The Harlingen CISD Board committee considered and later moved to approve a revision to policy FNCE (local) to implement new state law regarding personal communication devices.

Debbie Scoggin presented the policy changes, saying, "House Bill 1481 requires school districts to prohibit student use of personal communication devices at school during the school day." The proposed local policy language states that "a student shall not use a personal communication device on school property during the instructional day" and instructs the superintendent to develop administrative guidelines to implement and report annually on compliance.

The draft policy includes enumerated exceptions. Students may use personal communication devices during the instructional day only when required to implement a student's IEP or 504 plan, when a documented physician directive requires the device, or when a health or safety requirement imposed by law or district safety protocols authorizes the device. Scoggin and Dr. Reyes said the district will codify disciplinary consequences in the student code of conduct and provide parents and students with guidance and FAQs.

Board members asked how families would be informed and whether administrative guidelines would be accessible; administrators said the relevant guidance will be included in the student code of conduct, posted online and provided during student onboarding. Trustees then moved and seconded the policy revision and approved it in the special board session following the committee meeting.

Administrators said they will return at a subsequent meeting with the student-code disciplinary language, FAQs and an implementation toolkit for principals. They also displayed a short parent-facing video and said they would distribute a communications toolkit to principals for campus rollout.