Board hears increase in electronics-policy violations at secondary campuses
Summary
Trustees were briefed that most discipline referrals among secondary students are for electronics (cellphones and smartwatches); staff clarified that each confiscation counts as a violation and that general counsel is being consulted to ensure policy language and enforcement are consistent with TEA guidance.
SAN FELIPE-DEL RIO CISD — At the Nov. 17 meeting, trustees discussed attendance and discipline trends and heard that an uptick in violations stems largely from electronics-policy enforcement at secondary campuses.
A board member noted that many discipline incidents recorded at the secondary level are related to cell phones. Administration clarified the district’s interpretation: possession and confiscation of a phone constitutes a violation each time it occurs (not only after repeated offenses), which can result in a student appearing multiple times in the report. Staff said they have asked general counsel to advise whether the district should immediately revert to the policy language as written or pursue further discussion and that guidance should arrive in the next few days.
Trustees asked follow-up questions about which campuses and scenarios generated the most incidents; staff cited Del Rio Freshman Campus as an example, reporting 40 confiscations in the last cycle and noting some students may be represented in the count multiple times.
