If your student needs access to their phone for medical accommodations, it is important to note that the current cell phone policy and guidelines have not changed. Therefore, students who currently require access to a cell phone or another personally owned device for medical reasons, or an accommodation to access the curriculum and make progress to their individualized goals, will continue to have such access. We have medical Yondr Pouches that are designed without a lock but with velcro for easy access. 

To reach your student for any reason or in case of emergency, please contact your school's front office.

Teachers will be directed not to use cell phones for instructional activities.

In most cases, yes. However, some coaches may extend the use of Yondr pouches to practice time as well.

FCS has rules against students using cellphones in class, but having to constantly enforce these rules takes time, energy, and focus away from teaching. 33% of middle school teachers and 72% of high school teachers surveyed nationwide say that students being distracted by their cell phones is a “major problem” in their classroom, and 30% say cell phone policies are “somewhat” or “very difficult” to enforce. By locking cell phones, our teachers can spend more time teaching and less time asking students to put their phones away.

Our students and staff regularly practice lockdown drills and are directed to follow our emergency response plans. School staff (including School Resource Officers) will not be required to store their cell phones.

Law enforcement officials have reported that cell phones create a distraction for students that can compromise their safety during an emergency. It can also alert an intruder to their location. The school will be in contact with families during emergency situations. 

Every student will be provided a personally assigned Yondr pouch at no cost to families. Students must bring their pouch to school with them each day. The pouch is the responsibility of the student for the entire year.

1. As students arrive at school, they will turn their phones off upon arrival to the campus. Smartwatches and airpods also need to be turned off.

2. Phones/smartwatches/airpods will then be placed inside their yondr pouch and in their backpacks and secured. If a student brings airpods to school, these must also go in a student’s backpack.

3. The cell phone policy will be enforced bell to bell each school day. Students will maintain possession of their phones and will not use them until their pouches are opened at the end of the school day at an unlocking station. 

4. When leaving school, students will use a Yondr base to unlock their pouch and retrieve their phone. 

Yondr pouces will be distributed to students at the first of each school year.

 If a student forgets their pouch, please see the Procedures policy for consequences. 

If a student consistently forgets their pouch, it will be considered lost. Parents/guardians will be notified, and a replacement pouch will be provided at the student’s expense.

If a student damages or loses their pouch, school staff will collect the phone/pouch and send it to the front office for the remainder of the school day. The student will be assessed a $30 replacement fee.

Students will be subject to disciplinary action, including confiscation, detention, and temporary loss of phone privileges.

Yes. Phones never leave the possession of the students, unless confiscated for policy violations.

Students will be able to unlock their devices at school just prior to an approved early dismissal. If they need to return to school, the pouch will be locked upon re-entry.

The student may return to school to unlock their phone. Otherwise, they will have to wait until the next morning’s arrival.

Yondr staff will assist with determining the most appropriate number of unlocking station locations in each school based on the number of students, in order to maintain a safe and timely dismissal process at each school. They will provide training for the unlocking stations. 

We will communicate to the students the locations of the unlocking stations as soon as they are installed.

When pouches are distributed each year, each one will be numerically assigned to a student. School staff will record the pouch assignments, but students will be personally responsible for their pouch for the duration of the school year and keep their pouch with them at all times during the school day.

We do not have individual portable unlocks for each teacher. There will be designated locations for the portable stations.