Petersburg staff outline expanded Yonder Pouch plan and costs; board and principals debate take‑home approach

Petersburg City Public Schools presented a revised implementation plan for Yonder pouches — the magnetic pouches used to store student phones during the school day — and described a reset that district leaders say dramatically reduced costs and increased retention.

Nut graf: District staff told the board that a January reset and revised protocols raised retention after distribution and cut prior replacement spending. They proposed a continued roll‑out across schools for 2025–26, new inventory and replacement planning, and different handling rules for middle school students that would allow pupils to take pouches home and return them each day.

Paul Ronka, director of safety and security, summarized the district’s timeline: Petersburg adopted portable device guidelines December 2023, revised them in February 2024, and implemented a reset after VDOE guidance and a governor's executive order. Ronka…