Cell phones either stay at home or go in the bag

By Ginna Young

As forewarned, cell phone use during the school day will be a thing of the past at Cornell High School, as of Jan. 1, 2025. Policy 5.04 was passed Nov. 25, by the board of education, requiring students to either leave their phones at home or to deposit them in special pouch bags that render them incapable of use, once they enter the school.

Cell phone use has become an increasing problem, with students abusing the use of phones during the school day.

The pouches from YONDR cost $32, which is at parent expense. Middle/high school principal Craig Braaten will speak to groups about what will happen and how the pouches will work, based on a “magnet” unit that locks and unlocks the bags.

Those will be stationed in the front commons and bus exit, as well as one in the office, along with two mobile handheld units for those who need CVTC verification from their phones.

Parent Nicole Schwingle wanted to know if once the school day is done, the phones are unlocked, because sometimes, a sports practice or something else runs over, and the parents need to know about it.

“That’s where I struggle with this,” said Schwingle. School administrators assured her that once school is over, all phones are unlocked.

However, that wasn’t the only concern parents had, with the price tag on the pouches.

“I know a lot of parents probably can’t justify that,” said parent Phylicia Smith. “Is there a way to make it more affordable to them?”

Superintendant Paul Schley feels the pouches are cheap, compared to the cost of a phone and data.

“Everything’s about priority, when it comes to money,” he said, adding that Cornell doesn’t require fees to play athletics or registration to attend school. “We don’t charge for hardly anything around here.”

School board treasurer Stephanie Seidlitz questioned if some families could get financial help, in the form of a payment plan, to which Braaten promised the district would see if they can work that out.

With the timing of the measure and Christmas is an expensive thing for families, parent Amy Hugh encouraged a payment plan to happen.

“It’s not a question of whether or not we should have it,” said Smith.

“The kids messed it up for themselves,” agreed Hugh.