Cynthia Lugo Hampton and Doctor Curley presented revisions to the Marion County Code of Student Conduct and an implementation plan on July 17, highlighting new placement of the self‑defense definition, clarification of wireless communication device rules for younger students, adjustments to dress‑code language and a discipline reference guide including diversion options for certain first offenses.

Lede: District staff told the school board July 17 that the revised Code of Student Conduct clarifies self‑defense and fighting language, removes ambiguity about dress‑code fingertip rules, tightens the wireless communication device policy (devices must be powered off and out of sight during school hours for elementary and middle schools), and adds a one‑page discipline response guide for level‑3 and level‑4 offenses.

Nut graf: The presentation included an implementation plan covering communication, training, monitoring and continuous improvement; staff recommended posting the draft to the district website and using Skyward acknowledgements for families and students. Board members pressed for timely rollout to ensure teachers can teach expectations at the start of the school year and asked staff to add a brief glossary defining ‘diversion’, ISS/OSS and other corrective actions.

Body: Cynthia Lugo Hampton walked through revisions, noting the self‑defense definition was moved to sit near the fighting offense and that the dress code guideline would use a "mid‑thigh" standard for skirts and shorts to reduce ambiguity. "We removed fingertip lengths ... and kept mid thigh so we can avoid any ambiguity," she said.

On wireless devices, staff said the policy was updated to reflect state law and added enforcement detail: devices must be powered off, out of sight and not in hand during school hours for elementary and middle schools. Board members discussed Osceola Middle School’s experience with a strict device policy and asked staff to consider sharing implementation techniques across schools.

On discipline, the packet included a discipline response reference for level‑3 and level‑4 offenses (elementary and secondary), and staff explained diversion as a possible corrective action for first offenses in specified categories; repeated offenses would move to mandatory alternative placement or expulsion processes. Board members asked staff to add an explicit definition of diversion and a short corrective‑action glossary in the code to help parents understand consequences and options.

Timing and public process: Staff described the formal adoption timeline shared with the board: public access to recommended titles (for textbook adoption, covered in a separate agenda item) and a proposed public hearing and vote schedule for the code. Board members and staff noted a timing problem with required newspaper/publication notice and requested the board schedule a public‑hearing notice in the July 22 agenda so the 28‑day rule and rulemaking ad requirements could be met; staff said they would follow the required notice process and that the code would be posted as a draft for school leaders to use during pre‑week and the first days of school while awaiting the formal board vote.

Ending: Board members signaled consensus on the substance of the draft, asked staff to insert a brief glossary and diversion definition, and requested that principals be equipped to teach the code at the start of school; staff said a public hearing and vote would be scheduled according to rulemaking notice requirements and that wireless‑device enforcement would begin immediately because it already aligns with state law.

Speakers:[{"name":"Cynthia Lugo Hampton","role_title":"Senior Student Services Administrator","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Marion County Public Schools","first_reference":{"timecode":"02:01:20","transcript_line_range":[7279,7308]}},{"name":"Doctor Curley","role_title":"Chief of Student Services (presenter)","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Marion County Public Schools","first_reference":{"timecode":"02:05:53","transcript_line_range":[7853,7855]}},{"name":"Miss Johnson","role_title":"Principal (Osceola Middle)","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Marion County Public Schools","first_reference":{"timecode":"01:16:15","transcript_line_range":[7535,7556]}},{"name":"Board Member Thor","role_title":"Board member","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Marion County School Board","first_reference":{"timecode":"02:04:33","transcript_line_range":[7855,7878]}}],"authorities":[{"type":"statute","name":"Florida Sunshine Law (meeting procedures referenced)","citation":"referenced by attorney and staff during meeting","referenced_by":["Cynthia Lugo Hampton"]}],"actions":[{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Post draft Code of Student Conduct and schedule public hearing; staff to comply with required rulemaking notice and publish draft for schools","mover":"Staff recommendation","second":"n/a","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{"met":false,"notes":"No formal board vote taken during work session; schedule and formal vote required per rulemaking"},"outcome":"no_action","notes":"Board indicated consensus on content; staff to schedule statutory public hearing notice and return for vote"}],"discussion_decision":{"discussion_points":["Clarify self‑defense and fighting definitions and place them near each other in guidance","Revise dress‑code guidance to 'mid‑thigh' to remove ambiguity","Update wireless communication device policy to reflect state law: powered off, out of sight during school hours for elementary and middle schools","Add discipline response one‑page guide for level‑3/4 offenses and define 'diversion'"],"directions":["Staff to add a short glossary defining diversion, ISS, OSS, and other corrective actions","Staff to post draft code and provide digital Skyward acknowledgements for students, staff, and parents","Principals to roll out draft code during pre‑week; staff to follow formal rulemaking notice and public hearing timeline"],"decisions":[]},"clarifying_details":[{"category":"wireless_device_policy","detail":"Devices must be powered off, out of sight, and not in hand during school hours for elementary and middle schools","source_speaker":"Cynthia Lugo Hampton"},{"category":"dress_code_change","detail":"Fingertip length removed; 'mid‑thigh' guidance adopted to reduce ambiguity","source_speaker":"Cynthia Lugo Hampton"},{"category":"discipline_diversion","detail":"Diversion listed as a possible corrective action for first offense in some categories; repeated offenses escalate to mandatory alternative placement or expulsion","source_speaker":"Doctor Curley"}],"proper_names":[{"name":"Osceola Middle School","type":"school"},{"name":"Skyward","type":"other"}],"community_relevance":{"geographies":["Marion County"],"funding_sources":[],"impact_groups":["students (elementary and middle)","parents","school staff"]},"meeting_context":{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":8,"duration_minutes":120,"items_count":1},