The Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District board of trustees on July 28 approved changes to board policy FNCE Local to comply with House Bill 1481, which prohibits student use of personal communication devices during the instructional day. The board voted 7-0 to adopt the updates as presented.

The change governs when students may have phones and similar devices on district property. District staff said the “instructional day” runs from the first bell to the last bell; devices must be stored and not carried or used during passing periods, lunch or other instructional time. Exceptions in the policy are limited to documented educational or health needs in a student’s individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan, or a physician’s directive; smartwatches may be worn only to check time, not for communication.

District officials said the board’s action is needed so schools begin the year in compliance with state law and to protect classroom instructional time. Paula (district staff) and Dr. McMullen (district staff) reviewed the redlined policy and an associated six-page frequently asked questions (FAQ) document that will serve as the basis for administrative regulations and parent communications.

Under the district’s graduated discipline plan described in the FAQ, a first offense results in confiscation of the device for the remainder of the school day and a Skyward entry documenting the warning; on a second offense the device is confiscated and a parent must pick it up; a third offense carries confiscation, a required parent pickup and assignment of one day of in‑school suspension; on a fourth offense campus staff must hold a parent conference and consider additional steps, which the FAQ lists as possible increased disciplinary placements if misconduct persists. Dr. McMullen said campus administrators will evaluate each incident’s facts and that the district’s intent is to preserve instructional time without removing students from the educational environment except where misconduct is persistent or refusal to comply.

District staff also described the communications plan. Nicole (district communications) said the FAQ and a news post will go on the district website the next morning, with social posts and campus flyers; staff will also place an acknowledgement in Skyward for families, and principals will receive printed materials to share. Teachers will include the information in initial class and grade-level meetings; back-to-school trainings will include the new procedures. Kyle and technology staff said district systems will push alerts to student email and that the district will encourage use of district-endorsed apps such as Rooms and SportsU for parent and coach notifications. Staff said students may use office phones to contact parents for emergencies and that campus offices will continue to assist in urgent situations.

Trustee Mary Humphrey and other trustees said they supported the changes because they reflect state law even where trustees preferred the district’s prior local approach. Trustees and staff acknowledged practical adjustments will be needed for coaches, sponsors and teachers who previously relied on cell phones for quick communications.

The board directed staff to finalize administrative regulations based on the FAQ, publish the materials on the district website, and include the notice in back-to-school communications before the first day of classes. The policy change takes effect at the start of the school year.