SAN ANTONIO – North East ISD is dialing up the conversation about a new classroom phone ban.
Its board of trustees voted to update its cellphone ban Thursday night to fully comply with a new Texas law.
North East ISD was one of the first districts in our area to outline what that ban will look like when doors open for the new school year.
It’s not just cellphones. Under the new law, students aren’t allowed to use personal phones, smartwatches, Airpods or tablets during the school day.
Before the special meeting, the district’s cellphone policy varied from campus-to-campus. After the vote, students must have those devices off and put away from bell-to-bell; however, they can use them during lunch and passing periods.
“We started doing this before the law mandated it,” Superintendent Sean Maika said. “Unfortunately, we got a law. I worked really hard this legislative session to really help lawmakers understand that not everything has to be legislated.”
The new law requires districts to allow exceptions for certain education programs and documented needs. Those will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
The law also gives districts room to ban devices from campus altogether, or develop a method of collecting devices at the start of the school day. NEISD says its not doing either of those things.
Some districts in our area haven’t updated their policies yet. The law goes into effect Sept. 1, but districts have until the 18th to finalize it.