Peoria Unified trustees on Tuesday approved a revised policy intended to clarify appropriate staff conduct and strengthen protections for students.

The revision, identified as Policy 4‑202 (staff‑student boundaries and student protection), was presented by Superintendent Dr. John Summers and reviewed by the district attorney. It includes a two‑tier structure: behaviors that are “strictly prohibited” and “boundary‑sensitive” behaviors that may require additional transparency, supervisory oversight or parent notification.

Why it matters: the policy sets formal expectations for employees, volunteers and contractors and establishes reporting procedures for alleged violations. Following legal review, the policy also explicitly defines grooming behavior near the top of the document so readers see the most serious prohibited acts first.

Key provisions: the policy lists prohibited behaviors such as sexualized conduct, inappropriate contact and using staff authority to exploit a student. It also provides examples of routine community interactions — for example, attending neighborhood events — that are not violations when they remain appropriate and transparent. The policy requires training, reporting and compliance with Arizona mandated‑reporter rules.

Public comment and board action: one public speaker supported the updated policy during public comment. The board voted unanimously to adopt the policy by voice vote; President Rooks recorded five ayes.

Implementation: Dr. Summers confirmed the district and site leaders will develop training and communication plans to ensure staff, volunteers and families understand the policy and reporting paths. Trustees asked staff to provide updates as training is rolled out and to make the policy available to employees and the public.