Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Devices topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
LaPorte board approves Yonder phone pouches to comply with new state law
Summary
The LaPorte Community School Corp board approved purchasing Yonder lockable pouches for grades 5–12 to meet Indiana’s new restriction on student phone access, citing a 15% early-order discount and plans for training, policy updates, and medical-device accommodations.
LaPorte Community School Corp’s board voted to buy Yonder lockable pouches for students in grades 5 through 12 as the district prepares to meet a new Indiana requirement restricting student cell‑phone access during the school day. The purchase was approved by voice vote after extended discussion of implementation logistics and equity considerations.
Superintendent Dr. Wood framed the purchase as a compliance and instructional‑focus measure, saying the pouches "allow us to meet the requirements of the new state law while also significantly reducing the burden on teachers to monitor phone use in classrooms." He told trustees the district would seek a 15% early‑order discount and use the spring to train staff, update the student handbook, and notify families.
Administrators described how the Yonder pouch system would operate: students place phones in individually assigned pouches that lock on a magnetic base and remain inaccessible until unlocked at designated stations at the end of the day. Dr. Wood said students will keep the pouch with them but will not be able to access the device during instructional time. The administration said the system will also cover smart watches, AirPods and similar devices in the policy language.
Board members raised implementation questions about bus arrival logistics, after‑school egress, replacement pouches and medical exceptions. Administrators said pouches can display student ID cards, the vendor includes an extra supply (about 15% contingency) in the contract, and a replacement pouch would cost approximately $30. For students who need access for medical reasons (for example, Dexcom devices or other 504/medical accommodations), administrators said the district will issue velcro or otherwise accessible pouches and make case‑by‑case accommodations.
Officials cited examples from larger districts that implemented similar systems; one principal’s account was used to note declines in discipline incidents and improved hallway interactions after implementation. Dr. Wood emphasized communication plans for parents and said the district will work to craft appropriate disciplinary steps for violations and to ensure staff consistently use district communication tools such as ParentSquare rather than relying on student texting.
The board approved the purchase recommendation and directed administration to proceed with training and policy updates for implementation in the 2026–27 school year. Next steps include finalizing the purchase contract, scheduling vendor onboarding, producing handbook language, and publishing family communications outlining medical accommodations and the replacement policy.
