Education
BY HALEY VELASCO
Students at Friendswood ISD will have their cellphones locked away in YONDR pouches, which are magnetic lockable phone pouches, during the school day. The policy, which will kick in at the start of the 2025-26 school year, was approved by FISD trustees in a 5-2 vote at its May 12 meeting. Trustees Beau Egert and Niki Rhodes voted against the change. According to the policy, cellphone devices “must either be left at home or secured using the designated school-issued locking system for the duration of the school day.” The pouches will be for sixth through 12th graders, according to district documents. They will be paid for through the district’s capital projects fund. The change dates back to the fall when district o cials began researching the e ects of social media and cellphones. FISD to restrict cellphones
What they’re saying
In favor
“I’ve seen teachers work hard to enforce policies and to make things work and have it work in their classrooms, ... but it took instructional time, and that’s the part that bothers me.” REBECCA HILLENBURG, FISD TRUSTEE
Surveys carried out by the district and previ- ously reported on by Community Impact found that cellphones were a key distraction for students during school hours, particularly in high school. It also found a correlation between students with reported high usage of social media and mental health issues. A think tank consisting of 24 FISD members, including counselors, administrators, students, parents and teachers from each campus, was assembled in the fall to take up the matter. A majority of those members said they supported YONDR pouches for high schoolers, according to district data. Those in favor of the policy said they felt the change was best for instruction and teachers. While both Egert and Rhodes voted against the policy as written, both expressed support for another option that prohibits cellphones for the school day without the pouches.
Against
“I don’t like the tool. ... I think it’s valuable, but I question spending
the money when I think other tools are emerging and are going to be emerging quickly.” BEAU EGERT, FISD TRUSTEE
$116K cost for rst year of program
Going forward
$30 charge if pouch is lost or damaged 3,544 projected enrollment for grades 6-12 in 2025-26 50%+ of advisory group supported pouches for both middle and high school
graders will need to receive pouches, Cole said at the meeting. A bill in the state Legislature, House Bill 1481, would also restrict cellphones in classrooms across the state if eventually signed into law. That bill was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott on May 28 but hadn’t been signed as of press time June 4.
Superintendent Thad Roher said the district will take the summer to discuss discipline measures and carry out a plan for each campus to prepare for the new policy. While the initial purchase of the pouches will cost over $115,000, the second year and beyond will cost $15,000-$18,000 for an annual refresh, as incoming sixth
SOURCE: FRIENDSWOOD ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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