Darien board approves $32,806 budget amendment to buy Yondr phone pouches for high school

The Darien Board of Education voted to amend its fiscal 2026 operating budget to purchase Yondr phone-lock pouches for Darien High School, approving a $32,806 transfer to buy student pouches and supporting equipment.

Board members said the decision follows a high-school pilot and site visits that showed teachers and administrators saw fewer distractions when phones were not visible. Staff presented the Yondr system — a fabric pouch with a locking pin that students secure at school and unlock at dismissal with a station — as a turnkey option that includes onboarding and ongoing support.

The administration described student feedback from a pilot and from a visit to another Connecticut high school that uses the program. "The pouch doesn't solve all the world's problems. We're just working to shift student behavior with this approach," said Tim (staff member), who presented implementation details to the board. Ellen…