Brunswick County Schools expands Yondr program to other middle schools

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — The Brunswick County Board of Education approved a recommendation by Superintendent Dale Cole to expand a pilot program keeping cell phones out of the classroom to other middle schools in the county next year.

This year, students at Town Creek and Cedar Grove Middle Schools had to put away their phones in what’s called Yondr pouches. Phones and other personal electronic devices go into magnetically sealed fabric pouches and stay there until the end of the school day.

According to a survey, more than 85% of teachers said the program has been very effective, and around 55% of teachers said their students are only somewhat positive about the program.

With tonight’s vote, the following schools will be placed in the program next year: Leland Middle, Shallotte Middle, South Brunswick Middle, and Waccamaw Middle Schools.

The program will also apply to the Rise Academy and Achieve Academy at COAST, but not to the visiting students to the COAST for the CTE programs for the other high schools.