At a special school board meeting on Monday, the Argyle ISD Board of Trustees made two big decisions for the upcoming school year.
First, the board approved the district’s proposed policy banning the use of electronic devices during the school day. All school districts across the state were required to adopt such policies under House Bill 1481. The bill restricts student cellphone use in school, and requires districts to outline clear expectations, enforcement procedures, and disciplinary actions for violations.
Students in all grade levels throughout the district will no longer be allowed to use or even access:
- Cell phones
- Smartwatches and AI glasses
- Wireless headphones or earbuds
- Tablets, pagers, radio devices
- Any other personal device capable of communication
Superintendent Courtney Carpenter says the ban applies in classrooms, hallways, common areas, and during lunch periods. Students must turn their devices off and store them in their backpacks at all times.
Discipline and enforcement
The board approved the following consequences for students who use a cellphone or other device on campus:
- First offense: Device is confiscated and student gets a warning.
- Second offense: Device is confiscated and student gets one day of in-school suspension.
- Third offense: Device is confiscated and student gets one to three days of in-school suspension. Student is also completely banned from bringing devices onto campus at any time.
- Fourth offense: Treated as a serious offense and consequences may include removal to DAEP.
The proposed policy also requires a guardian to pick up any confiscated device from the school.
Homeschool participation in UIL activities
The board also voted unanimously to opt out of allowing homeschool students to participate in UIL activities in the district.
This vote was also required due to recent legislation. In this year’s regular legislative session, lawmakers passed SB 401, which requires districts to opt out of allowing homeschool students to participate in extracurriculars by September 1.
In discussing their decision, trustees expressed concern that allowing participation may encourage students to unenroll from the district. Board members also felt that the district would not have enough time to implement policies for participation. They also said they did not have enough information about potential ramifications.
Trustees stressed that this decision will have to be made each year, and left open the possibility for allowing homeschool students to participate in the future.
