On Nov. 19, during a board meeting, the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) board of representatives postponed its vote to implement the Yondr pouch system. The decision to delay the vote followed months of discussion, approval and dismay from the TUHSD community.

Many community members attended the meeting to express their opinions about the proposed policy. Yondr pouches would require students to lock their phones in pouches for the entirety of the school day to create a phone-free environment. View this article for more information about the Yondr pouches and the district’s proposition.
Designed to combat student distraction and promote student mental well-being, the Yondr pouch system has been a polarizing topic among the TUHSD community. While some community members support the policy, others have raised cost concerns and questioned potential safety issues and logistical challenges related to the new phone policy.
During the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Tara Taupier gave a brief review of evidence suggesting that phone use is linked with mental health issues, emphasizing the need for a new phone policy to ensure student well-being. Taupier mentioned that some local schools are shifting towards a phoneless school day. Marin Catholic enforces an off-and-away policy where phones are put in backpacks, while the Ross School uses Yondr pouches.
Taupier explained the rationale behind the push for phone-free schools, which is part of a broader movement to limit phone usage in education.
“There has been mounting evidence of the impact that cell phones and social media have on both student well-being and student outcomes,” Taupier said.
In the district survey, many expressed concerns about using Yondr pouches in an emergency. Taupier claimed that phones cause problems during serious situations.
“Research around [having phones during emergencies] says that it’s actually safer if students are not on phones and not contacting parents during an unsafe event,” Taupier said.

After Taupier’s review, the board allowed twenty minutes of public comment, with one minute allotted per speaker session, to share their opinions on using Yondr pouches in school.
A survey conducted by the board indicated a more balanced view towards phone regulations in school. 60 percent of parents and teachers in the survey supported the idea of a phone-free school day with the exception of lunch. However, Yondr pouches and their cost were never explicitly mentioned in the survey given.
The majority of speakers who commented during the board meeting disapproved of the Yondr pouches. Of the 17 volunteer speakers, three favored pouches, while many parents, students and teachers expressed disapproval of the proposed method.“I’d rather spend the $160,000 on education, teaching our kids how to use their phones responsibly,” one parent said. “I think what we are doing [already] is effective; it seems to be improving. I would rather improve the [phone caddies] than use a blunt-force system.”

Heather Curtaz, a math teacher who has taught at Redwood for 20 years, appreciates the idea of limiting phone use in school but does not support the district’s plan to use Yondr pouches.
“I support students not being on their phones. But as a teacher invested in the success of my students, the amount of work needed to manage Yondr pouches is inconceivable to me,” Curtaz said.
Curtaz also expressed doubts about the pouches’ practicality.
“[The] kids don’t bring pencils to school. They’re not going to bring their pouches,” Curtaz said.
Student activist and junior Julian Roth agreed with this sentiment, fearing that the pouches wouldn’t prevent phone usage in the way the board hoped.

“If the pouches actually worked how they were supposed to, I would be completely in support,” Roth said. “For now, let’s focus on consistent enforcement of the current policy and teacher education. I would also say, if you have any skepticism about this plan at all, remember that $160,000 is on the line here.”
Local youth pastor Jeff Shankle teaches many students in the TUHSD district, and he supports Yondr pouches as a means to control phone addiction in children.
“I would love something that simplifies this process, whether it’s the phone ban with or without the exception of lunch,” Shankle said.
While attendees acknowledged that the current phone caddy system needs stricter enforcement, many consider building on the current foundation of phone caddies preferable to switching to Yondr pouches.
“A lot can be improved with the system we already have,” Trustee Emily Ulhorn said.
Others shared similar views, arguing that the district’s current phone policy has shown promising results since its implementation 10 months ago. Some argued that it is unfair to abandon the phone caddy policy without clearer evidence of its effectiveness.
Spanish teacher Tristan Bodle shared his experience with the existing caddy system.
“Things have gotten much better since implementing caddies. The key is consistent enforcement and education, not spending money on an entirely new system,” Bodle said.

Other parents and students echoed this sentiment.
“The phone caddy system hasn’t been used long enough,” one parent said. “This is an overreaction. The money [used on the pouches] could be spent on other things.”

Board representative Cynthia Roenisch proposed using a pilot program at a TUHSD school to implement Yondr pouches as a test run for the rest of the district. Roenisch proposed using the high school with the lowest California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) scores.
Dr. Taupier emphasized that the district remains committed to addressing the impact of phone use on students’ mental health. However, she acknowledged that the phone caddy system has shown progress at Redwood.
The discussion highlighted the community’s desire for solutions that balance effective classroom management with student development. Whether through Yondr pouches or improved enforcement of current policies, the board faces a challenging decision with far-reaching implications.