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Lake Havasu board approves policy change banning circulation of recordings of student fights; adds photos and audio to prohibited items
Summary
The board amended and implemented changes to Policy 5‑305 to prohibit recording and sharing videos, photographs or audio of student code-of-conduct violations when those recordings are used to publicize incidents rather than to report them to school officials or law enforcement.
The Lake Havasu Unified School District governing board amended and implemented changes to Policy 5‑305, the student code of conduct, on Sept. 11 to prohibit recording and dissemination of fights or other code violations when the intent is public circulation rather than reporting.
Superintendent Stone told the board the revision adds a prohibition on "video recording of any violation of the student code of conduct and texting it to others or posting it to social media," while continuing to allow recording made for reporting to administration or law enforcement. "Video recording for reporting purposes is permitted," Stone said during the presentation.
Board members cited a recent incident in which a middle‑school fight was recorded and widely circulated, leading to community vilification of a seventh‑grade student. "If that video had been taken straight to the principal, it could've been handled right away," one board member said during discussion of the proposal. The conversation emphasized distinctions between capturing evidence to inform school responses and sharing recordings broadly in ways that can harm students.
At the meeting the board voted to add still photographs and audio recordings to the subsection that prohibits dissemination for mass circulation. A board member moved the amendment and another seconded; the board then voted to waive a second reading and implement the updated policy at the same meeting.
The district clarified the policy is prospective only. When asked whether consequences would apply retroactively, the superintendent confirmed the change applies going forward and not to prior incidents.
Board members also asked administrators to form a committee of principals, teachers, administrators and parents to review disciplinary procedures and implementation practices. The committee's scope will include examining how policies are applied in practice, restorative options, and parent and community communications.
The policy update is intended to protect students from online harassment that can follow widely circulated recordings and to ensure discipline and investigations are handled promptly by school officials.
