On July 29, 2025, administration announced the decision to assign each student a Yondr pouch, implementing a cell-phone free school environment in order to curb classroom cell phone usage.
Students are now required to place their cell phones, smart watches and any Bluetooth devices into their pouch, and lock it, upon entering the building.
Superintendent Elaine Kane expressed further expectations for the district as well as additional applications of the policy.
“Our top priority is to provide an excellent setting for students and staff,” Kane said. “The goal of this initiative is to foster a productive, healthy and inclusive learning environment.”
Students express their dissatisfaction with this as a permanent change to the district. While students may feel discontent in the decision, some admit to being more focused during class time.
“I do my work more,” senior Makenzie Cochran said. “Just in my down time I don’t know what to do, so I just do my work.”
Multiple documents in response to parent/student concerns have been sent out by Kane, specifically addressing complaints regarding cell phone usage during lunch and passing period.
“We understand that some parents prefer that students have access to their phones between classes and at lunch,” Kane said. “However, our experience indicates that the compulsion for students to access their phones throughout the day creates an unmanageable expectation for our teachers to enforce.”
Accommodations can be made for students fitting under circumstances such as medically documented authorizations. In the instance of absolute emergency, there is a Crisis Response Plan in place in partnership with local law enforcement. Should a nonspecific emergency or threat take place, contact from administration to parents will be shared via profiles connected to Skyward and/or Parent Square.
Under the circumstances of any damage or vandalization, students will be charged a fee of $30 and receive further disciplinary action.
Each pouch can be opened at the end of the school day at a designated release station by each of the building exits, but must remain closed throughout the entirety of instructional periods.
