CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — New cell phone rules for Corpus Christi schools have been in effect since the school year began.
Now the Texas Education Agency is recommending a ban on cell phones at all Texas schools, and local parents have some concerns for their children if there is a full-out ban.
As you may imagine, the chief concern 3NEWS spoke with is the child's safety, which is why many provide their kids with cell phones.
"I get that they are a distraction," said Adriane Rodriguez, who has two school-ages children. "I don't disagree with that but what I do disagree with is them not being able to have them."
Rodriguez believes a possible future ban may affect her kids safety.
"The only way for my child to communicate with me if something's happening is to reach out," she said. "Send a text or call. And it just concerns me, as a mother. If something were to happen to them, how are they going to be able to get a hold of me?"
CCISD enacted new rules on cell phones this school year that does not forbid students from having cell phones, but it does not allow them to use them during class.
Office of admissions, attendance and student support director Ron Kanipes said the district has taken more steps to ensure student safety during class.
"It's just during the school day that we restrict cell phone use, depending on the grade level," he said. "If the parents need to get a hold of the student during the school day, they can call the front office and (staff) can contact the classroom and get a hold of the student if there's an emergency."
Kanipes said the rules vary by grade.
"So if they're high-school students, they can keep their cell phones during passing periods and cafeteria, but not during instructional time in the classroom setting or if there's testing going on," he said. "Now, from middle school on down to elementary, they can have their cell phones, but they have to be put away during the entire school day."
There are exceptions for students who use their cell phones to monitor certain medical conditions.
But Rodriguez said the rules can go too far.
"Just to not be able to have any communication with our kids is frightening," she said.
At CCISD, the only time a cell phone would be confiscated is if it's used during class, and disciplinary action would also apply.
So far, a statewide ban has not occurred, with TEA leaders saying it's up to individual districts.