Virginia Schools Spend Thousands To Keep Students Off Phones

ROANOKE, Va. – A Virginia school district will spend more than $13,000 to keep high school students off their phones during math class.

The Roanoke Times reports that the Roanoke School Board unanimously greenlit a pilot program for all math classes at William Fleming and Patrick Henry high schools on Tuesday. The district will order at least 700 lockable pouches from San Francisco-based company Yondr.

Deputy Superintendent Dan Lyons says the pouches cost around $19 a pop to rent for the school year.

Students will be required to place their cellphones in the pouches, which lock magnetically and remain inaccessible until the teacher unlocks it with a separate device.

Lyons asserts the pouches are becoming popular nationwide. He says the pouches are expected to arrive in mid-September.