Teachers, parents urge NEISD to address cell‑phone rules and enrollment; board adds cell‑phone policy to future agenda
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Summary
Public commenters warned of a possible TEA notice tied to cell‑phone enforcement and urged stronger classroom rules; the board voted 6‑1 to add a review of the district cell‑phone policy to a future agenda.
Several community members and district employees used the public‑comment portion of the Feb. 11 Northeast Independent School District board meeting to press the board on cell‑phone enforcement, declining enrollment and program options.
Beth Dill, an art teacher at Harris Middle School, told trustees she had seen recent news reports that NEISD had been notified of a possible Texas Education Agency action tied to noncompliance with rules banning student cell‑phone use "from bell to bell." "Do not let our community lose its voice," Dill told the board, urging the district to comply and protect the locally elected board.
Sharonda Smith, a former NEISD student and parent with experience as a MacArthur High School teacher and a school counseling intern, said declining enrollment and the rise of micro‑schools are driving families away and urged the district to explore public options to meet demand while maintaining accreditation and accountability.
Tom Cummins, representing Northeast AFT, urged the board to approve a wage‑payment resolution on the consent agenda and asked that employee organizations be involved in any policy under the district item labeled "FB‑11," warning about pressure on students and concerns about enforcement.
Later in the meeting, Trustee Shelton moved to add a review of the district cell‑phone policy for the next school year as a future agenda item; Trustee Chigi seconded and the motion passed 6‑1 (Mister Beyer recorded a nay). The board did not take immediate policy action tonight, but the agenda addition means administrators will prepare materials for a future discussion.
