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Chatham County Schools expands Yondr pouch program; student code adds phone and technology provisions
Summary
Board heard an update on expanding Yondr pouches to Northwood and Chatham Central high schools, staff-reported reductions in suspensions, communications timeline and new student-code language clarifying cell phone and technology violations and family financial responsibility for device repairs.
Tracy Fowler, senior director of student services for Chatham County Schools, updated the board on Aug. 11 about the district’s expansion of the Yondr pouch program and related changes to the student code of civility.
Fowler said the pilot that included earlier schools will expand this year to Northwood High School and Chatham Central High School and that staff survey results from pilot schools showed a 30 percent reduction in suspensions and reported increases in engagement and positive school climate. “End up with a 30% reduction in suspensions at our pilot schools,” Fowler said.
The district has a communications plan identical to last year’s rollout, Fowler said, and began sending communications weekly on July 25 after the board approved expansion. The district held parent nights at the two new schools the previous week (Northwood at 5 p.m.; Chatham Central at 6:30 p.m.) and plans to make Yondr pouches available at open house events. Fowler said pouches will be handed out the first day of school at those two schools.
Board members asked for details about damaged or lost pouches. Fowler said about 700 pouches experienced damage or loss last year and the district collected roughly $3,000 in replacement funds; she said some damage is to the pouch pins, which can sometimes be straightened.
During a separate but related item, the board reviewed revisions to the student code of civility. The changes spell out expectations for cell-phone storage and use: all traditional middle and high schools will use Yondr pouches; elementary and K–8 schools will require phones and earbuds be stored in backpacks during the school day. The code also adds clearer language on malicious technology violations (bypassing content filters, hacking and searching for or viewing prohibited content) and clarifies that families are responsible for full repair or replacement costs for district-issued devices and lost chargers.
Fowler and staff said the updates reflect recent state session law language addressing cell phones and attendant curriculum and internet-safety measures; the district will implement those elements this school year.
Ending: The board received the update and confirmed the communications and implementation timeline ahead of the Aug. 26 first day of school.
