Lovelady ISD Updates School Phone Policy — Changes Come After Passage of New State Law
Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
LOVELADY – With a new school year on the horizon, Lovelady Independent School District (LISD) is preparing students, parents, and teachers for changes to how personal devices are handled during the instructional day — changes driven by a sweeping new Texas law aimed at reducing classroom distractions statewide.
House Bill 1481, passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 20, will take effect this August. The law prohibits the use of cell phones, smartwatches, and other personal communication devices in public school classrooms from kindergarten through 12th grade, during the instructional day. Lawmakers say the goal is to help students focus, limit digital distractions, and support stronger academic outcomes across the state.
Lovelady ISD has responded proactively with a set of district-wide guidelines designed to meet the requirements of the new law while continuing to support students and families.
“We are looking forward to a great start to the 2025-2026 school year,” the district wrote in a statement released to parents this week. “As we approach the start of school, we want to inform you about a new Texas law signed by Governor Abbott… This law was passed to help students stay focused, reduce distractions, and support better academic outcomes.”
The new policy will affect all students who bring a phone to school. Upon entering the building, students will be required to turn off their phones and store them in locked cabinets with individual, assigned slots. Devices will be kept secure throughout the day and returned to students at the end of the instructional period. Special procedures will be in place for students who need to leave early or attend extracurricular activities.
Students in Pre-K through 4th grade will store their phones in lockers, while smartwatches and earbuds will not be allowed on campus at all during the school day. Exceptions to the policy will be made for documented learning, medical, or safety needs outlined in an individualized plan.
Michael Merchant, Chief of Lovelady ISD Police, recently told The Messenger the new rules formalize procedures that are already largely in place.
“We’ve already been collecting phones when kids enter the classroom,” Merchant said. “Teachers have little boxes and students drop their phones in. They get them back between classes and hand them to the next teacher. So I don’t think the new law will be a big shift for us.”
Even so, the law does require consistency and standardization across campuses — and consequences for non-compliance will now follow the district’s Student Code of Conduct. Training on the new procedures will be provided by campus administrators at the beginning of the year.
The changes may hit some school districts harder, where policies vary, and often up to teachers to set boundaries for phone use. In schools where students are issued laptops, the phones can serve as a backup to broken or lost equipment. Parents seem split on this issue, with some happy to help kids wean off the powerful pull of phone dependency. Teachers almost universally support the initiate, battling the distractions of modern devices in the classroom.
While the changes may take some adjustment, especially for students accustomed to using phones during passing periods or lunchtime, district officials say the focus is on supporting learning.
“We know this is a shift for students,” said LISD Superintendent Wendy Tullos, “but we’re committed to making this a smooth transition. We believe the structure will help students stay engaged, be more present, and ultimately succeed in the classroom.”
LISD’s 2025–2026 school year begins August 13.
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
