MISD Updates District Policies, Lincoln Elementary Recognized

MONTGOMERY, TX -- With the beginning of the new school year last week, Montgomery ISD is updating its District Policies for 2024-2025. At a board workshop in early August MISD trustees reviewed changes to the student handbook for the 2024-2025 school year. As students returned to classes August 15th, they were informed of a new policy regarding cell phone use on campuses.

“There is ample research available providing valuable insight into the challenges that cell phone use presents to students, teachers, and administrators,” said Superintendent Mark Ruffin. “After spending the spring listening to teachers, parents, and students, it is clear that we are facing many of those same challenges in Montgomery ISD.”

Students in Montgomery ISD will be allowed to have cell phones on campus. However, they are expected to be “away for the day” in backpacks, lockers, or vehicles and turned off to prevent distractions.

“Cell phones create a distraction that hinders student learning and academic performance,” said Ruffin. “It negatively impacts student discipline, leads to instances of academic dishonesty, and unfortunately provides opportunities for cyberbullying,”

The cell phone policy update applies to all classrooms, hallways, restrooms, cafeterias, and any other school property during the school day. Teachers and school staff will monitor and enforce the policy. Students found in violation of the policy will face disciplinary consequences including phone confiscation, detention, and parental notification.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that our learning environments provide students and teachers with the best possible opportunity to succeed,” Ruffin told MCN. “Our classroom teachers need help competing with the distractions posed by cell phones, and we believe this policy is a step in the right direction toward reclaiming the learning environment.”

Montgomery ISD Board President Dr. Matt Fuller, said that the Trustees are confident the new guidelines will limit distractions and disruptions to the learning process, which are often caused by cell phone usage.

“This new expectation empowers our staff to focus on providing engaging instruction and provides academic and social benefits to our Students,” said Fuller.

MISD has announced that parents are encouraged to contact the school office in case of emergencies or urgent matters. The school will promptly relay urgent messages to students and ensure they can contact their parent/guardian if needed. There is also a text messaging service for MISD parents. Text ‘YES’ to 67587.

“We understand that in today’s society, our ability to stay connected and communicate with our children provides an incredible sense of comfort for parents,” Ruffin said. "Our goal is to ensure effective lines of communication are available for parents and they feel more confident in the safety, security, and overall well-being of their child.”

Also at the August Workshop the Trustees heard updates to the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP). The program is adopted by local policy for students in elementary through high school who violate the Student Code of Conduct and are removed from their regular classes and placed in a DAEP.

“DAEP was identified last spring as an area where we need to align our practices to better support our students and staff and ultimately promote an effective discipline management program,” Ruffin said. "Ensuring disciplinary consistency across Montgomery ISD schools is critical. This update will clarify the parameters of a DAEP placement and expectations for students and staff members”.

On the Elementary School front, Montgomery ISD’s Lincoln Elementary has been recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community at Work®, while Creekside Elementary located next to Lake Creek High School off of FM 2854, was officially welcomed to the MISD family of schools last Wednesday.

Lincoln Elementary is one of about 600 Schools and Districts in US and Canada to receive the honor by Solution Tree for their sustained success in raising student achievement. Lincoln successfully implemented the Professional Learning Communities at Work® concept, which was a contributing factor in the improved achievement of its students.

PLCs are schools where educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is on-going job embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to:

• Focus on learning

• Build a collaborative culture

• Create a results orientation

“Our teachers and support staff at Lincoln are incredibly honored by this recognition,” Lincoln

Elementary Principal Kerri Ashlock said. “We are committed to working together and using a data driven approach for educating each of our Lincoln students. Utilizing the PLC concept is a key component of our success.”

Schools are recognized based on criteria including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be seen, the school must explain its practices, structures, and culture and submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee.

“We are thrilled for Principal Ashlock and her team at Lincoln Elementary,” MISD Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “They have demonstrated a sustained commitment to working together to help our students achieve at high levels. They have invested in the culture of the school to reflect their commitment. We applaud their efforts and congratulate them for achieving this milestone at their Campus.”

Recognized model PLC schools are listed on allthingsplc.info, where they share implementation strategies, structures, and performance with other educators interested in improving their schools. Tools for team collaboration, articles and research about PLCs, blog posts, and other related resources are also available on the site.

Lastly, Creekside Elementary held their Ribbon Cutting ceremony, August 14th, the day before the doors officially opened. Superintendent Mark Ruffin, with his hashtag #MakingAnImpactMISD, wasted no time in visiting the school, meeting with students, teachers, and Creekside Elementary Principal Shelby Smith and her staff. Ruffin, starting his first full-year as MISD Superintendent, was up at the crack of dawn last Thursday, visiting with MISD bus drivers, and transportation staff. That was before his mad dash to visit all the schools in the district in the first few days of the new school year, with the primary focus of meeting as many students as he is able to, as well as to welcome the new teachers, principals, and their staffs’ to MISD.

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