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McAllen ISD reports early compliance with Texas cellphone ban; campuses collected a few hundred devices in first two weeks
Summary
Administrators told trustees the district implemented House Bill 1481 on the first day of classes (Aug. 14) and collected 423 devices at high schools, 47 at middle schools and 7 at elementary schools during the first two weeks. Memorial High reported 138 first-time device collections among 2,010 students; special-education exceptions totaled 20.
The McAllen Independent School District told its trustees Tuesday that the district implemented the state’s ban on personal electronic communication devices before the law’s Sept. 1 effective date and that compliance has been high.
Superintendent Dr. Gutierrez and Director of Human Resources Dr. Camacho presented an informational report on implementation of House Bill 1481 and district Policy FNCE. Camacho said the district began enforcing the rule on Aug. 14, the first day students returned. Districtwide data for the first two weeks showed 423 devices collected at high schools, 47 at middle schools and 7 at elementary campuses. Staff emphasized that collection counts do not equal penalties; some collections were first warnings documented on a discipline form.
Campus representatives described processes and outcomes. An elementary coordinator said the elementary experience was “very smooth” and largely matched prior practices. A Morris Middle School representative said most pickups were cell phones that fell out of bags or were not turned off, that parents have been supportive, and that removing the burden from teachers reduced classroom interruptions. Staff said the district documents first offenses and notifies parents even when a student may retrieve a device at day’s end.
McAllen Memorial High School principal (presenter) reported more detailed figures for that campus: with an enrollment of about 2,010 students, 138 devices were first-time collections (about 6.3% of that campus population), 21 second offenses (about 1%), three third-time offenses (0.1%), and one fourth offense (0.05%). The school uses an escalating model of consequences: first offense — device returned at end of day and parent notified; second — parent picks up device; third — referral and lunch detention; fourth — in-school suspension for three days.
Special education staff reported 20 requests for exceptions (cell phones, smartwatches, personal laptops, wireless earbuds, tracking devices). The district said each exception request is staffed, reviewed for academic or medical need, and, where required, addressed through ARD (Admission, Review, Dismissal) meetings or 504/IEP processes. Staff emphasized that exceptions are permitted for students with documented needs.
Administrators said early observations included fewer social-media incidents and improved face-to-face student interactions during lunch and class transitions. Trustees received the report as informational; no formal policy change or vote was recorded.
Trustees asked staff to continue collecting and reporting implementation data and to ensure communications to parents remain clear about the escalation model and exception process.
