August 2025

Dear Families,

Welcome to a new school year! I hope your summer was filled with rest, joy, and meaningful time with loved ones. As we begin this exciting new chapter, our staff is energized and ready to support your children with care, high expectations, and a renewed commitment to academic excellence and student well-being.

This year, we’re continuing to build on what makes our schools special—strong relationships, vibrant classrooms, and a focus on preparing every student for success in life beyond graduation. We’re so proud of the summer construction projects and also excited to share some new initiatives, including our phone-free school environment using Yondr, designed to create more focused and connected learning spaces for all students. More details can be found below in the newsletter. 

Creating a Healthier Learning Environment: Going Phone-Free with Yondr: This year, our district is joining thousands of schools across the country by implementing the Yondr Pouch System.  Why the change? An updated District 7 Board policy now supports limiting phone or other web based electronic devices, used during school hours to improve academic focus, safety, and student well-being. Research consistently shows that constant access to phones negatively impacts grades, behavior, mental health, and social interaction. The Board Policy reads as follows: 

• Students in grades  K - 12 may not use personal communication devices (PCDs) during normal school hours.  For purposes of this policy, "personal communication device" includes computers, tablets (e.g., iPads and similar devices), electronic readers ("e-readers"; e.g., Kindles and similar devices), cell phones (e.g., mobile/cellular telephones, smartphones (e.g., BlackBerry, iPhone, Android devices, Windows Mobile devices, etc.), head phones, ear buds, burner cell phones, watches, smart glasses, and/or other web-enabled devices of any type.

Yondr’s phone-free program has been used by over 1 million students daily and is backed by independent studies showing:

• Up to 38% increase in academic success in upper grades
  
  
• 44% fewer behavioral referrals
  
  
• Improved classroom engagement and school culture

Students still have access to their phones in emergencies, and special accommodations are made for medical needs. In the case of a very serious emergency situation, students will have access to their phones. Please know that we consider student and staff safety our number one priority. 

We’re excited to give students the opportunity to focus, connect, and thrive—without the distractions. We will roll out the Yondr Pouch Program to students during the first week of school.  Middle School and High School Students will be assigned a Yondr Pouch for their use throughout the school year. They will take the pouch both to and from school. The pouches will be turned in at the end of the year. The 4th and 5th grade students will not be taking the pouches home but will have access to the pouches at school. If you have a Y5 - 3rd grader that carries a cell phone, a pouch will be issued on an as needed basis and will remain at school. 

I have attached additional information in regards to the Yondr program and added a link below to learn more about the Yondr. 

Yondr  https://vimeo.com/986781861  

Major Summer Projects: “Construction Season”: While students and teachers were recharging over the summer, the District was hard at work. We are excited to share the most up to date pictures of some of the major projects.  

• Polk and Pardee HVAC: This is a major upgrade to our teaching and learning environment at Polk and Pardee. Last summer we installed new classroom univents in all three Elementary schools. We also added air conditioning to Bedford Elementary. This summer we are adding air conditioning to Polk and Pardee Elementary classrooms. Below are pictures of the installation work:

2025-26 Sinking Fund: I am excited to announce we will be asking our Community to consider the renewal of our sinking fund on November 4th, 2025. This would be a renewal of the existing sinking fund, and as a result would be no tax increase for our community. This renewal would generate approximately $1,300,000 each year for the next 10 years. Sinking Fund Monies can only be used for projects and cannot be used for salaries or benefits for employees. The best way to describe this is that if you took our District, turned it upside down and shook it, only those items that would not fall out can be used for sinking fund dollars. Think of a sinking fund as the school’s house maintenance fund–keeping the schools safe, warm and dry for learning. The D7 sinking fund would support the following projects through the 10 year period: 

Roof Project for O. W. Best / Cement Repairs District Wide (sidewalks and drop off lanes) / Roof Project for the Polk Elementary Board Office / Parking Lot Project for Pardee Elementary /  HVAC and Univent Project for both Annapolis High School and O. W. Best Middle School / District Wide Restroom Refresh Project / Major Renovation of Project for Madison Elementary / Parking Lot Project for Annapolis High School / Roof Project for the Annapolis High School 2nd floor.  

You will be receiving additional information as we get closer to the election date. 

General Information: 

WHY YONDR?

We believe the pouch is just one piece of the puzzle. Yondr provides tailored solutions for phone-free experiences that are truly transformative. As the industry leader and inventor of phone-free spaces, Yondr has 10+ years of experience developing rigorously tested products and offering best-in-class support, expertise, and guidance to all of our partners.

Unlike collection and lockers/storage methods, the Yondr Program is a complete solution combining a proven program, patented products, tailored training, and ongoing support. All of these components work together to support educators to create phone-free learning spaces for all students.

Yondr is the only company with the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to help your phone-free school run smoothly and efficiently - Yondr's experience is unmatched.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Educators around the world are seeing the damaging effects of phones on student engagement, social development, and mental health. Yondr is proud to work with educators to help students experience the focus, creativity, and relief that comes with a phone-free education.

WHY GO PHONE-FREE?

Widespread and constant smartphone use is presenting an undeniable social, psychological, and academic crisis. Smartphones have incredible utility, but not in every setting. This technology promises efficiency, productivity and ease of communication - but in reality, the constant connectivity and overstimulation is having devastating effects on the mental health of our young people.

WHY YONDR?

Yondr provides tailored solutions for phone-free experiences that are truly transformative. Yondr is the industry leader and inventor of phone-free spaces, with 10 years of experience developing rigorously tested products and offering best-in-class support, expertise and guidance to all of our partners. Yondr is the only company with the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to help your phone-free school run smoothly and efficiently.

WHO IS YONDR?

Yondr is the industry leader and inventor of phone-free spaces. Yondr has partnered with schools around the world to create phone-free learning environments for over a decade. Currently, the Yondr program is used in thousands of schools across all 50 states and more than 35 countries, and the results are impressive. Yondr schools report dramatic improvements in student mental health, academic performance, classroom engagement, and social connection, alongside a significant decrease in student anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and behavioral incidents.

DO STUDENTS KEEP POSSESSION OF PHONES?

Students always keep possession of their phones. As they enter school each day, students slip their phones into their Yondr pouches and lock them under the supervision of school staff. Students keep their pouched phones with them throughout the day.

CELLPHONES & SCHOOL SAFETY:

A quick scan of the headlines highlights what we all know—students are facing a social, psychological, and academic crisis. Mental health experts believe that cell phones are at the root of this issue and emphasize the urgent need to limit the time young people are spending online.

In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory on social media and youth mental health stating that up to 95% of young people between ages 13-17 report near constant use of social media. Excessive use-over three hours daily—raises risks of depression, anxiety, body dissatisfaction, and exposure to harmful content. And students' use of smartphones in school leads to lower grades, increased cyberbullying, and a higher rate of behavioral incidents.

PARENTAL CONCERNS:

IS MY CHILD SAFER IN AN EMERGENCY IF THEY HAVE A CELL PHONE?

Many parents recognize the tremendous benefits of a phone-free education, but still have some concerns over safety. They worry about being able to contact their child in an emergency or how their child can call 911.

While these concerns are more than understandable, top safety and security experts agree that smartphones do not improve student safety and can create dangerous distractions themselves.

These safety experts warn that cell phone use during emergencies can actually hinder response efforts in many ways.

"The last thing we want is students on their cell phones in the midst of an emergency," says former Akron Public Schools Safety Director and Yondr School Safety Partner, Don Zesiger.

"They should be taking direction from the principal, the teachers, and the leaders in the school to get them to a place of safety."

Zesiger also emphasizes the importance of a phone-free school policy to mitigate misinformation and its consequences.

HOW CAN CELL PHONES CAUSE HARM DURING AN EMERGENCY?

• Distraction: Phones can distract students from listening to first responders.
• Communication Jamming: High call volumes can disrupt emergency coordination.
• Noise Risk: Phone use might reveal students' whereabouts.
• Online Tracking Risks: Assailants could use social media to find additional victims.

"Fake social media posts threatening violence create panic and anxiety in all of us," says Zesiger.

"Law enforcement researches all threats as if they are real and exercises due diligence to make sure our students are safe. This requires a tremendous amount of time and resources. A phone-free school limits the opportunity for bogus social media threats to occur during the school day and allows students and teachers to stay focused on learning."

COLLABORATING WITH PARENTS ON CELL PHONE SAFETY

When administrators and parents are aligned on the benefits of a phone-free school policy, they foster a safer, more focused learning environment.

• Safety vs. Convenience: Instant communication isn't always safer. Parents will be more supportive of a policy when they understand this critical distinction.
• Effective Communication Plans: There are a number of ways to unlock Yondr pouches in emergencies—via classroom bases, go bag bases, or safety shears.
  Assure parents that every student maintains possession of their own Yondr pouch and phone, and it will be immediately accessible once the student is safe.
• Follow Safety Procedures: Encourage parents to speak to their child about what to do during an emergency, and explain how they will be able to text/call as soon as they are in a safe location.
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DON ZESIGER, YONDR SCHOOL SAFETY PARTNER

Don Zesiger, retired as the Director of Safety for Akron, Ohio Public Schools, implemented Yondr and many other innovations across Akron schools to enhance safety and create a more positive educational experience for students.

Don is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy, has 38 years of law enforcement experience, retired as the Chief of Police in Tallmadge, Ohio, and still holds an active peace officer commission through the Summit County Sheriff's Office that allows him to continue to work part time as a school resource officer. He is a dedicated professional that is passionate about providing for the safety and security of students and staff.