Locking phone pouches stay for another year

What happened

Orange students keep their phones in locked Yondr-style pouches through the school day. On August 12, 2026 the board awarded the contract for the student internet-enabled device lockable pouch system for the 2026-2027 school year, continuing a system that was already running in 2025-2026. A student told the board in October 2025 that opinions on the pouches were mixed but that they helped students stay focused.

Why it matters to families

A locking pouch is a stricter arrangement than a rule about keeping a phone in a bag: the phone is physically inaccessible from the first bell to the last. It changes the whole school day for every student, and it means parents cannot reach a child directly during school hours.

The evidence

The August 12, 2026 board agenda lists 'Resolution Awarding Contract for Student Internet-Enabled Device Lockable Pouch System For The 2026 - 2027 School Year'. The approved October 8, 2025 minutes record an eighth-grade student from Orange Preparatory Academy speaking about 'the new Yondr pouch system', saying that 'while opinions on the pouch system are mixed, it helps students stay focused'.

The source