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Bay City ISD board adopts ban on student cell phones during instructional day
Summary
The Bay City Independent School District board voted unanimously to adopt EFB Local and FNCE Local, prohibiting student cell phone use during the instructional day and updating library policy; the board discussed enforcement, progressive discipline and a recent state statute change limiting fines.
The Bay City Independent School District board voted 7-0 to adopt policies EFB Local and FNCE Local, prohibiting student cell phone use “during the instructional day” districtwide and updating the district’s library policy.
Board members and district staff said the change is intended to create a single standard across campuses. A staff presenter told the board the phone rule is meant to keep phones “not seen or heard during the instructional day,” and that principals had asked for districtwide consistency between junior high and high school campuses.
The policy adoption follows a change in state law, which staff said removed the district’s ability to charge a fee for confiscated phones because the devices are not district property. “They did change the statute to where we cannot charge a fine for that, because it’s not our property,” a district staff member said during the discussion.
During discussion board members and parents raised enforcement and equity concerns. District staff described a progressive-discipline approach principals plan to use: initial redirection, group or individual conferences, parent conferences and then escalate to detention or other administrative responses if violations continue. Staff said administrators, not classroom teachers, would handle confiscation and that details about whether parents would need to retrieve devices were still being finalized.
Board members and parents also debated whether the policy should allow phone use during passing periods or lunch. Some speakers said banning phones at lunch and during passing periods helps classroom engagement and reduces cyberbullying; other parents said students need breaks and that a strict ban could make some students dislike school. The board noted the policy as written refers to the instructional day and that interpretation of that term may change as districts and courts apply the new state law.
The board also discussed that the statute language covers “communication devices or electronic devices,” which staff said includes smartwatches. Several board members stressed that any rule must be enforced consistently to be effective, drawing a parallel with dress-code enforcement.
The board approved the policies by voice vote, 7-0. Trustees and staff said the district can adjust enforcement practices later if data or principals’ experience shows the approach is not working. The board also approved the consent agenda and moved to a closed session under Texas Government Code §551.074 later in the meeting.
The policy adoptions take effect as district staff and principals implement district procedures and administrative practices to align with the adopted language.
