Education
BY EMILY LINCKE
New Caney ISD bans student cellphone use, per state law environments in classrooms and protect the safety and online privacy of Texas children,” according to an Aug. 1 news release from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office. Sorting out details According to the release, NCISD can authorize student communication device use if: Phone prohibition House Bill 1481 requires Texas public schools to ban student cellphone use during school hours for the 2025-26 school year.
New Caney ISD passes balanced budget, stable tax rate • $20.8 million , or 14% more in state revenue Differences between the FY 2025-26 budget and the amended FY 2024-25 budget are less stark $1.5 $1.4761 $1.2
New Caney ISD students must keep cellphones and other electronic devices silenced and put away during school hours under a new state -mandated policy. Latest update During NCISD’s July 21 regular board meeting, trustees unanimously approved the district’s new student code of conduct, which includes a new cellphone policy that aligns with House Bill 1481. The bill was passed by state lawmakers in June. Under the new policy, students will be required to keep “personal communication devices”— including cellphones, text messaging devices, laptops and tablets—silent and stored in backpacks throughout the school day, according to a news release from NCISD. Students will be able to use communication devices before and after school. Breaking down the bill HB 1481 is “meant to create phone-free learning
New Caney ISD’s board of trustees approved a balanced budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which features increased spending on security, curricu- lum development and teachers. What’s changed NCISD’s FY 2025-26 budget—approved unan- imously Aug. 18 —features $234.5 million in both general operating fund expenses and total revenues, according to budget documents. Major changes in general fund expenses and revenues for the FY 2025-26 budget compared to the original FY 2024-25 budget approved in August 2024, include: • $3.9 million , or 95% more for the development of curriculum and instructional staff • $1 million , or 27% more for security and moni- toring services • $1.8 million , or 22% more for student transportation
$1.2552
for some expenditures than compared to the original FY 2024-25 budget, according to budget documents. Some context On Aug. 18, trustees also unanimously approved a total tax rate of $1.2552 per $100 valuation for the district in FY 2025-26. The tax rate is the same as the rate adopted in FY 2024-25, according to budget documents. This November, voters across Texas will be asked to approve larger property tax breaks for homeowners via Senate Bill 4 which was signed into law in June. SB 4 would raise the statewide homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000. The exemption would apply only to taxes levied by public schools.
$0.9 $0.6
$0.3
77% of U.S. public schools prohibit student cellphone use in class while 38% also ban cellphone use during the whole school day
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• It helps implement an Individualized Education Program or Section 504 plan for students with disabilities. • A student has a need documented by a “quali- fied physician.” • The district needs to comply with health or safety protocols required by local policy or by law. Staff members may confiscate the device of stu- dents who do not follow NCISD’s new cellphone policy, according to the release.
Fiscal year
53% of U.S. public school leaders believe cellphones have negatively affected students’ academics
SOURCE: NEW CANEY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Looking back NCISD’s FY 2024-25 budget included
Sept. 18 is the deadline for Texas school boards to adopt a policy in compliance with HB 1481
$216.2 million in both general fund expenses and revenues, according to budget documents. The budget was also balanced when approved.
SOURCES: NATIONAL CENTER OF EDUCATION STATISTICS, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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