Orange County school board work session debates adding ‘acts of hate’ language and restoring restitution in student code

The Orange County School Board met in a June 10 work session to review proposed edits to policy JIC, the district’s student code of conduct, focusing on two contested items: a new definition for “acts of hate” and reintroducing restitution as a disciplinary response for property loss or damage.

Board members and staff said the changes reflect community concerns raised after several high-profile incidents this year. John Pomerini, the district’s general counsel, told the board his office will “be on the side of the kids’ amendment rights” and that legal review is required before any act-of-hate charge is filed.

The draft language presented to the board would define an act of hate as an act or intent to act to cause physical injury, emotional suffering or property damage when a victim is targeted “because of hostility to the race, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, language spoken, or homelessness.” Staff said any charge under that category must be reviewed…