By Edmond Ortiz
The Texas Education Agency is recommending having a conservator to enforce a new state law banning student use of cell phones during the school day in the North East Independent School District.
What you should know
North East ISD Board President David Beyer used the school district’s digital platforms April 10 to announce that the TEA recently sent NEISD a 20-page report, which proposes appointing a conservator to supervise an “immediate adoption of a board policy that they feel better satisfies the state’s law banning cellphone use.”
Texas House Bill 1481, which took effect last June, requires public schools to adopt policies prohibiting students from using cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, and other personal telecommunication devices during the school day.
Advocates for the new law said such new policies will help to improve student focus, reduce their anxiety during instructional hours, and encourage engagement among students, particularly in between classes and during lunch sessions.
NEISD trustees voted last August to permit students cell phone use only in between classes and during lunch time. Following a TEA investigation, the school board voted this past January to keep NEISD’s rules in place.
What they are saying
Many parents and educators have offered arguments for or against NEISD’s current policies. While some said permitting cell phone availability during lunch and passing periods is a reasonable approach, others have said it is best for the district to fully prohibit cell phone use from “first bell to last bell,” a term used by TEA and the lawmakers who authored HB 1481.
Some community members have also suggested making cell phones available to students albeit during brief times during the class day could come in handy in a student were to experience a personal emergency or if the entire campus were to become embroiled in an emergency.
Beyer, in his message, said he and fellow trustees voted to maintain the district policy because a school board seeks to address the needs and wants of the community it represents.
“We have received so many emails from parents thanking us for a thoughtful, common-sense policy and we believe we are following the law as it is written,” Beyer stated.
However, now with TEA considering dispatching a conservator to enforce a strict adherence to the new state law, Beyer said he and fellow board members must soon discuss the district’s response.
“This action will not replace the current board of trustees, but rather allow the conservator to monitor the enforcement of that policy at campuses,” Beyer stated. “There are many questions that are still unanswered and at this point, members of the Board will consider next steps as soon as they can and in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.”
