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Portland schools outline options, costs and rollout questions for cell-phone policy revision (JFCK)
Summary
District staff described draft revisions to Policy JFCK governing student cell phones, shared preliminary cost estimates (roughly $30,000–$40,000 for middle/high school pouch solutions), and discussed implementation logistics and public engagement before a May 20 first read and a June 10 vote.
District staff told the committee they are developing implementation details for a proposed revision to Policy JFCK, which governs cell phones and other electronic devices, and that the revision would come to the full board for first read on May 20 and potentially a vote on June 10.
The policy conversation is part of "a fairly intensive public engagement process" that staff said includes student work groups, family meetings and surveys; staff noted a public session at Portland High School and a student session the following day. "There is a policy that is currently under review and will come to the full board, as recommended by the board policy and curriculum committee," said Dr. Sarah Warren, the district’s executive director of strategy.
Staff presented a range of storage and management options and preliminary cost estimates. Simpler approaches include rolling carts with labeled envelopes or on-site cabinets with slots; branded systems discussed included LockPouch (presented as a lower-cost purchase option) and Yondr (commonly used, with leasing and higher upfront cost models). Staff said the LockPouch estimate for middle and high schools was roughly $30,000–$40,000, while Yondr was described as more expensive. "LockPouch is a particular company and product which provided us an estimate," Dr. Warren said. "Yondr is another one that we've looked at… but that is a more expensive solution."
Committee members pressed on operational questions: whether grade bands could adopt different solutions, whether additional staff or stipends would be needed for check-in and check-out, and whether the district would buy pouches for middle school students or only high school. Dr. Warren said the initial draft of accompanying rules gave schools wide leeway, but feedback favored more standardization; her current inclination is to set grade-band standards (elementary, middle, high). "I definitely think at the elementary school level, it probably could be something a little simpler just because there aren't as many phones," she said.
On costs and budgeting, staff said the district did not budget for phone-storage equipment in FY26 and that the immediate plan is to identify offsets within the approved operational budget rather than to add fund balance. "Our immediate thinking is that we would try to find money within the existing budget," staff said. Committee members suggested getting price quotes limited to high schools first and asked staff to clarify product differences (leasing vs. purchase models) when vendors are interviewed.
Staff emphasized the policy has not been decided and that the committee's role at this stage is to refine implementation planning for a policy that will be reviewed on May 20. The district plans additional vendor meetings and community engagement before final recommendations are made to the full board.
