Students and community members urge Salem-Keizer to end Yonder Pouch cellphone program

Parents, students and community organizers urged the Salem-Keizer School District board to end the district's Yonder Pouch cellphone storage program, saying it disrupts communication, adds anxiety for immigrant students and has been enforced through disciplinary actions.

During the public-comment period, sixth-grade student Nicole Fernandez said she has anxiety because she cannot receive phone calls during the day and that her grades have fallen. "This has been causing me anxiety and stress, and this makes me not think about school anymore," Fernandez said.

Yesenia G., representing a youth-led group she said includes about 200 members, said a petition launched this week opposing the pouches had collected more than 350 signatures. "Communication with loved ones is essential to supporting the safety and mental health of immigrant students and their families," she said, and asked the board to end the program and shift funding into rapid-response and wellness programs.

Sandra Hernandez told the board the pouches prevent students from contacting family in emergencies and said…