Cell Phone Policy

Liverpool High School Yondr Pouch FAQ for Students and Families

Liverpool High School is preparing for the 2025–2026 school year with a new cell phone policy aimed at creating a more focused and distraction-free learning environment. The updated policy, which aligns with New York State Education Law Section 2803, restricts the use of internet-enabled personal electronic devices during the school day across all grade levels. At their regular meeting on July 8, 2025, the Liverpool Central School District Board of Education adopted Policy 7316 for the Use of Internet-Enabled Devices During the School Day.

Liverpool High School Cell Phone and Internet-Enabled Device "Bell-toBell Ban Starts September 4, 2025.

Starting September 4, 2025, a new New York State law takes effect that restricts student cell phone use during the school day. This means LHS will implement a “bell-to-bell” ban on all cell phones and internet-enabled devices during school hours.

What does Bell-to-Bell mean?

From the time students arrive at school until they are dismissed, cell phones and other internet-enabled devices must be turned off and put away. This includes time in class, lunch, study halls, and passing time between periods. The ban also applies during field trips. Once students are dismissed, the ban no longer applies. After-school sports, clubs, and evening events are not affected.

How will Liverpool High School follow this law?

To support this policy, each student will receive a school-issued Yondr pouch that fastens shut with the push of a button. Students will place their cell phone and/or internet-enabled devices in the Yondr pouch upon arrival and keep their pouch with them until dismissal.

Why is Liverpool High School introducing Yondr pouches?

Liverpool High School is seeking to limit distractions in the building and improve overall student engagement, mental health, and well-being. This new state law is meant to help students stay focused and support their mental health. Research shows that cell phones are a significant distraction during learning time and may contribute to issues like cyberbullying and reduced face-to-face interaction.

What is a Yondr pouch?

The Yondr pouch is a secure bag that is used to store an individual’s cell phone and other internet-enabled devices during the school day. It is secured and unlocked with a special magnetic locking mechanism.

How do Yondr pouches work?

Yondr has put together a 25 second video showing how the pouches work.

Does my child's smart watch and earbuds have to fit in the pouch?

Yes. Smart watches and earbuds can fit inside the Yondr pouch. Any cell phone and/or personal internet-enabled device is NOT allowed during the school day, including:

Cell phones and smartphones
AirPods and earbuds
Smartwatches
Tablets, including iPads
Fitness trackers with messaging or calling features

What if my headphones don't fit in the pouch?

Any large headphones must be stored in student backpacks. Students are not allowed to wear or use internet-enabled headphones during the school day at any time. Examples of these include, but are not limited to: Beats headphones and AirPods Max.

How will students receive a Yondr pouch?

During Academic Advisement (AA) on the first day of school, all students will be assigned a Yondr pouch to secure their cell phone and any other internet-enabled device. Students will be taught how to use the Yondr pouch during AA. Students will be expected to use their Yondr pouch upon arrival at school on September 5, 2025. The pouch is the property of the school and is considered on loan to the student during the school year. Students are responsible for the Yondr pouch at all times and for bringing the pouch to and from school each day. Students are responsible for keeping their pouch in good condition.

How will the process work at arrival and dismissal?

Upon entering the school building, students will turn their phone off or put it on airplane mode, place the phone inside the Yondr pouch, and lock it in front of the designated staff. The pouches will be unlocked at the end of the school day at several designated locations within the building.

Will my child's phone be safe?

A student’s cell phone and any other internet-enabled devices will never leave their possession, provided that they follow cell phone policies, including pouching their phone upon entering the building.

What happens if a student doesn't have their Yondr pouch?

The phone and any internet-enabled devices will be turned over to the Dean’s office staff, labeled, and secured until the end of the school day. At the end of the school day, students will retrieve their devices.

What if a student needs to leave the building before regular dismissal?

If a student needs to leave school early for an approved early dismissal, medical emergency, work assignment, athletic event, or other school-sponsored trip, students will be able to unlock their devices at school just prior to their departure in the main office. If returning to school during the instructional day, the Yondr pouch will be locked upon re-entry to the building.

My child attends BOCES. How do pouches work for them?

Students who attend BOCES during the morning session will be expected to comply with the BOCES internet-enabled device policy.

Students who attend BOCES in the afternoon will have their pouch unlocked upon leaving LHS to get on the BOCES bus. Once students arrive at BOCES, students will be expected to comply with the BOCES internet-enabled device policy.

My senior has late arrival or early dismissal. How do the pouches work for them?

Seniors with late arrival will lock their phones and internet-enabled devices in their pouches in the main office as they sign into school upon arrival.

Seniors with early dismissal will unlock their phones and internet-enabled devices upon dismissal in the main office.

How can I contact my child during the school day?

Students can use a designated phone in the main office if they need to contact home.
Families can call the school’s main office at 315-453-1500 to pass along a message or speak with their child if the need arises.
Students can check their school email using their District-issued Chromebook.

What happends if there is an emergency at school?

Every space in the building is equipped with a phone that can dial 911. Our staff is trained to execute safety and emergency procedures every school year in accordance with New York State Law and Department of Education regulations. Students will follow the school’s emergency procedures in the case of an emergency. If there is an emergency, schools will communicate with families through the district’s mass notification and communication tools as we normally would.

What if there is a building-wide emergency and students are unable to return to the building? How will they open their Yondr pouch?

We have mobile unlocking devices available for these types of circumstances. Administrators and other designated staff will carry these mobile unlocking units in the case of an evacuation.

Are there any exceptions to the policy?

The following are exceptions to the policy:

Medically necessary devices (like a glucose monitor) may be permitted with proper documentation from a healthcare provider. The school’s health office will issue pouches based on medically necessary exemptions.
If required by an IEP or 504 Plan

What if a student does not comply or damages the locked pouch to access their phone?

Students who are found to unlock the pouches, cause damage to the pouch, or use an alternate phone will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Conduct. Students who damage or lose their pouch will be required to pay for a replacement pouch. Students will be required to lock their phone into the Dean’s office until a replacement pouch is purchased.

If the Yondr pouch is stolen/lost, who is responsible for replacement?

Students will ultimately be responsible for the care of their Yondr pouch. If a student intentionally damages the pouch, they will be responsible for replacement and may face disciplinary consequences. If a student loses their pouch, the district will assign a replacement cost. The student will lock their phone in the Dean’s office daily until a replacement pouch is purchased.

Will each teacher be able to unlock the pouches?

No. Individual teachers will not be able to unlock the pouches.

How many Yondr unlocking stations will there be and where will they be located?

Unlocking stations will be located in the main office, Athletics Entrance, and Fine Arts Entrance.

How will students know whose Yondr pouch is whose?

Each pouch will be tagged with a heavy-duty label including the student’s name and school ID Number.

What tools will the school use to help gauge the effectiveness of the Yondr pouches?

The District will use several measures, including staff, student, and family survey data, discipline referrals, and stakeholder feedback.

Requiring students to lock their phones away seems like a punishment. Is this the case?

Liverpool High School is complying with the New York State Law and LCSD BOE Policy that bans cell phones and other internet-enabled devices during the school day. The use of Yondr pouches is not a punitive measure. The intention of Yondr is threefold:

to create classroom environments where teachers can teach and students can learn free from distractions caused by the personal use of devices;
to reduce the negative impacts for ALL students of inappropriate use of devices at school, such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and incidents involving mobile phones that detract from a healthy school climate; and
to increase meaningful face-to-face connections between students.

What happens if a student violates this policy?

Students will not be suspended solely for unauthorized device use. Repeated violations will be addressed through the district’s Code of Conduct and appropriate interventions.

1st violation: The device is kept in the Dean’s office until the end of the day. Parents/guardians are notified.
2nd violation: The device is kept in the Dean’s office until the end of the day. Parents/guardians are notified and required to pick up the student’s device.
3rd and future violations: A parent will need to pick up the device from the office. In some cases, the student may need to turn in their device daily for a period of time.

If a student forgets to unlock the pouch before leaving the building, is there a way for students to unlock the pouch - i.e. an unlock station outside the school building?

There will not be an unlocking station outside the building. If the student forgets to unlock their pouch, they can return to the building to unlock it.

Policy Information and Future Reporting

The full Board of Education Policy (7316) is available on the Liverpool Central School District’s website.

Starting in September 2026, Liverpool Central School District will post a yearly public report about how this policy is being enforced, including anonymous demographic data and actions taken if enforcement appears unequal.