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First seven weeks: Goose Creek CISD records 2,073 personal‑device policy incidents, administration reports downward trend
Summary
The district’s director of student services presented data on enforcement of a new personal communications device policy, reporting 2,073 recorded incidents in the first seven weeks after implementation and that incidents are trending downward; the administration described exceptions for medically documented needs.
Goose Creek CISD administrators reported to the Board of Trustees on Oct. 6 that 2,073 incidents were recorded under the district’s new personal communications device policy during the first seven weeks of implementation.
Carrie Smith, director of student services, told trustees the district began formal tracking the week of Aug. 18 and that the total incidents as of the meeting included 37 elementary incidents, 292 incidents at the six junior high campuses and 1,744 incidents at the high schools. "For a total of 2,073," Smith said.
Smith explained the disciplinary progression the board approved in August: a first offense results in one day of in‑school suspension (ISS), a second offense two days ISS, a third offense three days ISS and a fourth offense results in removal to DAEP. She said administrators record both cell phones and other devices (smartwatches, earbuds); some recorded devices reflect medically necessary equipment or documented exceptions.
Trustees asked whether campus staff are enforcing the policy consistently; Smith said administrative teams are addressing violations in hallways and classrooms and that documented medical exceptions are identified via nurse‑issued stickers on IDs. "It is trending downward," Smith told the board when asked about the pattern of incidents. She added that the district allowed a one‑week grace period at the beginning of the year to help with rollout.
Board members also asked about permitted use windows and student access after the instructional day; Smith said device restrictions end at the dismissal bell and described tiered start/end times by campus schedule (for example, Tier 1: 06:50–02:50; Tier 2 and Tier 3 different windows are used). Trustees welcomed the downward trend and said the measure is a culture change similar to prior district‑wide behavior shifts.
No board action was required; staff will return with trend updates as implementation continues.
