HEARNE, Texas — With the new school year underway, Hearne ISD has announced that they will be joining many districts across the nation in implementing a no cellphone policy through a program called Yondr.
The policy will be in effect for the junior high and high school campuses, according to the district.
At the start of the day, students will be required to put their cellphone in a pouch provided by Yondr and has a mechanism to keep it shut similar to a clothing sensor tag, making the phone inaccessible unless in an area where the tag can be deactivated so the pouch can be opened.
In the event of emergencies, parents are urged to call the school or administration directly. The district says in the event of school emergencies, staff on hand will take primary control of the situation to ensure student safety.
Should it be discovered that a student has damaged the Yondr pouch, they will face consequences ranging from the parent being required to come to the school to pick up their child's phone, to suspension, detention, a replacement fee, or another punishment, according to the district.
Letters to parents detailing the changes in English and Spanish can be found here.