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Hoover board approves 2025-26 student code of conduct, adds new cell-phone rules
Summary
The Hoover City Schools Board approved the district's 2025-26 student code of conduct, adopting a revised consequence schedule for cell-phone use and introducing two policy updates tied to the FOCUS Act for later consideration.
The Hoover City Schools Board of Education on Monday approved the district's 2025-26 student code of conduct, adopting a new sequence of consequences for student cell-phone use and sending two policy revisions required by the FOCUS Act for further review.
Board Superintendent Dr. Maddox moved the recommendation, saying, "I recommend the approval of the 25-26 student code of conduct." The board voted by voice; the motion carried.
The approved code includes a clarified consequence sequence for cell-phone-related misconduct and changes to how certain personal electronic storage devices are handled. Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Bob Lowry told the board the updates were made after stakeholder meetings with students, parents, teachers and administrators. Lowry said the district also revised its Internet-safety language to align with statutory wording, replacing broader terms with "age appropriate" language from the law.
A public commenter, Albright, asked the district to notify parents and students directly about the new code because families completed pre-registration acknowledgements before the revised code was available. "They haven't seen this particular code of conduct, so I'd like to suggest that since it's been amended for the 25-26 school year ... you send out an email to the parents that so they can read and the students as well the new code of conduct," Albright said during public comment.
Board members praised the outreach process used to develop the revisions. The board also heard two policy changes tied to the FOCUS Act (policy sections 6.17, on electronic communication devices, and 4.09, on Internet safety and technology use) as introductions; those policies were presented for review and will return to the board for a vote after the required 30-day review period.
The district staff said some specific edits included restoring language about cell-phone storage location (removing a prior phrase that would have required devices to be on a person) and incorporating model language provided by the state's guidance for compliance. Kelly Lane was credited with assisting in aligning policy language with the statute.
The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the approval was taken by voice vote. The district's next steps are to publish the adopted code and to return the two introduced policy revisions for formal board action after the 30-day review.
