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game with that. Even with the absence, if that does not happen, we need our kids focused on school when they come to school. This decision really becomes clear when you look at what is best for kids,” she emphasized.

Hightower said that the District’s notification system informed parents that the topic would be discussed and invited them to attend the Board meeting.

Though the state does not require school boards to adopt a policy until January 2026, Montgomery County Schools’ new cell phone ban will begin this upcoming school year.

Prior to the meeting, during a public hearing, the Board discussed its tentative FY26 budget, which was later passed unanimously.

The budget features a savings of $994,178.41 in projected expenditures for FY26 when compared to FY25. “That is credited to our outstanding leaders, who have just done what they needed to do,” Hightower said.

Yet, amidst the savings, Hightower shared that the District was facing several challenges, including a substantial decrease in state funding and a large increase in health insurance costs.

“In equalization and five mill share, we lost $945,548.00. Those two calculations of state funding take into consideration current property values and your local contribution,” she commented. “Our cut in equalization funds was one of the largest cuts in the entire state, and that’s out of our control.”

She continued, as she explained that the rising health insurance costs had added an additional $384,665 to the District’s expenditures. Hightower said that school superintendents are currently lobbying to state legislators for assistance with absorbing the costs. “Every single school system in the state is facing astronomical health insurance cost increases for classified staff,” she remarked.

Despite these issues, the District is continuing to work to save money, as Hightower stated that several mental health grants will be available in August, and the school system plans to aggressively seek this funding. Also, the school has absorbed several personnel positions, such as two pre-k educators, whose positions were absorbed after the District did not have enough prek enrollment to create a third class.

“Through all of these cuts, no employee has lost their job or been asked to leave. In any of these cuts, we have simply handled that through attrition, just like we will these pre-k savings,” Hightower clarified.

The Board stated that they would continue to look for cost-saving measures as they navigate the new budget and school year.