Middletown schools remain cell phone-free in 2024-25

See the YONDR pouch presentation from the August 1 school board meeting

Read Superintendent Creeden's message:

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the summer months!

Our commitment to fostering an optimal academic-focused environment for every young person remains steadfast. To uphold this commitment, we are continuing our efforts to prioritize the health, well-being, and safety of our scholars while minimizing distractions within our schools.

Building upon the progress made in previous years, I am pleased to announce all Middletown schools will remain cell phone-free during the academic day for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. We greatly appreciate your support in rallying around our vision, which has already significantly enhanced classroom learning experiences across our district.  This year, we will implement the YONDR pouch system at both middle schools and the high school.   

For the 2024-2025 school year, the following guidelines will be in effect across all K-12 school campuses:

All scholar cell phones must be turned off and stored away during the school day.

Students in grades K-5 are required to turn off their phones and store them in their backpacks or personal classroom coat/locker spaces.

Students in grades 6-12 must turn off their phones and place them in the district-provided YONDR pouches, which will be locked by an administrator upon arrival at the building. All young people in grades 6-12 will keep these pouches on their person throughout the day and may unlock them at the end of the instructional day.

Cell phone access is permitted before and after the school day, as well as during after-school activities. In emergencies, students may seek permission from a building administrator to use their phone in a designated private space. Regular school-specific rules will apply after the call.

I encourage families to discuss communication plans openly and make necessary arrangements over the summer. Our school-based offices are available as a resource, and our staff will assist in relaying messages or facilitating communication as needed.

Any violation of these expectations will be addressed according to the District’s Code of Conduct. If a cell phone is used during the school day, it will be collected, and parents/guardians will need to retrieve it from the school office. Cell phones will not be returned directly to students once collected.

Thank you for your partnership and ongoing support in creating a safe and productive learning environment where our focus remains on learning and growing together in a positive atmosphere.

Join us at a Town Hall Information session ~ check the website for details on upcoming dates and times. 

Respectfully serving,

Amy Creeden, Superintendent of Schools 

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Middle School Town Hall sessions
August 26, 5:30 p.m., In-person at Monhagen
September 9, 6 p.m., Virtual

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