WFISD principals outline cellphone policy rollout under state law; board adopts 2025‑26 student code of conduct

District secondary principals presented procedures to implement a new state law on personal devices and described a districtwide expectation that personal communication devices be powered off and kept out of sight during the school day, with carve‑outs for medical needs and students with 504/IEP accommodation plans.

Presenters emphasized parent communication and a progressive discipline structure: warnings for a first offense, intermediate consequences for repeat offenses and parent pick‑up of devices for later infractions. A principal described implementation practices used in pilot classrooms and pouches for phone storage and said staff would rely on parent partnership to ensure success. “It’s law and got to follow that law,” a presenter said while describing the change in expectations.

Trustees raised enforcement questions such as how to handle burner phones, storage logistics, consequences for staff who fail to follow procedures, and equity across substitutes and campus contexts; administrators said staff were discussing these issues and that storage, office referral thresholds and parent notification procedures had been drafted.

The board also reviewed local policy updates from TASB and formally adopted the district’s 2025‑26 student code of conduct (which incorporates the cellphone policy changes) by a unanimous vote (7–0). Separately, the board approved a resolution to declare a good‑cause exception under Texas Education Code language for the armed security‑officer staffing requirement, citing district budget and ongoing recruitment challenges; trustees authorized staff to pursue the variance while continuing hiring efforts.

Finally, on return from closed session trustees moved in open session to deny three student inter‑district transfer petitions (Braven Lawrence, Jackson Baker and Sarah Banner); the motion passed 7–0.