Levy board reviews student code changes, tightens cell‑phone enforcement and clarifies masks, fees and weapons policy

Levy County School Board members and staff reviewed proposed revisions to the district’s student code of conduct at a workshop, focusing primarily on cell‑phone enforcement, face‑paint and mask limits, handling of students using state scholarship funds in extracurriculars, artificial intelligence guidance, and how pepper spray is classified.

The discussion matters because the board’s code sets the districtwide expectations administrators must apply every day; members emphasized clearer language, more consistent enforcement by school staff, and an administrative training plan before the first day of classes.

Board member Mister Mott opened the discussion by stressing timing and distribution: “it needs to be in their hand,” referring to having the code ready and printed for students. Staff and board members then walked through specific page edits and policy additions.

Key changes and rationale

- Cell phones and progressive discipline: The draft reiterates a restriction on wireless communication devices during school hours and spells out progressive consequences for repeated violations, including possible alternative placement or expulsion for future offenses. Board members discussed a five‑strike threshold as a practical benchmark mentioned during the workshop and debated enforcement consistency across schools. Several trustees urged training for administrators and a parent communication campaign; one trustee estimated heavy enforcement could produce many expulsions (a speaker suggested “about 50 expulsions per semester” as a possible outcome if…