Press release from the Arcata School District:

At its June 18, 2024 meeting the Arcata School District Board of Trustees approved the purchase of Yondr Phone Pouches for use at Sunny Brae Middle School (SBMS) for the 2024/2025 school year. SBMS staff had taken notice of the same concerning device usage trends that prompted Governor Newsom’s recent signing of AB 3216, the Phone-Free School Act. In a press release celebrating the signing of AB 3216, the Governor’s office shared that:

“Excessive smartphone use among youth is linked to increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 72% of high school and 33% of middle school teachers report cell phone distractions as a major problem. Common Sense Media found that 97% of students use their phones during the school day for a median of 43 minutes. Combined with the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning about the risks of social media, it is urgent to provide reasonable guardrails for smartphone use in schools.”

At SBMS the implementation of new cell phone management protocols has been a huge success. Every morning students have their phones sealed in a magnetized pouch and at the end of the school day student phone pouches are unsealed using a magnet. While seeking approval for the phone pouch program, SBMS Principal, Angela Landy, was questioned by the school board and superintendent as to how this new program would be different from strictly enforcing the existing policy and taking cell phones away from habitual offenders. Principal Landy shared that due to the cost of some of the student devices, staff can be reluctant to take them away themselves and students are sometimes extremely resistant to handing over their phones. The new pouch program removes this conflict and honors that there may be addictive elements to student cell phone usage. Under the new program, phones remain in the possession of students, but are turned off and sealed so that they do not cause a distraction at school.

SBMS Teacher Phil Purcell shared that “it’s actually been kind of amazing - students are playing games and really talking to each other at break and lunch time. I was optimistic, but it has been even better than expected.”

When asked for comment, Arcata School District Superintendent, Luke Biesecker, echoed Mr. Purcell’s sentiments. “I have to admit that I was initially a little uncertain about the program. Cell phones are a reality and students do need to learn how to appropriately use them. However, in listening to Principal Landy and her staff, the pouch program may be the most age-appropriate way for helping to teach middle school students time and place appropriateness.” In addition to an unlocking magnet in the office, there are unlocking magnets in each classroom giving teachers the flexibility to unlock student devices in case of an emergency or for use during a special project.

Biesecker further shared that while he has not received any negative feedback directly regarding the program, he does know that a few parents expressed concern to Principal Landy. “I attended the SBMS Back to School Night this year and when Ms. Landy brought up the cell phone pouches, I thought we were going to get booed out of the building. Instead, we received an overwhelming, audible applause. I think parents know better than anybody how difficult it is to manage middle schooler cell phone use.”

When asked about the impact on students, Principal Landy shared that one student reported to her how freeing it was not to have to worry about checking their phone during the school day. “Some of the students have even started decorating their phone pouches and really personalizing them.”

When asked about the biggest impact the phone cases have had from their perspective, SBMS 7th graders Emilia Yorton and Abby Morgan shared that they no longer see students on their phones in the bathroom.

While there seems to be general consensus that the Yondr pouches have had a positive impact on the school climate at SBMS, some of the improvement may be due in part to a number of other measures put in place over the last few years - including student discipline reforms, increased social emotional supports for students, equity trainings for staff, and student attendance improvement efforts. However, both Biesecker and Landy are quick to give substantial credit to the new cell phone management program, sharing that student discipline referrals, student suspensions, and student absenteeism numbers are all down significantly at this point in the school year, compared to last year.