NJ school district delays the start of a cellphone lockup pilot program

🔒 NJ school district delays start of cellphone lockup pilot program

🔒 Students would keep phones in lockable pouch

🔒 The program may be delayed until January, according to officials

MONTCLAIR — Students in one Essex County school district have gotten a reprieve from a cell phone ban that was expected to start on Sept. 5.

In June, Montclair Public Schools announced it was partnering with Yondr, a San Francisco-based company that is known for its phone-free space lockable pouch, to implement a cell phone ban at four of its schools.

That pilot program has now been delayed, as was first reported by NJ.com.

The announcement was made during a school board meeting on Aug. 12 by Interim Superintendent of Montclair Public Schools Damen Cooper.

One of the reasons Cooper gave for the delay is that he feels more "conversation" about the plan is needed.

"I also want to make sure we have adequate response and conversations with our parent community," Cooper said.

Additionally, Cooper said he wants to make sure "that all schools have a plan to implement it so it is successful."

Cooper said he's "targeting" the program to start in January, once students return from holiday break.

According to NJ.com, school districts in New Jersey using Yondr lock pouches include Bridgeton, East Orange, Jersey City, Linden, New Brunswick, Pennsauken, and Willingboro.

How does the pouch work?

According to Yondr's website, the pouches allow users to maintain possession of their cell phones at all times while inside of a phone-free area by storing their phones in a locked pouch. Users can use their phones by stepping outside of the phone-free zone, and tapping the pouch on an unlocking base.

Recently, the Cherry Hill Public School district banned the use of wireless devices during school. That means students are not allowed to use cell phones, smart watches, earbuds, and wireless headphones under the policy adopted in June by the school board.

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