Keystone Central board rejects proposed high‑school handbook language replacing 'rules' with 'expectations'

The Keystone Central School District Board of Education voted 3–6 to decline approval of the proposed high‑school student handbook (agenda item D‑1) after an extended discussion about removing the word “rules” in favor of “expectations” and possible changes to hat, hood and cell phone policies.

Board members debated whether shifting from explicit “rules” to “expectations” would reduce enforceability and whether bans on hats, hoods and cell phones should be phased with more staff, student and parent input. Chris, a board member who spoke in opposition to the change, said: "I don't agree with ... removing the rules ... just putting the word 'expectations' in ... You have to have rules, and there has to be consequences." Another board member, Butch, cited security and camera‑identification concerns, saying the district is "spending a lot of money on security issues ... and with the hats and hoods on, it could make it difficult to identify someone through the camera systems."

Supporters of approving the handbook as submitted said the district needs to distribute updated administrative and scheduling information promptly so families and staff have current start/stop times and personnel assignments. "Since there's no time to really do anything about this right now, I am supporting it because teachers need it, the principals need it, but there's no time to do anything about those things right now," Elizabeth said. Several board members urged that the handbook be released and that semantic issues be revisited as amendments after school begins.

District staff described existing language and current classroom expectations. A staff member noted that the high‑school handbook (page 40) states that "electronic devices must be turned off prior to entering instructional areas," and that limited instructional exceptions exist when a teacher authorizes device use.

After discussion and questions about timing and implementation, the board voted. Roll call recorded Doctor Baldino, Cannon, Donahue, Knopp, Lynch and Scott voting no; Elling, Johnson and Smith voting yes. The motion to approve D‑1 as presented failed, 3 yes, 6 no. The board directed staff to publish the noncontroversial updates they can and to return with revised language and additional stakeholder input for the remaining items at a future meeting.

Board members said further work will include outreach to secondary staff, students and parents on electronics and dress‑code items and possible phased implementation if substantive changes are adopted before the school year.