During the meeting, the board introduced a new initiative called Yonder, which details the district’s strategy for controlling student cell phone use in schools.

“Our goal is to limit distractions in a safe, student-centered environment by creating a cell phone-free space,” said School Superintendent Dan Wilson. “We know that young people are becoming increasingly distracted and dependent on these devices.”

Wilson added that the meeting was just the first step in a comprehensive approach to the issue, with more information expected to be provided in September.

Sarah Coager, a spokesperson for Yondr, gave a presentation during the meeting showcasing the Yondr pouch that the district has already purchased.

Students place cell phones, smartwatches and Bluetooth devices in bags that can be locked and reopened by school staff.

High school principal Junait Shah invited Coager to the board meeting to demonstrate how the Yondr pouch will be used in the upcoming school year.

“There is never a time when a student cannot access their phone when they need it,” Coager said. “The goal is really just to keep distractions limited in an academic space.”

Yondr has developed a patented pocket and release base that allows students to experience the focus, creativity and relief that comes with a phone-free school day, Coager said.

“Yondr’s program implements a standardized system where each student is assigned a bag to store their electronic devices such as cell phones, AirPods and smartwatches that can be distracting,” Coager said. “The bags are locked with a magnetic mechanism and remain locked during class. At the end of the day, they are unlocked so students can retrieve their devices and take them home. It’s really that simple.”

Implementing the cell phone policy should be a priority as it will bring significant benefits to students, Coager said.

Wilson concluded the conversation by adding that this was a valuable initiative for the community and the school.

“We see this as a great opportunity for our schools,” Wilson said. “This was just a first step to see how it works, and we plan to continue the conversation as we implement it throughout the school year.”

“As a mother of a seventh-grader, I understand how difficult it is to let them go, but this initiative will no doubt encourage and support them,” Coager said. “According to data from the 2023-2024 school year at our secondary campuses, Catskill Middle School reported 38 disciplinary citations directly related to cell phones, with an average of three phones turned in to the main office per day. Similarly, Catskill High School reported 37 citations due to cell phones, representing 13% of all disciplinary citations.”

She concluded her talk by fielding questions. Parents immediately asked about emergencies such as school shootings and said they were concerned about what would happen if their children did not have access to their cell phones in such critical situations.

“It has been proven that school administrators can open the bags once students are in a safe location,” Coager said.

“In an emergency, school safety compliance is always the top priority,” Wilson said. “We don’t want to overwhelm school staff and administrators, who have access to the necessary communication tools in the event of a crisis. In fact, it’s better to make sure first responders like police officers and firefighters aren’t bombarded with too much information.”