New Texas cell-phone law sparks detailed Pearland ISD discussion; district to return in July with options

Pearland Independent School District trustees spent the largest portion of their June 10 meeting discussing implementation of House Bill 1481, the new Texas law that requires school districts to adopt a policy either banning students'personal communication devices during the school day or requiring a method to secure them while on campus.

"This is a law. This is not Pearland ISD saying that we want to do this, this is the state of Texas that says you're going to do this, and now you have to figure out how you're going to make this work," Superintendent Dr. John Berger told the board. He said the state will issue a model policy "later" and the district expects TEA guidance in late July or early August; Berger asked trustees to continue discussion at the July meeting so a local policy can be adopted before school begins.

Trustees discussed two primary approaches mandated by the law: a ban (students may not…