South Carroll Adopts Locked Pouch Cell Phone Policy for 2025-26

Clarksburg students will start the school year under a new cell phone policy requiring devices to be locked in magnetic pouches during the school day.

YONDR Pouch and locking mechanism.

Principal Jenny Miller announced the updated policy at South Carroll Special School District's board meeting on July 17.

“When the students come in the front door, they’ll lock them in those pouches,” she told the board. “They’ll be put away for the day.”

The district is implementing Yondr pouches , a product commonly used at concerts and schools to reduce distractions. Once locked, the pouch cannot be opened without a magnetic unlocking base kept by staff.

Dr. Lisa Norris looks on as School Resource Officer Michael Verner demonstrates how the new Yondr pouch system will be used to lock students’ cell phones during the school day. Photo by Jesse Joseph

“They’re very easy to use, and you can’t really tamper with them,” said School Resource Officer Michael Verner, who demonstrated the pouches at the meeting. “If a student damages it, there’s a $35 replacement fee.”

The policy applies to all personal devices, including smartwatches. Miller said exceptions will be made for medical needs if documentation is provided, such as for insulin-monitoring devices.

Discipline will escalate with each offense.

“First time is detention. Second time is Saturday school. Third time is alternative school,” Miller said.

TCAP Scores

Supervisor of Instruction Mary Katherine Stigall presented TCAP testing results from the spring semester. She noted improvements in several areas, but not all of it was good news.

“There are some categories that glaringly jump out at us,” Stigall said. “And we’re going to work on those.”

Algebra I and U.S. History were among the most concerning areas, with scores that fell below expectations.

Supervisor of Instruction Mary Katherine Stigall discusses spring TCAP results and areas for improvement during the July 17 school board meeting.

“We’re not blaming anyone. We’re just going to own this and move forward," Stigall said.

She said the district is already identifying specific standards that need reinforcement and looking at data to target instruction more effectively.

Stigall emphasized that while teachers are working hard, the district must raise its academic expectations.

Other Business

The board postponed discussion of the 2024–2025 audit after Alexander Thompson Arnold (ATA) failed to provide the district’s audit in time.

Director of Schools Dr. Lisa Norris presented alternative firms for consideration to conduct next year's audit. The board voted to switch to Cowart Reese Sargent (CRS) of Paris, Tennessee.

She also reminded the board that South Carroll received a $50,000 Perkins Reserve Grant to fund middle school agriculture and STEM programs, which will include new equipment, drones, and a hands-on STEM curriculum developed by aerospace engineers.

South Carroll Adopts Locked Pouch Cell Phone Policy for 2025-26

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South Carroll Adopts Locked Pouch Cell Phone Policy for 2025-26

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