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School systems in the area are taking different paths in their response to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order to provide a cellphone-free environment in the state’s K-12 public schools.

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Southampton County Public Schools sent out a letter to parents Sept. 19 announcing that it will be partnering with the Yondr program. SCPS Director of Curriculum and Instruction Kelli Gillette stated in the letter that the program employs a simple, easy-to-use case that stores a cellphone and requires an unlocking base to open.

“When students enter the school, they will place their phones that have been powered off in a secure, personally assigned Yondr case, which is then locked,” she wrote. “Students maintain possession of their phones but will not be able to use them until they are unlocked at the end of their school day. 

“Students are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouch at all times,” she continued. “If there is an emergency and you would like to get in contact with your child, please reach out to your child’s school main office.”

Gillette explained that the Yondr program would be implemented at Southampton Middle School starting Monday, Sept. 30, and at Southampton High School starting Monday, Oct. 7.

A Frequently Asked Questions sheet was shared with parents, and an informational Zoom session was held Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 24.

Gillette stated in the letter that Yondr has been successfully implemented in thousands of schools across 27 countries, and she indicated it has promoted engaged and focused learning atmospheres.

She wrote that an annual survey of more than 1,200 schools that have implemented the Yondr program revealed the following data:

• 86% saw a positive impact in student safety and wellness; 
• 84% saw a positive change in student engagement; 
• 72% saw a positive change in student behavior; and 
• 68% saw a positive change in academic performance.

Gillette encouraged those with questions about the program to call her at 757-653-2692.

FRANKLIN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Franklin City School Board Chairman Robert Holt indicated that Franklin City Public Schools is not planning to use the Yondr program.

“We’re going to take a different path,” he said. “I did attend a meeting, and the state superintendent was there, and she presented the governor’s view — they call it ‘bell-to-bell,’ which means that when a kid comes in the front door, their phone is put away, not even on their person, it’s got to be in a backpack or something like that, it’s turned off and put away, and that includes smart watches and all of that. And that would only end at the end of the day when the last bell is rung. That’s when they could walk out of the school building and get on the bus and pick up their phones again.

“We kind of think that during the lunch period, the kids should have access to their phones and kind of get it out of their system a little bit,” he continued. “So I believe that’s where we’re headed right now, which would, in a way, violate the governor’s executive order, but we’re waiting to see what else people are going to do as well. But I don’t think that ‘bell-to-bell’ thing will hold true throughout the whole state; I think there’s too many people that disagree with that.”

However, he did take note of the fact that Virginia Superintendent of Public Education Lisa Coons said that 30% of cellphone use by students in school has to do with some criminal behavior, like facilitating drug use or distribution, or violence against a fellow student after school.

Holt said, “Franklin, yes, we’ve had that problem with kids in school, but I think we can handle it without having to buy pouches and all that kind of stuff. I’m not really a fan of the pouch thing.”

Overall, he noted that FCPS is “looking at a modification of the governor’s executive order, I’m sure.”

Some school divisions, like Suffolk Public Schools, are not currently planning to formally institute a policy, and Holt noted that the comment has been made several times that the governor’s order did not have any penalties for failure to comply with it.

“But they may come back and fix that,” he said.

He indicated that a recurring theme of his own perspective on statewide policies is that they do not always fit every division’s situation.

“I think things like this (cellphone issue) need to be left at the school division level, because we all have different situations that we have to think about,” he said.

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY SCHOOLS

Lynn Briggs, Isle of Wight County Schools’ director of community and media relations, said IWCS is not using Yondr.

“Students must keep the phones turned off in their bags/backpacks during the school day, which we implemented beginning this school year,” she stated. “It’s still early in the year, but, so far, the overwhelming majority of students are complying with the new procedure.”