SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Texas Education Agency investigators recommended placing North East Independent School District under a state-appointed conservator after concluding the district did not comply with state requirements on student cell phone restrictions, according to a final report released Friday.
The recommendation calls for the Education Commissioner to appoint a conservator with authority to oversee district operations and overrule decisions made by the elected school board and district leadership.
Investigators said North East ISD violated a state directive requiring districts to prohibit student use of personal electronic devices during the school day. The agency said the district implemented a policy that allowed phone use during lunch and class transition periods by defining the school day as instructional time only.
The Texas Education Agency opened its investigation in September after reviewing the district’s policy. The agency later issued a corrective action plan directing the district to implement a “bell-to-bell” restriction covering the entire school day from arrival to dismissal.
The North East ISD Board of Trustees voted in January to maintain its existing policy and did not adopt the state’s directive. At the time, board members said the law did not define the school day and raised concerns about limiting parent communication with students.
TEA investigators wrote in the report that district officials and board members repeatedly asserted authority to interpret statutory terms in a way that did not align with state requirements, which the agency said demonstrated noncompliance with its corrective action plan.
The report stated that the district’s actions reflected intentional noncompliance and a failure to meet statutory obligations.
District attorney Ricardo Lopez previously warned trustees that the Texas Education Agency could impose sanctions, including appointment of a conservator or a board of managers, if the district did not change its policy. He also estimated potential legal costs of $50,000 to $100,000 if the district pursued litigation.
The agency said it recommended a conservator rather than a full board takeover because the issue centered on governance compliance rather than broader instructional deficiencies. The conservator would provide oversight while allowing the elected board to remain in place under state supervision.
North East ISD officials said Friday that the board will review the report and determine next steps.
