More parent involvement, and support for teachers and administrators, was the overall message that came from the proposed updated School District of Lee County code of conduct Tuesday.

Constituent Services and Student Discipline Director Tammy Scott said the code was reduced from a little more than 100 pages down to 56, with the elementary code and secondary code now in one book. The book is now available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

The district has added a landing page to its website that provides a more online type of book, rather than parents accessing the book and having to flip through the pages in a PDF format.

There is one change to the adult code of conduct.

The provision states “if a student chooses to use a restroom designated for the opposite sex and the sex based at birth refuses to leave, that student will face a level three consequence,” Constituent Services and Student Discipline Director Rachel Gould said.

The district met with many stakeholder groups, which also included teachers and administrative staff, regarding the code of conduct. Those meetings led to some proposed changes in the elementary and secondary code of conduct.

There also are proposed changes to the student codes.

Gould said there were some concerns raised about students engaging in conflicts in secluded areas like bathrooms. She said because the state changed how a fight is defined, schools had to rely on peer conflict more.

The proposal is for administrators to recommend the Success Academy Review Committee — a team from the district office and school-based administrators — to review specifics of an incident.

Another proposed change is for a new local code — physical harm, as there were a lot more elementary administrators stating that they were seeing more serious behaviors than horse play, but less than battery.

There was also a concern using racial slurs towards other students at the secondary level, which resulted in principals recommending using the Success Academy Review Committee.

One of the larger discussed sections of the code stemmed around use of electronic devices — which also would include watches and ear buds in addition to cell phones. Clarification of when these devices can and cannot be used will come before the board at its next meeting.

Constituent Services and Student Discipline Director Dr. Ron Iarussi said the proposed language around the misuse of AI would fall within the cheating portion of the code of conduct.

Board member Chris Patricca questioned the discipline for cheating.

“We are not treating cheating more seriously. This kind of stuff gets you kicked out of college. I am really concerned about AI and potential for cheating,” she said.

Patricca asked what they are doing as a district to teach AI responsibility, as well as teachers using it to make it easier for themselves.

“Do we want to lead in this area, or do we want to react,” she said. “We can react by putting a clarified definition in the code of conduct. Lead in the area because this is the future.”

Other board members agreed that the topic of AI should be brought back during a workshop for more discussion.

“AI is about deep learning and deep learning is the obligation we have to the kids. If you just say using AI is cheating and you are not looking at how the child is using AI, then you have a problem,” Board member Cathleen Morgan said.

There were also proposed changes when dealing with tobacco and drug use — with the main revolving around vaping devices.

“We have definitely seen an increase in drug use and tobacco use. A larger increase at the high school level,” Iarussi said, adding that it is now down to the middle school level. “We have heard we would like to see consistency from building to building on how to handle.”

The first offense for tobacco is a level four — detention, in school suspension. The second offense provides alternatives for principals and students to be able to use case-by-case to recommend programming. He said there is still a consequence of up to two days of in or out of school suspension, but the administrator has the opportunity to offer the student and family an opportunity to reduce that if they get educated.

The third offense, Iarussi said they are proposing a different type of solution — some extended school day, some after school programming for 90 minutes with the student attending five and the parent attending one of the six sessions.

“In lieu of possibly a level two offense at that point. That level of offense might be reduced,” Iarussi said.

For drug and alcohol, the first offense would be a level three, which could be up to three days of school suspension when kids are in possession of use of drugs or alcohol.

“Again, there could be a reduction as long as parent and student, during the hearing, would commit to some programming to educate students on effects,” he said.

The second offense is five days out of school suspension — and implementing another completion of extended school day option. A third offense is the reassignment to Success Academy.

“Holding some of the parents accountable for their students, I think is going to be key,” Board member Melisa Giovannelli said. “I am excited to see this implemented and what happens.”

All tobacco, drug and alcohol offenses have to be reported to law enforcement.

The code of conduct will come before the board again on May 7 for first reading before it is presented to them during a board action meeting on May 21.