2024 Annual Report: MISD Goes Phone-Free in 2024

Editor’s Note: This story appeared on Page 3 of the 2024 Mercer Island School District Annual Report which was delivered to all Mercer Island residents via regular mail on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

Engaged Intellectually.
Connected Socially.
Distracted Minimally.

Expressed in our values, vision, and mission, MISD is committed to fostering whole-child learning by:

• Engaging students in thinking critically and solving problems creatively;
• Providing rigorous and challenging opportunities for students;
• Creating inclusive and equitable learning settings; and
• Ensuring our schools are safe and supportive.

To foster the vibrant learning environments we desire and promote healthy social and emotional development, MISD restricted access to personal cell phones, smart watches, and ear buds during the school day at Islander Middle School and Mercer Island High School. It is already a practice in our elementary schools that cell phones and smart watches are not allowed.

This new MI Phone-Free Schools policy has been implemented using Yondr pouches. Each student uses a Yondr pouch to safely and securely store their cell phones, smartwatches, AirPods/Earbuds, and any other personal cell devices. Prior to putting devices in their Yondr pouch students turn their cell phones off or put them in Do Not Disturb mode. Students keep their Yondr pouch with them during the course of the school day and are able to unlock the pouch at designated unlocking stations when leaving school for the day. The pouches lock using a mechanism similar to anti-theft tags found on items in clothing, sporting goods, and other stores.

Admittedly, students have not strictly adhered to using the Yondr Pouches as designed, but this was never the goal in the first place. The success is the nearly universal compliance with the expectation that students not access their cell phones and other devices during the school day. 

“Taking away and focusing on phones was never the primary objective. The goal has been to improve student engagement in the classroom, create opportunities for greater social connection, and improve the overall culture in our schools. The phones just happened to be the barrier to these hopes for our students.”  - Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle

This new policy has contributed to healthier relationships among students and improved learning environments in IMS and MIHS classrooms. 

MIHS principal Nick Wold recently had a thoughtful conversation with a student about the new policy who recognized the importance of MI Phone-Free Schools.  

"I am in total support of the new phone policy. I recognize now that even the buzz in my pocket was a subtle distraction and made me think about what I was missing while trying to learn in my class." -  MIHS student

“The Yondr pouches have been a gift to my classroom. Where in previous years, phones were the number one classroom distraction, this year, phones have been a complete non-issue. I am grateful for my students' willingness to create a phone-free learning environment, and notice how much more they are interacting in class and in the hallways. I encourage my students "wherever you are, be there fully," and our district's commitment to phone-free schools makes this possible.” - IMS Language Arts teacher Whitney Swope.

Community members who want to learn more about MI Phone-Free School can visit www.mercerislandschools.org/cellphone