By: Luke DeRoos - CHS Journalism
Crofton High School has implemented a new cell phone policy for the 2025-26 school year in accordance with Nebraska Legislative Bill 140 - banning student cell phone use in public schools.
Crofton High School has introduced Yondr Cell Phone Pouches in an attempt to restrict cell phone access. The Yondr pouches lock students’ cell phones in a pouch that can only be opened by a special magnet. The magnets are accessible before and after school, allowing students to retrieve their phones outside of school hours.
Principal Johnnie Ostermeyer says that the engagement is up because of the new phone policy, and believes that students should know how to be responsible with technology and use it in appropriate ways.
However, he believes the new policy will provide boundaries for students. “I don’t know that high school students are 100% able to discipline themselves on their own without guidelines in place, and I think [the new policy] will help set good boundaries for years to come in their adulthood.”
Overall, the teachers at Crofton High School agree with the new policy. Strength and Conditioning teacher Tyler Slate said, “I think the new policy is terrific. These kids nowadays have no attention span, so I think these pouches could help fix that.”
However, the decision has received backlash from students, who feel the ban has infringed on their rights.
Sophomore student Fred Dennis believes that the Yondr pouches are unnecessary due to the fact that we previously had cell phone holders, which allowed the classrooms to be phone free, yet still accessible between classes and more importantly, in case of an emergency. Junior Trevor Allen also commented on the situation. “I think that for some students, the Yondr pouches have become more of a distraction than the phones themselves.”
The full effects of the decision remain to be seen, as the school year has only just begun. As the year goes on, the effects of the new cell phone policy will become clearer. Ultimately, the success of the policy will depend on how well it balances education with students’ needs and rights with technology.