MARIETTA, Ga. — Students in the Marietta City Schools district will soon have to start locking up their cellphones during the school day.
It comes after the board voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a rule requiring students to use Yondr pouches.
In a statement, school board chair Jeff DeJarnett said the decision will "set a new standard for how schools manage the impact of technology on education."
"Our commitment to our students’ learning and mental health is unwavering, and I believe this initiative will make a significant difference," DeJarnett said.
The pouches have been used in districts across the country in an effort to cut down on the distractions caused by cellphones in the classroom.
Yondr uses pins and magnets to keep smartphones locked in pouches. When students get to class, they put their phone in a pouch, close the pin to lock it and take it to their desks. The phone stays locked in the pouch during class. When class is over, they take the pouches to an "unlocking base" that uses a magnet to release the pin and their phone.
11Alive previously reported on Milton High School using the pouches. Now, Marietta City Schools has also adopted the pouches with the goal of creating a "nurturing educational environment that prioritizes the success and health of every student in Marietta,” DeJarnett said.
"We all could stand to develop healthier digital habits. Just look around the restaurant next time you go out," DeJarnett continued. "By helping our students develop healthier digital habits at school, we are preparing them for a future where they can use technology as a tool for learning and growth rather than a source of distraction."
It's unclear when the new rule would take effect.