Education
Education
BY ANGELA BONILLA & JULIANNA WASHBURN BY HANNAH NORTON & JULIANNA WASHBURN
Tomball, Magnolia ISDs ban cellphone use throughout school day
Key players
Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath urged state lawmakers to ban student cellphone use in public schools. “If it were in my power, I would’ve already banned them in schools in the state,” Morath told state senators during a Sept. 18 hearing.
Magnolia and Tomball ISDs approved their cellphone policies for the 2025-26 school year July 14 and Aug. 12, respectively, under the requirement of House Bill 1481. The bill mandates that districts adopt policies banning the use of personal communication devices, such as cellphones and smartwatches, during the school day by Sept. 1. TISD and MISD students are allowed to store their devices in a backpack, locker or another secure area during the school day. The districts de ned the school day as the time from the rst bell of the day to the last. “What we’re going to do with that is to say, ‘You can have your cellphone in your pocket. You can have it in your backpack, purse.’ ... We do not need to see it out,” Ben King, MISD’s assistant superintendent of administration, said at MISD’s regular July 14 board meeting.
Cellphone, smartwatch rules for Tomball, Magnolia ISDs
Cellphones turned o
Path to new phone policy
May 20: Texas Senate passes HB 1481 May 28: Texas Legislature sends bill to Gov. Greg Abbott to sign June 20: Abbott o cially signs bill July 14: Magnolia ISD approves local cellphone policy Aug. 12: Tomball ISD approves local cellphone policy Sept. 1: Deadline for school districts to implement cellphone policy
Devices stowed away in lockers or backpacks
No devices to be used from the start of the school day to the end
SOURCES: TOMBALL ISD, MAGNOLIA ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
The bill has exceptions for students with medical needs or special education accommodations. HB 1481 would also not apply to devices supplied by districts for academic purposes.
SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONILNE, TOMBALL ISD, MAGNOLIA ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Streamline Your Business with Expert IT.
Boost Your Business Performance: teamlogicit.com/TomballTX345 14011 Park Dr. #103 • Tomball, TX 77377 REPUBLIC
CALL FOR A FREE TERMITE INSPECTION!
PEST CONTROL & Wildlife Removal
281-740-0114 WWW.REPPEST.COM
SUMMER SPECIAL $125 FOR INITIAL SERVICE then $100 quarterly w/12 mo. agreement
SUMMER SPECIAL $150 FOR ONE TIME SERVICE One time service Includes 90 day warranty
Wayne Johnson | Senior Commercial Relationship Manager
Our North Houston commercial bankers are focused on the success of your business.
Find us in Vintage Park
MEMBER FDIC home24bank.com | 281.276.1846
19
TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook