Education
BY SIERRA MARTIN
New Braunfels ISD bans personal electronic devices on campus
Digging deeper
The catalyst
Prohibited devices The following devices are among those banned on campus.
The NBISD Personal Communication Device Practice will be followed by all district campuses as follows: • Devices are expected to be turned o or silenced and out of sight at the ocial start of the school day, but may remain in the student’s possession during the day. Students may turn their devices on at dismissal. • Personal devices utilized in common areas during the school day will have the device conscated by a sta member, according to the news release. The state adopted three exemptions to the law—one being if the student’s use is necessary for the student’s individualized education program, a 504 plan or something similar. The second is if there is a documented need based on a directive from a qualied physician, or the student’s use is necessary to comply with a health or safety requirement imposed by law.
The Texas Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1481 on May 25, and the legislation was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for nal approval on June 20. The proposal, which was passed by the Texas House in April, would mandate that districts adopt policies banning the use of personal communication devices during the school day, according to previous Community Impact reporting. “As with any change, we know this will be an adjustment period,” Arterbury said in the news release. “We are fully con dent that our sta and students will work together to ensure that this is a smooth transition.”
Classroom consequences 1st violation Students will be given a verbal warning to turn o or put away the device. 2nd violation The student will turn in the device to the teacher, who will hold it for the duration of class. The teacher will notify the parents. 3rd violation The devices will be turned over to the oce for the duration of the school day. Oce consequences 1st oce violation The device will be held in the oce for the duration of the school day. Students will be able to pick up the device after school. Additional violations The devices will be held in the oce for the duration of the school day. A parent or guardian must pick up the device after school, and additional consequences may occur.
Beginning in the current 2025-26 school year, New Braunfels ISD students will be unable to utilize cell phones and other personal communication devices on campus during regular school hours. NBISD Superintendent Laurelyn Arterbury said the intent of the regulation is to minimize distractions by removing telecommunication devices. The new rule was approved by the board of trustees during a regular meeting on Aug. 11. The measure falls under one of the several required updates passed into law following the 89th Texas Legislative session, according to board documents. Districts can implement their own procedures to enforce the law.
“While this is a state-mandated change, NBISD remains committed to implementing this law in a way that best supports our students, educators and families,” Arterbury said in a news release. “Our district and campus leadership teams have worked thoughtfully to develop the plan below, which reects both the spirit of the law and the needs of our local community.” The use of personal communication devices on school property during the school day is now prohibited. Students will be required to store the device in accordance with the method of storage the district establishes, according to agenda documents. “Those devices include, but may not be limited to, in the future, telephones, cell phones, tablets, smart watches, radio devices, paging
Cell phones
Tablets
Smart watches
Paging devices
Radio devices
Personal laptops
SOURCE: NEW BRAUNFELS ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
devices, or any other device now or in the future that would be capable of telecommunication or digital communication that has not been provided by the campus,” Chief of Schools Wade Ivy said. Oenses will reset every semester, Chief of Schools Matthew DeLoach said.
SOURCE: NEW BRAUNFELS ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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