District buys $69,000 of phone pouches before new state phone law

What happened

On April 14, 2026 the committee voted 6-0 to award a contract to Yondr for $69,000 of lockable cell phone pouches, paid from a $500,000 one-time city grant. Staff said the purchase readies the district for a state law taking effect August 1, 2026. A companion policy, JICJ Electronic Devices, was given first passage on May 12 and adopted on May 26, 2026. Shea High School had already run 'personal electronics free' classrooms since September 2025 and reported better focus and collaboration.

Why it matters to families

Phone pouches change the school day for every secondary student: phones go into a pouch that stays locked until dismissal. One committee member noted that teachers were not consulted before the vendor was chosen and asked the district to watch whether attendance is affected.

The evidence

The approved April 14, 2026 minutes record the 6-0 vote to award the Yondr contract at $69,000, the August 1, 2026 state effective date, and the funding source. The May 26, 2026 minutes record unanimous second passage of the JICJ electronic devices policy.

The source