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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 elope... He climbed everything, had daily meltdowns, and refused to do classwork. But with the RBT helping him and working alongside the teacher and the para, everything changed. He completes his work and he's made the honor roll."
Alicia McCormick, who identified herself as Florida account executive for Yondr, and counselor Leslie Trinidad urged the board to pilot a Yondr pouch program and said districts that have used Yondr report improved engagement, fewer discipline issues and better peer relationships. McCormick said Yondr is seeking pilot districts to implement a state‑supported program and offered to partner with Polk to run a funded pilot.
Superintendent Hyde responded to two elements raised by the speakers. First, he corrected an assertion that the district was combining kindergarten through grade 5 students into single rooms, saying explicitly that "there is no truth to the statement that students in grades k through 5 are being combined in any classrooms in the entirety of Polk County Public Schools" and explained the district no longer uses broad K‑5 combination practices (multiage units exist by need and alignment). Second, regarding ABA/RBT funding and access, Hyde said the district has seen improvement in reimbursables this year (noting roughly $600,000 increase versus prior years) and said staff would follow up about ways to help families link to services and pursue reimbursement.
Why it matters: Access to RBTs and classroom behavioral supports affects special‑education studentsachievement and inclusion. Phone devices in classrooms are a widely debated source of distraction; a funded pilot could test whether a device‑management approach reduces disruptions and supports learning.
What the board may do next: The superintendent indicated staff would follow up on prospects for reimbursement and service linking; a formal pilot or policy discussion would require staff proposals and board approval.
