PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Public Schools is looking to spend almost $250,000 for technology that would shut off students’ phones when they’re in the classroom.
The PPS board on Monday night voted unanimously to buy up to 9,200 Yondr pouches for the district’s middle and high school students.
Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat tells 25 News, phones in school have just taken over. So, for the coming year, the district is willing to give the Yondr pouches a try.
Middle and high school students will be required to put their phones in the pouches, which are automatically locked until the end of the day.
Kherat believes a majority of parents and teachers support the move, but acknowledges a few parents are worried about safety if they can’t reach their kids.
Since students do have access to computers, the superintendent says parents and their children might have to rely more on email.
If students lose the pouches, they’ll have to pay to replace them. Each Yondr pouch costs $30, according to Kherat.
The superintendent believes students will do better in class when they’re not focused on their cell phones.
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