Chicago City Wire

At its March 13 meeting, the Flossmoor School District Board of Education discussed how to manage students' cell phone use.

 Superintendent Dana Smith said that behavioral issues start with students having cell phones. She explained that through texting in class, being districted, not doing work, communicating with other students and starting fights, phones have become a problem for the Flossmoor School District. 

“I think the point is we have to be very clear about what our policy expectations are and that we spend time getting staff comfortable with enforcing and knowing what those policies are,” Board member Michael Rouse said. “Because if that’s not enforced consistently, it creates problems.”

The administration offered a solution that could be implemented as soon as the first week of April, or wait until the next school year.

District officials proposed using Yondr pouches. Students would receive a pouch in which to lock their phone at the beginning of the day, and the pouches would be unlocked at the end of the day. The board was told the product has been used at several other schools in the area who have reported good results so far. 

Superintement Dana Smith explained that this would only be for students at Parker Junior High because they don’t have a problem with cell phones in the elementary schools. The district would purchase 775 units for middle schoolers, at a cost of just under $16,000 for the first year. The board was told the district would  look for some grant funding for this initiative.

The board discussed the logistics of having to ensure phones are locked in the morning, and slowing traffic at the end of the day to have students unlock the phones. There were also some questions about security and parents being able to contact students. The board discussed how students could access their phones through their tablets and smart watches. 

The board decided that it was in favor of the new program, but wanted more discussion about it to be able to plan the rollout in more detail .

The board uploaded a livestream of its public meeting to the district’s YouTube channel.

The board also discussed a settlement for objections of property taxes.

The board will meet again at 6 p.m. on April 17 at Normandy Villa 41 East Elmwood Drive.