San Antonio schools brace for new state law banning personal devices during school day

SAN ANTONIO – School districts across San Antonio are gearing up to welcome students and new policies through their front doors.

New state laws are banning personal devices during the school day after Governor Greg Abbott’s June 20 signing of H.B. 1481.

A statewide ban is keeping personal devices out of schools – including cell phones, smart watches, or any other wireless device. Now, school districts are assigned the task of creating plans of action.

“I was invited to testify in both the House and the Senate on this particular bill,” said Maurine Molak. “One of the things that we often heard was the distraction of the phone, and how it was impacting educational opportunities.”

Molak has been working to pull phones from schools for 10 years after her 16-year-old son, David, died by suicide because of cyberbullying. She started the ‘David’s Legacy Foundation’ hoping to end those issues.

“It’s important for me to see… how far we’ve come in the last 10 years, and the fact that Texas has taken as a leader in these issues with young people,” Molak said; though not everyone shares her relief.

“Our legislators have passed a law that creates, really, more work for educators — and for school districts, without providing guidance,” said Northside AFT President Melina Espiritu-Azocar.

As a mom and educator with more than 14 years of experience, she says the solution isn’t as simple as a device ban.

“They’ve put a band-aid over a gushing wound,” she said. “It’s like the wild wild west of dealing with this bill, where every campus and every classroom is kind of left to figure things out.”

Espiritu-Azocar believes the bill adds to teachers’ plates without addressing what she feels is the real problem.

“I don’t think that the answer is taking phones away,” she said. “Again, going back to what the answer should have been, which is resources and funding to deal with mental health needs of students and families.”

School districts across San Antonio are adjusting their phone policies to align with the new law.

San Antonio, Northside, and North East ISD officials said they are all upholding their current policies until they finalize new ones in their respective school board meetings. All of which are happening after the first day of school.

SAISD Current Policy: The use of cell phones and other electronic devices on school property is prohibited. For safety purposes, the District permits students to possess cell phones while on campus; however, all cell phones must remain turned off during school hours, including during all testing. With prior approval from the principal and teacher, a student may use personal electronic devices for on-campus educational purposes only. Other electronic devices that are also subject include headphones, ear pods, AirPods, MP3 players, electronic games, and smart watches.

NEISD Current Policy:Policy varies on a campus-by-campus basis.

NISD Current Policy:Policy varies on a campus-by-campus basis.

“What’s important for us when we’re talking about this is to talk about the positive outcomes that are going to occur by having the cell phones up and away for the day, so that we have decreased notifications. So kids are focused on learning,” Molak said.

“We also need to address the needs that they have,” Espiritu-Azocar said. “It’s not just ‘take a cell phone away’ and it solves the problem.”

The bill officially goes into effect on Sept. 1, though school districts have until Sept. 18th to finalize their plans. A celebratory bill signing is happening on Friday, Aug. 1.