Tyler ISD reviews first reading of new student code of conduct and cell-phone limits under state law

Trustees for Tyler Independent School District heard a first reading Tuesday of a revised student code of conduct and a local cell-phone policy intended to comply with House Bill 1481.

The district's director of constituent services introduced changes to multiple discipline rules and then outlined the district's proposed local approach to personal communication devices, saying the draft policy language is included in the packet and noting the cell-phone rule is on page 92.

Why it matters: House Bill 1481 directs school districts to adopt local rules for students' personal communication devices. The board-level discussion focused on how to limit classroom disruptions while accommodating exceptions for special education, district needs and after-school communications.

What the draft would do: The administration described a tiered sequence for students caught with devices during the school day. Under the draft: - A first offense would be treated as a technology violation; the device would be confiscated and held for parent pickup, with a $5 assessment noted in the draft. - A second offense would be recorded as insubordination with a $10 assessment when the device is released to a parent. - A third offense would carry a $15 assessment. The administration said the draft caps the assessment portion at $15 and that repeated violations could lead to additional disciplinary measures, including device bans or other placement options.

The policy would also include exceptions for students covered by Section 504 plans or students whose individualized education programs (IEPs) require device usage for instructional or accessibility purposes. The administration told trustees the district's middle schools currently have practices that charge $15 for confiscated phones and that implementation fidelity varies by campus.

Administrators raised implementation concerns: Deputy Superintendent Ron Jones and Director John Johnson told trustees the new rules create practical challenges for campus administrators and teachers. They flagged specific issues to be resolved before adoption, including: - Dual-factor authentication and district systems that require a phone to complete sign-on for district-managed services, - Communication needs for extracurriculars and transportation (coaches and activity sponsors often use apps to change game times or bus assignments), - Wearable devices and how a watch that can text or call will be handled, - How to process devices when an adult listed as an approved pickup is not the student's legal guardian.

Several trustees urged a culture-change approach and parental involvement rather than immediate heavy-handed penalties. One trustee suggested a graduated approach that prioritizes in-class learning and parental notification over immediate suspension. Another trustee urged administrators to model the expected behavior and noted the employee handbook already includes a short section on staff phone use.

Legal context and other code changes: Staff also walked trustees through other statutory changes the district must adopt, including House Bill 6 (changes to suspension and alternative placements) and Senate Bill 326 (a requirement to adopt the government-code definition of antisemitism under section 448.001). The administration said some statutory text required technical changes to mandatory-expulsion language and e-cigarette-related placements.

Process and next steps: The draft policy was presented as a first reading; staff said they will refine the language and return for a second reading and adoption. Administrators asked trustees for guidance on fines and enforcement mechanics and said they would bring back options on the assessment amounts, pickup rules and operational procedures for district-managed authentication and extracurricular communications.

Ending: Trustees signaled support for addressing in-class distraction and parental involvement; they also asked administration for more detail on operational exceptions and alternatives before a second reading.