Brighton board approves districtwide safety plan and updates code of conduct to include Crown Act protections

The Brighton Central School District board approved a districtwide safety plan and adopted an updated 2024–25 code of conduct at its recent meeting, adding language required by state law that protects students’ hairstyle choices and removing certain off‑campus participation suspensions.

Dr. McGowan, introduced to present the code of conduct, said the review serves as the required annual public hearing and described changes to align the district with recent state law. "The Crown Act ... prohibits racial discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles," Dr. McGowan said, and the district has incorporated that language into the code and complaint forms.

Separately, a district presenter summarized the safety plan as focused on partnerships, training and ongoing communication with emergency responders, calling the work "a living document" and emphasizing building‑level planning. On the district’s emergency notification system, the presenter said the blue light system is installed in every building and "it will specifically say which evacuation site they're going to" and added that scrolling signs and audio directives are tested frequently.

The board also discussed codifying parent notification of drills. One board member noted parents already receive some notices in elementary buildings; the presenter said notification is being required this year but "they won't know the date or the time. They'll just know that if something happens that week, hopefully, it is only that drill" to avoid raising student anxiety.

On student discipline, Dr. McGowan said the code now specifies certain offensive language and behaviors and clarifies expectations around cell‑phone use. He explained the district removed a policy that had suspended students from participation in activities for off‑campus alcohol or drug use, calling prior practice "draconian" and saying the district should focus on in‑school responsibilities and educational responses rather than automatically removing students from extracurricular participation for conduct that occurred off campus.

Speaker 3 called for approval of the safety plan; a motion was made and seconded and Speaker 3 announced the motion carried. Later the board moved to approve the 2024–25 code of conduct (moved by Esther; seconded by Karen), and the board approved the document as presented. The code language and updated complaint forms will be distributed to families and posted online, and the district said it will report quarterly on implementation.

The board left open the possibility of revisiting changes at the September 3 meeting if public hearing feedback requires additional revisions.