District staff on Thursday reviewed multiple changes to the Birdville ISD student code of conduct that administrators say are necessary to comply with legislation passed this year.

The most immediate items include a change under House Bill 6 that makes a first-time offense for possession or use of nicotine products a discretionary — not mandatory — placement and the removal of a three-day cap on in‑school suspension (ISS), officials said.

The new law will allow longer ISS placements but requires campus administrators to check in with students at least once every 10 days to ensure academic needs are being met, the district said. Dr. Showell, a district staff presenter, described the shift as a change in state law and said the district expects to continue many of its prior practices.

Why it matters: The changes alter how disciplinary placements are classified and how long students can be kept in ISS. That affects instructional continuity for students and the district’s administrative workload for monitoring students in long ISS assignments.

District discussion and staff recommendations

Dr. Showell (staff member) told trustees that House Bill 6 is the primary bill driving the package of changes and listed several concrete effects: the campus must designate a single campus behavior coordinator; first-time nicotine or e‑vaporizer possession or use is now discretionary rather than mandatory; and ISS can be extended beyond the previous three‑day maximum with administrator check‑ins at least every 10 days. He said the district will continue many of its current practices despite the statutory change.

"One of the changes... first-time offense of possession or use of nicotine, cigarette, or e‑vape, would be considered a discretionary placement," Dr. Showell said.

On parental agreements for disciplinary placements, staff said the district already uses parental agreements for placements to DAEP (Disciplinary Alternative Education Program) and will expand similar agreements to some longer ISS placements to allow for reduced time in an alternative setting if students meet agreed conditions (attendance, coursework, no further discipline).

Staff also reported that Senate Bill 12 requires districts to post grievance forms on district websites and make them available on request; the district already maintains grievance forms and will add the online posting required by statute. Senate Bill 326, staff said, provides a statutory definition of antisemitism; the district will incorporate a definition into its materials because the law now includes one.

A new option called a virtual expulsion program was also described: rather than sending some students to DAEP or a juvenile program, the district could provide an at‑home virtual program that documents attendance and provides instruction outside the school building.

What the board directed and next steps

Board members asked clarifying questions and staff said they will draft specific policy language and bring those drafts to upcoming meetings: the parental‑agreement language will be presented at the Aug. 28 board meeting, and other policy language will be brought for action at the board’s regular meeting on the forthcoming Thursday. Dr. Showell and other staff noted that some changes are required by law and others reflect district practice.

No formal board vote on these code changes occurred at the July discussion; staff framed the session as a review and preparation for formal action later this month.

Ending

Staff said they will return with drafting language and specific policy proposals in August and at the next regular board meeting so trustees can adopt local policy consistent with the state statutes and the district’s intended implementation.