Board hears Yondr pilot proposal to lock student phones in three schools

District staff introduced a vendor presentation about a phone-pouch program (presented as Yondr, by Isaac Castron) to pilot device pouches in three Harnett County schools next year. The pilot schools named for initial implementation were Western Harnett High School, Highland Middle School and STAR Academy. District staff framed the pilot as an effort to reduce distractions and improve student engagement.

Isaac Castron, a Yondr representative, described the program as a combined policy and technology solution: students keep their phone in a neoprene pouch that locks and is only opened at an unlocking station at dismissal or via a handheld unlock in specific circumstances. ‘‘Yondr is used by millions of students every day across 26 countries,’’ he said, citing case studies and vendor white papers that reported time recovered in classrooms and reductions in behavioral incidents.

Board members raised technical and implementation questions. A board member asked whether the pouch is a Faraday or signal-blocking bag; Castron said the model proposed is not Faraday and explained why many districts avoid signal-blocking pouches (battery drain and other practical problems). The presenter also described handheld unlocking stations for emergencies, procedures for lost or forgotten pouches (districts may provide extras or charge a replacement fee), and the product's proprietary magnet mechanism. Board discussion noted that the program would be voluntary at first and that implementation would be paired with social-media awareness classes for students suspended for social-media incidents.

District staff said they will proceed with planning and possible pilot implementation in the 2025–26 school year, contingent on available funds and community engagement. The presentation drew substantive procedural questions but no final board action during this meeting.