Tuscaloosa board advances wireless-device policy and approves Yondr pouch purchase to comply with pending state law

The Tuscaloosa City Schools board on May 6 received a detailed briefing on a district wireless-device plan tied to House Bill 166 — the Focus Act — and approved purchasing Yondr storage pouches for secondary students to help implement the law when it takes effect.

The plan and a package of code-of-conduct revisions were presented by Dr. Pope, superintendent, who said the Focus Act (House Bill 166) would “prohibit student wireless devices use during instructional time,” require updated internet-safety policy language and annual staff surveys, and take effect in the 2025–26 school year pending final legislative action. The board held first readings of the draft code changes and related resource materials.

Why it matters: The Focus Act would restrict cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops and other devices that can transmit or receive data during the instructional day. District leaders said the change affects logistics, instruction, discipline procedures and parent communication, and requires consistent implementation across all schools.

Board discussion and implementation details Dr. Wilson, speaking for the district communications team, said the office has prepared a communications schedule that begins before school starts and continues through the 2025–26 year, including social media messaging, FAQs, a postcard mailer, a “what to expect” video, principal newsletters and signage to reduce surprises at rollout.

Chris, director of technology, told the board he and advocacy contacts asked bill sponsors whether the Yondr pouches would meet the law’s requirement that devices not be "on a student’s person." Chris said the sponsors indicated the pouch solution aligns with the legislation’s intent, and the vendor will provide on-site implementation support and professional development.

The district’s implementation plan calls for elementary students to keep devices powered off and stored in backpacks or pouches during the day, with teachers reminding students of expectations. Secondary schools would use Yondr pouches: devices would stay locked in the pouches from the start of the instructional day until dismissal, when unlock stations would allow students to retrieve devices. The vendor’s mobile unlocking units were described as an option for evacuation or off-site unlocking.

Exceptions and logistics Dr. Pope and staff emphasized exceptions for documented medical needs, students with 504 plans or individualized education programs, teacher-authorized instructional uses, and emergency communications. District-provided devices will continue to be available for instructional use where required; staff said personal laptops and other personal devices will not be permitted for use during instructional time.

School-level monitoring will include focused walkthroughs in the first four weeks of school, weekly principal reflections, monthly spot checks and quarterly district walk-throughs thereafter. Staff will track phone-related discipline trends and survey staff midyear and at year end to adjust implementation.

Cost and board action The board approved the district purchase of Yondr pouches for secondary schools, with the presented total cost of $163,006.47, covering equipment, planning support and shipping. The recommendation asked the board to use advancement-technology and other state funds to pay for implementation; presenters said there is no dedicated line in the law for funding compliance and that some schools currently use lockers or other local solutions.

Quoted from the record “This is actually, the Focus Act. So House Bill 166, freeing our classrooms of unnecessary screens for safety act,” Dr. Pope said when introducing the plan. Dr. Wilson said the district would “over communicate” and deploy a social-media campaign, mailers and videos to support families. Chris said he had “reached out to both of the sponsors of the companion bills” for clarity and that “it is our understanding from the legislators who wrote the legislation that this solution qualifies.”

Next steps and outstanding questions The board received the code-of-conduct revisions as a first reading and approved the Yondr purchase for secondary schools for the 2025–26 school year. Board members asked about durability, unlocking logistics, bus/evacuation procedures and whether pouches are the only option; staff said pouches are a recommended uniform solution but that alternative lockers or similar storage remain permissible if they meet the law’s requirements. Staff also noted the need to coordinate communications with county districts and other stakeholders.

The district will return with a second reading of the code changes and continue site-level planning and vendor coordination over the summer.

Ending The board’s action on the Yondr purchase was taken as a final vote on the procurement; the code and resource guides remain on the board calendar for a second reading and formal adoption pending final statutory language and any needed revisions.