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St. Charles Parish board adopts revised student code of conduct with longer suspensions and new program placement
Summary
The board adopted changes to the 2025–26 student code of conduct that add the district's Violence Prevention Intervention program to the code, specify multi‑semester expulsions for certain weapons and drug offenses, and set multi‑day suspensions for fight offenses; parents will receive a physical copy at the start of school.
The St. Charles Parish Public School Board on July 16 approved revisions to the district student code of conduct for the 2025–26 school year that increase specified suspensions and formalize a district violence prevention program as a disciplinary placement.
Jerry Smith, the district's executive director of child welfare and attendance, told the board the code now includes the district’s Violence Prevention Intervention pilot as an in‑code program and spelled out disciplinary consequences: a first fight offense at the middle school level will result in a 20‑day suspension to be served at the Euljay Landry Educational Program Center; a second middle‑school fight offense will result in a 25‑day suspension; a third offense may lead to an expulsion recommendation. For high school students, Smith said a first fight offense results in a 45‑day suspension and a second fight can result in an expulsion recommendation.
Smith also described statutory changes that the code implements following the 2025 Louisiana legislative session. She said possession of a controlled substance on campus will carry a minimum penalty of two complete semesters, and distribution‑related incidents will carry a four‑semester expulsion. Possession of a firearm, or a knife with a blade of 2.5 inches or greater, as well as a third suspension in some circumstances, can result in expulsion for up to four complete semesters under the revised handbook language. Smith emphasized that students placed at the Euljay Landry program will continue to receive academic instruction, participate in restorative interventions and social‑emotional learning, and have transportation agreements as required.
The board voted to adopt the handbook revisions after a brief presentation and committee review; the motion passed unanimously. Board members were told the revised handbook will be reviewed with staff and students during the first week of school and that families will receive a physical copy on their child’s first day.
The board did not record any dissenting votes on the code changes during the meeting; the policy takes effect for the 2025–26 school year as described in the adopted handbook.
