BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – The Bryan ISD Board of Trustees will be voting on adopting its new cell phone policy in accordance with House Bill 1481 at its regular meeting on Monday.
HB 1481 bans students from accessing personal electronic communication devices during the school day, such as cell phones, tablets, Bluetooth headphones, and smart watches.
Private schools are not subject to HB 1481. For public schools and open-enrollment charter schools, the law will go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
Bryan, College Station ISDs join Texas schools in preparing for new cellphone ban
According to the agenda for Bryan ISD’s July 21 meeting, the policy up for a vote will require students to store their devices ‘in accordance with administrative regulations.’
Students caught with personal electronic communication devices out could have them confiscated.
Superintendent Ginger Carrabine would be required to develop regulations to implement the cell phone policy, and would be required to give an annual compliance report to the board, according to the policy document attached to the agenda.
Exceptions are laid out for students with a documented medical need, if a device is part of a student’s IEP of 504 plan, or to comply with any health and safety laws or regulations.
Last week, College Station ISD’s Board of Trustees passed its policy, called ‘Away for the Day.’
College Station ISD addresses electronic devices policy to comply with new state law
District officials clarified school-issued electronic devices will still be permissible to use as the ban only applies to a student’s personal electronic devices.
Other school districts, like Madisonville CISD, are requiring students to place their phones on airplane mode during the school day.
Brazos Valley school districts craft new policies following statewide school cell phone ban
Monday night’s meeting will be when the Bryan ISD Board of Trustees votes on whether to approve its policy.
Also on the agenda is approving next school year’s employee compensation plan.
“Teachers with three to four years of service will receive a $2,500 raise, and those with five or more years of service will get a $5,000 raise,” explained trustee Leo Gonzalez at the board’s June budget public hearing.
The compensation plan does include state-funded raises for staff who qualify under the $8.5 billion school funding package signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.
Gov. Abbott signs education funding bill, says Texas should be number one in schools
Gonzalez added, “The bill did not include adequate funding for raises or other essential positions that support instruction.”
The board will also weigh an update from the Bond Steering Committee looking to possibly bring forward a nearly $400 million bond for a vote in November.
Bryan ISD officials consider $397 million bond package
Maintenance, classroom additions, and more would be covered under the bond proposal, all without a tax increase.
“Even though this is not a tax rate increase, it’s just required language that we have to say this is a property tax rate increase because if we were not holding the bond, then we would have to decrease the rate,” Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Norma Friddle said.
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