Park City schools ban cell phones in classrooms

PARK CITY — Starting Monday, another school district in northern Utah will ban cell phones during class to reduce classroom distractions.

The Park City School District is the latest to implement a cellphone ban in schools, but implementing that rule is a very different process, says Caleb Fine, the principal of Treasure Mountain Junior High.

“We see students saying and doing really, really mean things on cell phones. It’s a really complex issue. Hopefully we’re spared from that for 7.5 hours,” Fine said.

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Students at his school will receive Yondr phone cases on Monday. Fine said staff talked to students about the change during the first week of school.

“They’ll put their phones in magnetically sealed bags,” Fine said. “The teachers have magnets and all they have to do is touch and press a button and the bag opens.”

Fine said each Yondr bag costs about $30. The Park City Education Foundation is funding the pilot program.

“If it works, I think it’s one of the most cost-effective ways we have to increase engagement in public schools,” Fine said.

The Yondr bag is used by the school district for students’ phones. (Shelby Lofton, KSL TV)

He said families can call the main office to talk to their child about something urgent, and in the event of an emergency, teachers in any classroom can quickly open the bags.

“We’ve chosen the model where every teacher has a special magnet in a safe place that they can use to unlock students’ phones at the end of the day. It’s a very convenient process, but it’s also there in case of a major emergency, which we don’t anticipate but we’re prepared for,” Fine said. “If a magnet isn’t available in a major emergency, we don’t care about the cost of a bag. Cut it open. Pry it open.”

Students keep the bags with them throughout the day, along with a computer or textbook.

“Students are responsible for their bags, so if they lose them they have to pay for replacements,” he said.

Fine said he was optimistic about the program.

“We also know that the minds of eighth and ninth graders are the most malleable and the most impacted by it. And that’s one of the reasons we’re so excited to test it and get more engagement in the classroom,” Fine said. “Do I expect everything to be perfect? ​​Absolutely not. That would be foolish of me. But so far, everything’s going well.”

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