Pearland ISD Superintendent Dr. Larry Berger Discusses Back-to-School, Cell Phone Policy, and More

Cell Phone Policy and Communication

• 📱 House Bill 1481 mandates a ban on personal communication devices during the school day, which Pearland ISD is implementing as a storage option rather than a complete ban.
• 🎒 Students can bring phones to campus, but they must be turned off, not connected to Bluetooth, and stored in a backpack or purse during instructional time.
• 📞 For urgent communication, parents can contact the front office, email, or use school-provided messaging systems; coaches and directors will also have methods for communicating schedule changes for extracurricular activities.
• 💡 The district is working through the logistics of communication, especially for issues like forgotten lunches or schedule changes, by re-establishing older communication systems.

Smartwatches and Event Usage

• ⌚ The law does not allow smartwatches with communication capabilities to be worn or used during the school day, even in school mode, due to their digital communication capabilities.
• 🏃 However, smartwatches can be used as pedometers for activities like cross country, provided they comply with the law's restrictions.
• 🎉 Phones are permitted for use during non-school day events like Oilerfest or football games, and for activities not on school property.

Communication and Technology

• 📈 Pearland ISD is committed to improving timely communications, ensuring accurate contact information in their student management system, Skyward, and conducting after-action reviews.
• 💻 The district has sufficient school-issued devices (laptops) available for students who need them, funded by a recent bond, to meet technology demands without personal devices.
• 🔒 School-issued devices have safety parameters and filtering, limiting access to inappropriate content or activities, and exceptions are being made for students with accommodations (504s, IEPs) or medical needs.

Ten Commandments and Transportation

• 📜 The posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms is a legal requirement due to Senate Bill 10, with specific parameters on size, verbiage, and donation, and they will not be used as an educational tool.
• 🚌 Pearland ISD has sufficient buses and drivers, but staffing shortages due to sick leave or family medical leave can lead to route delays, requiring office staff and mechanics to serve as substitute drivers.
• 📍 State funding for transportation is provided for students living more than two miles from school; for those within two miles, the district offers bus service for a small fee to cover costs.

Standardized Testing and Parent Engagement

• 📊 A significant majority of parents (77%) surveyed believe the STAR test should be eliminated due to the stress and anxiety it causes, and its limited reflection of true learning.
• 🔦 The district aims to use data from assessments, including potential future multi-test models, as a