Monroe-Woodbury board approves 2025–26 code of conduct with new AI, emergency and phone rules

The Monroe-Woodbury Central School District Board of Education approved the district's 2025–26 code of conduct on Aug. 12 following a public hearing and a presentation of proposed revisions.

District staff presented five recommended updates to the board before the vote. Dr. Hassler said the changes include a requirement that students disclose any use of artificial intelligence in schoolwork and obtain permission from a teacher or administrator; updated terminology for emergency responses to match New York State Education Department guidance; an adjustment to how dress-code issues are addressed to avoid public admonishment of students; an annual update of DASA coordinators across all seven buildings; and changes to the phone and personal electronic device section to align with the district's newly adopted distracted-free learning policy.

Dr. Hassler said, "students need to disclose any use of AI in their work to a teacher and get permission from a teacher or administrator in order to be able to do that." He told the board the district incorporated state-prescribed emergency terminology such as "shelter in place or sheltering," "hold in place or a hold," and "secure lockout" into the document. On dress code, he said the code will include language that, "if and when possible, staff will use reasonable efforts to avoid addressing dress code issues in front of other students and to address concerns outside of instructional time."

On personal electronic devices, Dr. Hassler said the code now distinguishes internet-enabled devices from non-internet-enabled devices and incorporates language from the district's distracted-free learning policy. "Internet-enabled devices need to be off and away," he said, adding that at the secondary level they will now be required to be stowed in a pouch and powered off from bell to bell; previously pouches were not required. Non-internet-enabled devices (for example, MP3 players, cameras or other devices used by yearbook staff) must be off and away but may be used during the day with staff permission.

Board members asked no public questions during the hearing, and the board approved the code after a motion and second; the presiding officer announced, "All in favor? Aye. Motion carries." The board clerk recorded the approval of the 2025–26 code of conduct.

The district will publish the approved code of conduct on the district website and provide plain-language versions in each school's student handbook, and Dr. Hassler said he will write a cover letter that outlines verbatim the changes from the prior year, as required by state law.