DAVENPORT, Iowa — Two Davenport schools are trying out new ways to keep phones out of classrooms.
Using two different pilot programs, the district is enforcing its existing cellphone rules.
At Williams Intermediate, students will put their phones in Yondr pouches that are magnetically sealed shut. They keep the pouches on them all day, then the pouches are unsealed when they head home.
At Central High School, students will put their phones in lockers in each class. They have access to their phones between classes and during breaks.
During a discussion at a Monday school board meeting, Superintendent TJ Schneckloth said principals at each school will meet with the board every other week to share what they hear from students and data on bullying and harassment.
For teachers like Evan Schenck, a social studies teacher at North High School, phones are a daily battle.
"I've had plenty of cases where I've told a student to put their phone away and focus and they're already back on it as soon as I turn my back," Schenck said.
He said phones make it hard for kids to learn what they need.
"In a lot of cases it’s easier to avoid the confrontation, but sometimes in avoiding that confrontation you’re giving up on having a student able to achieve, having them complete the learning that they need to do in order to avoid a disruption in the classroom environment," Schenck said.
While North High School isn't part of the pilot, Schneck is hopeful these programs will help enforce the district's existing cellphone rules.
"I’m excited for, if this pilot is successful, for us to have the same thing at West High and at North and at MidCity, and at all the middle schools," Schenck said. "It’s a step in the right direction. It’s encouraging to have the school board and the district administration taking this seriously and coming up with a plan."
According to Yondr, the company provides pouches to thousands of schools across 27 countries. The company reports a majority of those schools saw improvements in student engagement, behavior and academic performance.