Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD trustees on Aug. 7 approved an updated student code of conduct (TASB model) and a revised personal‑communication‑device policy to comply with recent state legislation. The changes reflect multiple bills passed this spring and summer and set districtwide rules for handling phones and other devices during the school day.

Mister Sulak (student services) told the board the TASB model aligns the code with Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code and recent bills including House Bill 6 and House Bill 1481. Trustees voted 6–0 to adopt the code of conduct after a presentation that explained new statutory provisions — notably the removal of the previous time limit on in‑school suspension and expanded circumstances under which out‑of‑school suspension or alternative placements may be used.

On personal communication devices — the state law (HB 1481) defines covered devices broadly to include cell phones, smartwatches and Bluetooth headphones — the district presented a plan developed with principals and campus staff. Under the district plan, students must have devices powered off and stowed (typically in a backpack) from first bell to last bell; staff will confiscate devices that violate the rule and require a parent or guardian to pick up the device at a mutually agreed time. The district will permit limited exceptions for documented medical needs, a campus administrator’s safety authorization, or school‑issued instructional devices.

District procedures emphasize communication with families and contingency plans for after‑school schedule changes: campuses will make brief PA announcements and use ParentSquare or district phone lines when late‑day changes occur, and students may use school phones to notify caregivers in time‑sensitive circumstances. Board members asked about implementation supports, and district staff said principals have been involved in drafting consequences and that campuses will use a combination of classroom instruction and communications to prepare students and families.

The student code of conduct and the revised FNCE local policy (personal communication devices) were both approved by the board in single votes: the code passed on a motion by Kim Brady and second by Marjorie Barnes (6–0), and the revised EFB (library‑materials) and FNCE (personal device) policies were approved together on a motion by Kim Brady and second by Ileana Garza Rojas (6–0).