By Polly Mikula
After a full school year of discussions with students, parents and administrators, Woodstock Union Middle School and High School (WUMSHS) principal Aaron Cinquemani confirmed last week that students will be required to secure their cell phones in locked Yondr pouches from the beginning of the school day to the end (bell-to-bell) beginning at the start-up of the 2025-26 school year, Aug. 27.
“Starting Aug. 27, 2025, WUMSHS will implement a phone-free learning environment for all students and staff,” wrote Cinquemani in a draft letter to the community shared with the Mountain Times. “At WUMSHS, we aim to create a more supportive, focused, and engaging learning environment where students and staff can teach, learn, and socialize with each other without the distraction and disruption of phones.”
The district currently has a policy in its student handbook banning “phones and bluetooth headphones/earbuds… during instructional time, study hall, advisory, anytime in hallways or bathrooms during class blocks” with consequences for not following those rules outlined specifically. But in practice, that policy is not consistently followed or enforced, according to students, teacher, parents and administrators.
A UNC Chapel Hill survey at WUMSHS provided key insights into Woodstock student device usage, its impact on learning and mental health and staff perceptions.
Key finding included:
83% of Woodstock students bring their phones to school daily, with 79% using them for non-class purposes during school hours. A significant portion (29%) admitted to using phones when they should be paying attention.
94% of Woodstock teachers believe smart devices are detrimental in the classroom, with 84% reporting being distracted by student phone sue. Many also cited increased student misbehavior due to smart devices.
WUMSHS has been working to implement a true phone-free learning environment for nearly a year. At the board meeting this past Sept. 9, Cinquemani unequivocally expressed his support for Woodstock Middle/High School to become phone-free and asked the district board to support that effort. Three community forums were held in September and October to engage the community in this discussion and get feedback, a student debate on phone-free learning at Killington was also facilitated this past fall (65 students participated), many staff meetings have tackled the struggles with implementation and enforcement, a student-led phone-free learning committee was established, and advisory discussions have ensured all students understand the rationale behind the policy.
After “recognizing the importance of over-communicating and involving all stakeholders” WUMSHS feels confident beginning the new phone-free plan on the first day of school in the fall. Students will then be required to turn off their devices and place them in their school-issued Yondr pouches upon arrival at 8 a.m. Assigned staff will supervise this process, according to the draft letter. Students in grades 7-12 will keep their Yondr pouches in their backpacks or in their lockers. At the end of the school day (2:55 p.m.), students will be allowed to unlock their devices at magnetic unlocking stations and retrieve their devices. Students arriving early or late can lock/unlock their pouches at the front office when signing in or out.
“Students are also free to leave smartphones, cell phones, smartwatches, and bluetooth headphones at home,” Cinquemani noted.
Yondr is the industry leader in providing lockable bags to secure cell phones when use is not permitted in schools and entertainment venues. The Yondr pouch has a magnetic lock that keeps devices secured.
Woodstock Middle/High School will issue Yondr pouches to every student, similar to how sports jerseys, textbooks or Chromebook devices are issued to students. Funds for the Yondr pouches were raised through a combination of private fundraising and the school’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
If a student violates the new policy “the family will be notified and required to pick up the device. Additional consequences may include detention, suspension, and/or submitting the phone to the school for the remainder of the year.”
If a student looses or damages/vandalizes their school-issued Yondr pouch, they are required to pay for a replacement.
“Research and evidence indicate that smart phones and social media have a detrimental impact on teaching, learning and mental health,” wrote Cinquemani. “Moreover, these devices are major distractions, hindering teachers’ and students’ ability to focus and engage meaningfully in teaching and learning… evidence consistently shows that restricting access to cell phones during the school day leads to numerous benefits, including improved academic performance, a reduction in bullying, and better mental health outcomes for students and staff. Additionally, schools that have adopted phone-free learning environment practices report almost immediate improvements in classroom focus, social interactions, and community engagement.”
