Public commenters urge stricter cell‑phone rules and more classroom supply funding

Members of the public and school staff addressed the Farmersville Unified School District board on several student‑focused topics during the public‑comment period.

Freddy Lopez, a community member, urged trustees to adopt a restrictive student cell‑phone policy ahead of a July 1, 2026 deadline. Citing published studies and books on youth mental health, Lopez argued that high smartphone engagement forecasts increased rates of depression and anxiety and said other districts’ phone bans were associated with "improved mental health, and increased student learning." "The decision is truly a matter of life and death, and I hope we choose wisely," Lopez told the board.

Judy Perez, who said she has started Farmersville PTO social pages, asked the board for leadership and help to build a combined parent‑teacher organization across district sites so more parents can participate in school activities.

Third‑grade dual‑language teacher Janna Puga asked trustees to reconsider the district's classroom supply allocation, saying teachers received $300 for the 2025–26 year — about $12.50 per student in a 24‑student class — and that the amount is insufficient to cover basic materials. "Because of this, we the teachers end up spending our own money throughout the year to fill in the gaps," Puga said, noting that required vendor purchasing and ink costs further reduce buying power.

Farmsville Junior High counselor Emiliano Moran urged trustees to review an updated school counselor job description — described as roughly 30 years old — emphasizing that counselors' duties should center on academic planning, social‑emotional support and career readiness rather than administrative tasks.

None of the public comments requested or produced board action during the meeting; staff and trustees acknowledged the remarks and indicated topics would be considered by administration and on future agendas.