Board approves revised secondary student code of conduct for first reading; deletes alternate draft

The Escambia County School Board voted 5-0 on May 2, 2025, to approve a revised secondary code of student conduct as a first reading and to delete an alternate draft that had been published in error.

Board members discussed the presence of two draft versions of the secondary code of conduct during the meeting. Mister Williams, School Board member, noted that an earlier item (item c) should have been deleted because it duplicated discussion from a workshop and reflected an earlier draft; the board moved and voted to delete item c. The board then voted 5-0 to accept the revised copy of the secondary student code of conduct for the first reading (item d).

Board members clarified that the May 2 action constituted advertising for public input and was not final adoption. Mister Williams reminded the board and the public that final adoption would occur at a later meeting (the board referenced adoption at an August meeting for advertising-phase items).

The discussion also touched on a proposed contingency regarding cell phone usage in the event the district is chosen as a pilot county; board members noted language had been discussed at a workshop and that the correct language appeared in the approved draft. No final disciplinary language beyond the advertised revision was adopted on May 2.

The 5-0 votes to delete the duplicate draft and to approve the revised draft for first reading were recorded in the meeting minutes as advertising actions only; the district will take the normal final-adoption steps in subsequent meetings.