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Greencastle-Antrim staff present K–12 code-of-conduct updates, board to consider vote June 5
Summary
District staff reviewed proposed changes to the K–12 code of conduct, including alignment of homebound instruction between grade spans, updated photography/videography language, McKinney‑Vento guidance and a reduction in approved educational trip days from 10 to 5. Board members were briefed and told the item will return for a vote on June 5.
Greencastle-Antrim School District staff on Thursday presented proposed revisions to the district’s K–12 code of conduct, saying the changes align language across grade spans and limit approved educational trip days to five per school year.
The presentation, led by district staff members during the board’s May 15 meeting at the administration building, highlighted five primary changes: aligning homebound‑instruction language between K–5 and 6–12; updating videography, photography and interviewing language to reflect current technology; incorporating McKinney‑Vento Act language for students experiencing homelessness; clarifying middle‑school cell‑phone expectations; and reducing the number of approved educational trip days from 10 to 5 per school year. Board members were asked to review the packet; staff said the board would be asked to vote on the changes at the June 5 meeting.
Why it matters: The proposed edits affect attendance accounting, discipline procedures and protections for students who are homeless or “doubled up,” and could change how families request excused absences for educational trips.
Chelsea Robinson, a district staff member who spoke to the board, said homebound‑instruction wording was changed so the K–5 language matched the 6–12 side and that updates to videography and photography were intended to reflect evolving technology. She also described the district’s McKinney‑Vento update as guidance for handling students who have unstable housing or are doubled up.
Staff described the discipline review committee for grades 6–12 as a standing group that includes students, parents, administrators and some board members; its role is to vet proposed discipline changes before they are presented to the full board. The presenters said department chairs and building administrators will review standards in their areas, proposed edits will be circulated to committee members in advance, and the committee will meet (typically by Zoom) to discuss proposed edits before administrators (identified in the presentation as Dr. Reif and Dr. Hanks) review the committee’s recommendations. Staff said they hoped the full board would “support what we’re saying” and vote at the next meeting.
On approved educational‑trip days, presenters said the district historically allowed up to 10 days (roughly two weeks) per year but that data on attendance and district goals to increase student attendance support reducing that limit to five days. Presenters said high‑school students seeking college visits or job shadows could still be considered on a case‑by‑case basis beyond the five‑day cap.
Board members asked clarifying questions about how the changes would be communicated to parents and teachers; staff said the full details are in the board packet and that additional explanation would be provided if the board approves the edits. No formal vote on the code of conduct was taken; staff scheduled the item for the board’s regular June 5 meeting for a formal vote.
Ending: The code‑of‑conduct revisions will return to the board as an action item June 5, according to staff. If approved, the updates would take effect for the 2025–26 school year and be included in district guidance to families and staff.
