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Volusia school board adopts revised secondary student code and advances several policy updates including vehicle‑use change
Summary
The Volusia County School Board unanimously adopted amendments to the secondary student code of conduct and authorized advertisement of several other policy changes, including a new vehicle‑use rule allowing some executives to park district vehicles at home on weekdays with an exception process.
The School Board of Volusia County unanimously approved amendments to school board policy 2.08S, the student code of conduct and discipline for secondary students, and authorized advertisement of proposed changes to several other board policies at its June 24 meeting.
The change to 2.08S, which was advertised and then adopted by the board, incorporates new language the board asked for during an earlier workshop session. Heidi Crimmins, a district staff member who presented the amendments, read the revised bullying definition into the record: "a pattern of behavior displayed against multiple students or employees or repetitive behavior against a single student or employee, which inflicts physical hurt or psychological distress that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment or unreasonably interfere with the individual's school performance or participation, including through electronic means, that behavior must have been reported to school officials."
Crimmins told the board the changes also add "partners in education" language under parent and guardian responsibilities and under code of civility on school board property. She said the district also clarified language about searches and about district referral to the district placement committee "for consideration of up to expulsion, alternative education placement or off‑campus instruction." Board attorney Dr. Gilbert Evans noted the board is also asking to add a line in policy 1.01 that meetings be conducted under Roberts Rules of Order; the board authorized advertisement of that amendment as well.
Also on the agenda was a proposed amendment to policy 05/23 governing school board vehicle usage. The proposal would allow executive directors or cabinet members who use school board vehicles to park those vehicles at their homes Monday through Thursday, while requiring vehicles be returned to a district facility for the weekend; it would still require that employees who live outside Volusia County return vehicles nightly. During discussion the board added a one‑sentence exception mechanism: parking at an employee residence may occur "unless authorized by the superintendent or designee." Board members said that change gives the superintendent flexibility for specific situations, such as late travel for conference return.
The board also authorized advertisement of proposed changes to policy 8.01 (public participation in meetings) to reflect that citizens may now address an individual board member, consistent with recent case law, and authorized advertisement of policy 2.08E (elementary student code) and others discussed in the workshop. All motions on policy advertisement and the 2.08S adoption passed without opposition.
Board members emphasized that changes were intended to preserve a positive school climate while giving staff clearer procedures for discipline and safety issues. Crimmins and Dr. Evans said any changes will be published for public comment as required before final adoption.
What comes next: the advertised policies will be posted for the statutorily required comment period and returned to the board for final action at a later meeting. The vehicle‑use language will be part of that advertised packet so the public can review the superintendent/designee exception before final adoption.
