Tomball ISD General Counsel Holly Sherman told trustees on Aug. 11 that numerous revisions to the district's student code of conduct and student handbook reflect state legislative changes and must be reflected in board policy and administrative materials for the 2025–26 school year.

What changed and why
Sherman said many revisions come from the most recent legislative session and from statutes that impose new requirements on school districts. The board was briefed on two policies scheduled for the consent agenda the next day: a prohibition on student use of "personal communication devices" during the school day (policy FNCE local) and rules governing library acquisition, availability and formal challenge procedures (policy EFB local).

Key elements presented
- Personal communication devices: The draft policy uses the statute's definition and requires devices be turned off or silenced and stored in a backpack, locker or other secure area during the school day. The policy includes three statutory exceptions: district‑provided devices, devices used to implement IEP/504/medical directives, and other lawfully permitted uses. The handbook will contain administrative regulations and examples.
- Library materials and challenges: Changes required by Senate Bill 13 include public access to library catalogs and lists of materials, a process for parents to identify materials their child may not check out, and a formal challenge process that can culminate in a board hearing. The policy aligns with definitions from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for terms such as "indecent" and "profane," and requires recommended procurement/donation lists be posted publicly for 30 days prior to board action.
- Discipline and other statutory updates: The student code of conduct text was updated to reflect House Bill 6 and other legislation: campus behavior coordinator language replaces certain references to principals; antisemitism is explicitly named as prohibited conduct; short‑barrel firearms are listed among prohibited items; guidance on AI and academic dishonesty was added; vaping (possession of e‑cigarettes) was moved from mandatory DAEP to discretionary DAEP or mandatory ISS alternatives; ISS review procedures were revised to require reviews every 10 days and accompanying program supports.

Parental and operational clarifications noted
Sherman said parents will need to give explicit consent for students to participate in some school‑sponsored clubs (statutory change reflected in the handbook) and that the district will provide access to lists of library materials and records of books checked out through the online catalog (Destiny).

Board questions and clarifications
Board members asked for clarity on: whether parents retain decisive rights over library checkout for their children (Sherman confirmed parents can restrict what their child checks out and can access the catalog online); how the device rule works in practice (the board practiced the "off and away" rule in a role play: phones off and stored during the instructional day from ~07:20 a.m. until dismissal); and how career/college visit days and driver's license appointments now appear as excused absences in the new handbook.

Discussion vs. decisions
Sherman presented draft policy language and the updated handbook as information; the two policies (FNCE local and EFB local) were scheduled on the consent agenda for the regular board meeting the next day for formal consideration.

Ending note
Sherman offered to supply clarifying language and follow‑up answers to the board before the next meeting on questions about face‑covering language and other operational details.