Board discusses cell-phone policy and a pouch-based Yonder system used in other districts

A board member (S1) requested that cell-phone policy be added to the next meeting agenda. S2 described a program called Yonder used in another, larger district that provides each student a pouch which locks the phone until the student taps the pouch at an exterior station to retrieve it; S2 said the district had accessed Every Student Succeeds Act funding to acquire the system in that example.

Board members discussed practicalities: how students would keep physical possession of phones in pouches, how teachers would manage the program and whether the district could access similar funding. Several members noted prior local practices (a small phone "parking" area) and varying teacher approaches. S6 said the board would get into the software details during Monday's budget discussion and review.

No policy vote or formal proposal was made at this meeting; members asked staff to research the program and prepare materials for a future discussion.