State law prompts school phone policy changes
With the start of school just weeks away, Albany ISD trustees met Monday, July 21, to discuss a range of updates in preparation for the 2025–2026 school year. The most significant item centered on how the district will enforce a new state law banning student cell phone use during school hours.
House Bill 1481, passed by the Texas Legislature in June, requires all public school districts to prohibit the use of personal communication devices—including cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and other similar items—during the instructional day. The law applies to all students in grades K through 12 while on school property.
“It’s not our rule, but it is the law now,” Superintendent Daryl Stuard told the board. “We’re going to do everything we can to follow it and make sure parents and students understand what’s expected.”
Albany ISD administrators plan to hold a meeting on July 28 to finalize campus-level procedures. For now, the plan at Albany High School will be to prohibit students from bringing phones into the building. If they do, devices may be confiscated and returned only after a designated holding period.
Procedures for the elementary, junior high, and high school campuses have not been finalized, though trustees briefly discussed the possibility of using designated bins or drop-off areas in classrooms as one option.
School leaders also discussed ways to communicate the new law to families before the start of the year. A parent letter is expected to be shared through email and social media in the coming days. Officials emphasized that emergencies would still be handled through direct contact with the school office, noting that all classrooms now have immediate 911 access.
The law, which was introduced in response to growing concerns about screen addiction, cyberbullying, and student mental health, makes exceptions for medical needs and certain educational uses. Still, enforcement is expected to be a challenge.
“There’s no perfect way to handle it,” Stuard said, “but at least now teachers know they have the backing of state law.”
The board also reviewed updated figures related to tax rate compression for the upcoming school year. While the district’s M&O (Maintenance and Operations) tax rate is projected to decrease from $0.7380 in 2023 to $0.6815 in 2025, the total amount of M&O funding is expected to rise due to increasing property values and additional state contributions. For the 2025 fiscal year, Albany ISD estimates it will collect approximately $2.57 million through local M&O taxes, with the state projected to contribute just over $4.18 million, bringing estimated total M&O funding to around $6.76 million.
Although the overall deficit is not yet finalized, Stuard said he expects it to be smaller than in previous years.
Trustees also discussed plans for a future bond election related to the construction of a new school building. While the district’s facilities committee had initially hoped to pursue a bond election in November, members ultimately decided not to rush the process. Stuard said delaying the election until May would not affect the district’s goal of moving into a new facility in two years.
In other business, the board:
•Approved the consent agenda and TASB Policy Update 125, including changes to grading language, bullying transfer protocols, and advisory committee structures;
•Discussed trimming and removing dead trees in front of the elementary school to improve safety.
The first day of school is set for Wednesday, August 13.
