Twelfth-grade students are given some leeway in the senior lounge. Verdonik said the overall policy is being considered for revision.

“I also think they are such a distraction in a classroom setting and I worry about them,” she said.

The films features various authors, psychologists and brain scientists who detail the struggles of social media, video games and overall internet addiction. The main message of the film is the attempt to find the balance of screen time and physical activity, something Verdonik said the Bemus Point Central School District is attempting to find.

“I did want to the kids to see other kids (in the film) and how this affected them,” Verdonik said of her students watching “Screenagers.”

The film additionally discusses cyber bullying. Verdonik said the issue is present in all school districts and Bemus Point is not excluded.

Verdonik said her focus is educating students on how to more positively use cellphones and younger generations gain access to them.

She said she has seen students in third and fourth grades coming into school with a phone.

In contrast to Verdonik’s concerns of cellphone use, she views cellphones as being a “valuable” resource.

The film provides a look at the negatives and positives of cellphones, video games and the internet. It also points out that parents of these “screenagers” are also falling victim to internet and technology addiction.

Recently, the local Boys and Girls Club and YMCA told The Post-Journal the youth organizations have been adapting to a more internet, cellphone and tech-savvy culture. The focus there has also been to find a balance.

“We want to, but we have to find that balance,” Verdonik said. “I don’t want to shut technology down. We’re a 1 to 1 school.”

A segment of the film also discusses students sharing inappropriate pictures to each other. Verdonik said this is also an issue in all school districts and that Bemus Point has been educating students on what is inappropriate to have on their phones.

“We have our (school resource officer) going into the classrooms and talking to kids so they understand the law in terms of cellphones,”she said. “I think it’s so important that we educate the kids on cellphones on what’s OK and what’s not OK.”