The following information has been extracted from a letter from Superintendent Dr. Cavness regarding cell phone using during the school day:

The 2019-2020 academic school year begins on August 28 and we are eagerly waiting to welcome your child for a great school year! I wanted you to know that the school board unanimously approved the administration's recommendation to change the cell phone policy.

First and foremost, our students have trouble concentrating on their lessons when they are constantly using their phones. Not only are cell phones disruptive during instruction, but they are also used all throughout the day to hurt or wound others via text messages, social media, and apps. As a result, this causes emotional scarring that can have long-term negative effects on our students. Therefore, since cell phones are causing the largest educational distraction in the schools, we are restricting the usage of cell phones during the academic day. So from the first bell in the morning until the last bell in the afternoon, cell phones will not be able to be used during the school day. This means they are silenced, turned off, and out of sight once in the building.

Students who bring a cell phone or electronic device, including wireless earbuds, to school will be required to have it turned off and stored in a backpack or purse prior to entering the school building. Upon completion of the school day and final bell, students may use their phones. The district will be issuing personal computers for instruction through our new one-to-one initiative for all students in grades 7-12. Therefore, students will not need their phones for instructional purposes.

Any student with a device out throughout the school day, will be in violation of the policy and the phone will be confiscated and turned in to a campus administrator. The device may be picked up by the student, a parent or guardian at the end of the instructional day upon payment of a $15 fee. We will explain this to students as we review school rules and policies on the first day of school.

If you need to reach your student for a reminder or an emergency, please contact the front office of your child's school so we may assist you.

Download a copy of the letter.

From now until Aug. 23, any TCISD zoned student who has not been registered yet, can be registered at their school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with the exception of Thursday, Aug. 15. Due to a district-wide training, registration will not take place on Aug. 15.

Visit the Enrollment page for more details.

If you want to ride the bus during the first week of school, students must be registered by Aug. 23. Anyone who registers Aug. 26-30 will NOT be bus eligible until Sept. 3. Ride the bus with us and register by Aug. 23!

Bus registration happens when you register online or in person. Visit our Enrollment page for details.

Trustees approved a $2.1 million salary increase for all staff on June 25 that exceeds the state mandate. Raises range from 3.2% to 7.5% for teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses. All other staff will receive an increase of 3% of midpoint.

·Teachers and librarians with 0-4 years of experience will see a 3.2% to 3.5% increase.

·Teachers and librarians with experience of 5+ years will see a 4% to 7.5% increase contingent on years of service.

·Counselors and nurses will receive a 4% increase based on the midpoint.

·All other staff will receive a 3% increase based on the midpoint.

·Bus drivers go from a starting pay of $17.38 an hour to $19 an hour.

The increase is effective for the 2019-2020 contracts.

Texas City ISD will hold a new student registration for K-12 on July 23 from 12-6 p.m. in the Blocker Gym, located at 1800 Ninth Avenue N. Details on what to bring can be found here.