Beaumont ISD’s Board of Trustees is set to meet on the evening of July 25 for its regular monthly meeting, which includes discussion of the possibility of requiring all high school students with cell phones to use Yondr Pouches to limit cell phone usage throughout the instructional day, as well as considering an amendment to a policy allowing school officers to wear body cameras while on duty.
Trustees will discuss the number of school districts using the devices, as well as their effectiveness, according to the posted agenda.
Should the district utilize the devices, upon entering a phone-free space, phones are placed inside the Yondr Pouch and magnetically locked, allowing the owner to maintain possession of their phone. To use the phone at any time, individuals step outside of the phone-free zone and tap the base to unlock the magnetic case.
The cost of each case is approximately $25-$30 each, and with BISD high school enrollment at 4,706 for the 2023-2024 school year, the cost of implementing the security devices would come at approximately $117,650 - $141,180, depending on current enrollment and potential pricing agreement.
According to parents speaking with The Examiner, telephones have been noted in all BISD classrooms and teachers are routinely accessible through email or by contacting the front office. Additionally, in most districts currently utilizing Yondr Pouches, teachers maintain access to unlock the pouches and do so on a case-by-case basis.
Although the parents noted in this article expressed concerns about coordinated violence and social media disputes during the instructional day, it is believed that these devices would potentially decrease those concerns and allow fewer distractions.
In addition to phone security, BISD trustees are set to consider approval of an amendment to the Board Policy CKE (Local), a proposed amendment authorizing BISD police officers to wear body cameras.
BISD PD Chief Joseph Malbrough, as well as Superintendent Dr. Shannon Allen, is slated to present details to trustees regarding regulations and procurement of body cameras.
If approved, the bidding for camera purchase would begin and funding is slated to be sourced from the General Fund.
In addition to software and licensing fees, warranty and support plans, and training costs, each police-issued body camera costs between $200-$500 for basic models and between $500-$1,000 for advanced models in addition to mounts, chargers and spare batteries totaling $50-$200 per officer. Given these factors, the total cost per officer can range from approximately $1,000-$2,000 in the first year, with ongoing annual costs for storage, software and maintenance.