At the start of every school day, the students that attend Doherty High School get stopped at the door every morning by security to make sure they have their cellphones in a small phone locker called Yondr Pouches.

 The Yondr phone pouch policy across the entire D11 district was instituted at the start of the 2024 school year in August. The principal at Doherty, Mrs. Hillary Hienton went all out at enforcing the rule and it has been working for many teachers and Doherty faculty members.

But could it be risking the safety and well-being of their students?

 “They’re both good and bad. It’s like a safety issue, what if I need my phone?”  Kadance Cage, a Doherty student, said. Maybe the policy could cause safety issues in the classroom. What if there was an emergency and students couldn’t contact their loved ones?

 There’s a solution for that. According to many Doherty faculty members, in case of an emergency such as a fire, students can unlock their phones using the magnetic Yondr unlocking base.

Kadance Cage holding their Yondr pouch in the Doherty High School cafeteria. (Angel Lewis)

Why was the policy introduced in the first place? “[It is] because people can’t get off their phones,” Kadance Cage, a student at Doherty said.

 The students attending Doherty High School before this policy was instituted, such as sophomores, juniors, and seniors, are saying that beforehand, students couldn’t show restraint or discipline against their phones. A student that attended Doherty last year said, “Probably because they want kids to focus more on their school and not like their phones.” AJ S,  a sophomore at Doherty said.

D11 wants their enrolled students to put all their focus on school and work, and not on their blue light boxes cell phones.

 Students are complaining about the effectiveness and purpose of these Yondr pouches.

“They’re ineffective,” freshman Brynna Dorrence said.

 Most of the negative comments come from the students while most of the faculty share more positive comments.  “I think the policy encourages more student participation and socializing,” an anonymous  Doherty faculty member said. Even though the students disagree with this phone rule, it seems that this policy won’t be going away.

  With over 22,700 students enrolled in Colorado Springs District 11 schools, and $30 each for a single Yondr pouch, according to an article by Jill Haffley, the district spent over $300,000 just on Yondr pouches alone.

Implementing Yondr phone policies at our school has sparked significant conversations among students, faculty, and staff. While some may argue that it encourages focus and social activity at school, others may be concerned about personal freedom, accessibility, and safety.

As the 2024 school year goes on, the implications of Yondr pouches should be monitored to ensure that students are adjusting to the change.