By Rep. Mayes Middleton
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Last week Representative Mayes Middleton
filed two pieces of school safety legislation. The first bill enables school
districts to invest additional local funds into school security improvements
and personnel; the second bill allows school districts to enforce discipline
policies relating to student use of cell phones in the classroom.
Middleton said in a statement: The mission of our local schools is to instruct
and educate students but that cant be done without ensuring their safety and
security in the classroom. These two bills represent two simple reforms which
will make it easier for schools to fulfill these two basic missions." Middleton
has submitted the following bills to the chief clerk:
House Bill 1777 would allow school districts subject to recapture to spend
money on student and school security and have such security spending exempted
from recapture.
House Bill 1892 enables school districts to enforce rules relating to student
use of cell phones in classrooms by shielding district employees from legal
liability that is the result of an enforcement action.
Representative Middleton continued Ensuring that local schools can use local
funds to protect students simply makes sense. Likewise ensuring that our
teachers can enforce their own school district policies regarding cell phone
use in the classroom--without the fear of a lawsuit looming over them--is a
straightforward reform which should be made. Both of these measures will
improve the learning environment in our public schools for students and
teachers."
Mayes Middleton along with his wife Macy and three sons Connor Christian
and Matthew live in Wallisville Texas. Mayes is a 7th generation Chambers
County resident and Texan. Mayes is President of Middleton Oil Company an
independent oil and gas company that operates wells in South Texas and along
the Gulf Coast and is engaged in joint exploration ventures. In addition to
his work in the oil and gas industry Mayes also runs his ranching cattle and
farming operations. He and his wife support numerous local community
organizations and faith-based charities.
