How Fairfax Co.’s middle school cellphone pilot program is working

Scott Gelman | sgelman@wtop.com

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Since September, students at Mark Twain Middle School in Rose Hill, Virginia, have entered the building with a gray Yondr pouch intended for their cellphone.

When they walk in, they use one of the magnets that’s mounted to the wall to unlock it. They slide their cellphone in, close it, and for the duration of the school day, the pouch with the device remains in their backpack.

Then, when it’s time to leave, they use the one of the mounted magnets to unlock it.

As part of a plan to crack down on students’ cellphone use, Fairfax County launched a pilot program with the Yondr pouches at seven middle schools. In the more than three months since it has been in place, students and teachers said it’s helping eliminate distractions.

“It lets me focus more on the subjects, instead of constantly looking at my pocket with any vibrations,” said Isaac Espinoza, an eighth grader at Twain.

For the 1,000 students at the school in the Rose Hill neighborhood, Principal Matthew Mough said the daily process took some getting used to. Every student was given a pouch, even those whose parents confirm they don’t have a cellphone.

Students who have a medical condition that requires them to use their phone during the day have a medical pouch that isn’t locked shut using a magnet. That way, Mough said, the phone can be accessed discreetly, if the student needs it.

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