Sumter trustees review updated code of conduct; policy committee to meet before school year

District administrators presented revisions to the Sumter School District code of conduct at the May 19 board meeting, citing updates to definitions and new offense codes from the South Carolina Department of Education.

Samuel Myers and Dr. Kelvin Williams summarized changes proposed for the student code of conduct, noting strikeouts for removed language and red text for additions. Revisions included new or clarified definitions for bus expectations, “cutting activity” vs. “cutting class,” unauthorized devices and a distinct cell-phone code, updated language to address nonprescription medication use, adjusted theft/larceny definitions (stealing versus criminal larceny), new language for threats toward students and references to Title IX expectations. Administrators said many definitions were adopted from state guidance and from anticipated legislative language to ensure the district’s code aligns with state practice.

Dr. Williams described the threat-screen and potential threat-assessment process and said certain offenses will require Title IX procedures or law-enforcement involvement per state guidance. Trustees asked how the code would be communicated; administrators said every student receives a printed copy at the start of the school year, the code is posted on the district website and the district makes robo calls to families with instructions on how to access it. Staff said the district also conducts required reviews twice a year with students and staff and that printed copies must be ready before the first day of school.

Because the presentation was extensive, a trustee moved that the policy committee meet to review the code-of-conduct updates before the 2025–26 school year; administrators said they will schedule the committee meeting to follow a principals’ meeting during the week of June so the committee can incorporate principal feedback. The board did not adopt the draft policy at the May 19 meeting; the referral to the policy committee will precede final adoption work and printing.