Yosemite Valley Charter School adopted Board Policy No. 4020, a staff-to-staff professionalism policy that sets conduct standards for employees and procedures for reporting, investigating and resolving allegations of unprofessional conduct, on Sept. 11, 2025.

The policy defines key terms — including “gossip,” “venting,” “disrespectful conduct” and “constructive criticism” — and lists acceptable behaviors such as treating colleagues with courtesy, communicating concerns directly or through proper channels, collaborating respectfully and maintaining confidentiality for personnel matters. It says unacceptable behaviors include gossiping, hostile or intimidating language, excluding colleagues from necessary communication, public criticism or mocking, use of digital platforms to disparage staff and retaliation against reporters.

Board Policy No. 4020 applies regardless of platform or setting when communication concerns work matters: during work hours, at school-sponsored events or in professional digital and social-media spaces, the policy states. Reporting channels named in the text are an employee’s immediate supervisor, human resources and the Superintendent’s designee; the policy says reports “will be handled confidentially to the greatest extent possible.”

On investigation and resolution, the policy directs the school to investigate reports “in a timely and fair manner.” Potential resolutions listed include coaching, mediation, corrective action or discipline depending on the nature and severity of the conduct. The consequences section says staff who violate the policy may face corrective action up to and including termination, while emphasizing that the primary goal is professional growth and accountability.

The policy text is presented as Board Policy No. 4020 and shows an adoption line reading “Adopted: September 11, 2025.” The document does not include supporting meeting minutes, a motion text, names of movers or seconders, or a recorded vote tally. It also does not name the Superintendent’s designee or give an implementation timeline.

The policy outlines several clarifying details — definitions of unacceptable conduct, scope (including school-managed systems such as email and Teams and informal channels such as group texts), and possible steps in investigation and resolution — that staff and administrators will use to interpret and apply the standards going forward.