The North East ISD Board approved updated student-device rules (FNCE local) and a revised student code of conduct that incorporate recent state law changes, including House Bill 1481 and Chapter 37 amendments affecting teacher removal, vaping/THC consequences, and parental involvement in disciplinary placements.

Tyler Shoesmith, executive director for pupil personnel services, walked trustees through three decision points: defining minimum phone/device rules, choosing disciplinary placements for e-cigarette offenses, and establishing a parental behavioral-agreement option for early release from an alternative placement. "Phones would be accessible during passing periods and or lunch, but not during instructional times when they're sitting in front of a teacher," Shoesmith said, describing the administration’s recommended approach to balance safety and instruction.

On vaping and e-cigarette discipline, administration recommended assignment to in-school suspension (ISS) for 10 days on a first offense (instead of mandatory placement at an alternative campus, DAP). Trustees discussed recidivism rates and local data; staff said one-year recidivism is roughly 6% and noted the district sees some second-time offenders but relatively few repeat violators. Trustees also pressed for clarity on notification timelines; counsel and staff noted a "good-faith" requirement to notify parents the day of an action and to send written notice by 5 p.m. on the first business day if direct contact fails.

Why it matters: These policies define students’ device access during the school day and set the district’s disciplinary framework for vaping, teacher removal, and other Chapter 37 offenses. The board’s action reconciles district practice with new statutory requirements while giving administrators discretion on implementation details.

What’s next: Administration will finalize regulations and communications to campuses and families, prepare a model agreement for parental behavioral agreements, and monitor implementation and consistency across campuses.