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Parents and staff urge district to expand access to registered behavior technicians and consider phone‑locking pilot in schools
Summary
During public comment, a parent and school staff urged Polk County Public Schools to expand student access to Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and explored a pilot of Yondr phone pouches to reduce classroom phone distractions; the superintendent responded with clarifications and a pledge to follow up on reimbursement avenues.
Multiple speakers during the May 6 Polk County School Board public comment period asked the district to expand access to Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) for students with special needs and to consider a school pilot of lockable pouches (Yondr) to limit phone use during instruction.
Sarah Kennel, a parent of a nonverbal special‑needs child, said some families cannot secure ABA or RBT support because of insurance, income or scholarship eligibility gaps and urged the district to make such supports available for any student who needs them. She described progress with her own child after an RBT joined the classroom team: "He used to…
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