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Board member raises concerns over recent code of conduct wording changes; calls for operational-review at retreat
Summary
During board comments, a trustee criticized a narrow 5-4 vote that removed language about reducing overuse and disproportionate suspensions from the code of conduct and requested the board add a review of operational procedures to its retreat agenda.
Board member Mrs. Farmer used her remarks during board comments to criticize a recent change to the districts code of conduct and asked trustees to add an operational review to the board retreat.
Farmer said the board last week approved a change that removed the words "reduce overuse and disproportionate use of" in-school and out-of-school suspension language. "By removing these words, this action may have started us on the path of reviving the school-to-prison pipeline, thus criminalizing children," Farmer said, adding that some students benefit from alternative placements but that discipline changes should not criminalize children.
She urged more transparency and advance notice for policy changes, asked that the board add an assessment of school board operational procedures (policy 2340) to the retreat agenda, and referenced policy 2370 about board member requests and use of district information as part of her call for better pre-meeting briefing and review.
Another trustee, Mister Bonagorio, said the changes to the code of conduct were provided in advance to the full board at the time of the motion last week. Farmer said sudden changes without adequate time for due diligence can cause confusion among staff charged with carrying out district policy, and she asked the board to include an operational procedures assessment on the retreat agenda to restore transparency.
No formal motion was made during the comments period to rescind the policy change; Farmers remarks were recorded as a request to add policy 2340 to the retreat agenda for review and possible action there.
