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Lake Placid board adopts revised code of conduct, including cell-phone limits and AI disclosure rules
Summary
The Lake Placid Central School District board adopted amendments to Policy 5,300 (Code of Conduct) that add dress-code clarifications, prohibit high-school students from carrying devices during school hours, and require students to disclose use of generative AI on assignments; the board waived a second reading and adopted the policy effective 08/14/2024 following a public hearing.
The Lake Placid Central School District Board of Education voted to adopt amended Policy 5,300, the district’s code of conduct, after a public hearing during which students and staff urged the board to consider classroom needs and safety before restricting devices.
Superintendent Tim presented three proposed changes at the hearing: clarified dress-code language, new academic-honesty rules that address generative artificial intelligence, and stricter rules for students’ personal devices. Tim read the draft cellphone provision aloud: students’ phones, smartwatches and other personal devices would be stored in lockers by the first bell at 8:15 a.m. and kept there until the end of the school day (after 2:49 p.m.); elementary students would be permitted limited device use before school until 7:45 a.m. The draft also states that “electronic backpacks” may be searched by administration on reasonable suspicion of a code violation.
At the public comment portion, student Abby Light told the board phones are essential for completing some assignments, uploading work when Chromebook cameras don’t function and for quick contact with parents during transportation or sports issues. “There are plenty of valid reasons for why the smartphone policies should stay the way it is,” Abby said, urging the district to consider compromises such as teacher-collected devices rather than an outright ban.
Middle- and high-school teacher Frank Brunner told the board phones are instructional tools used for calculators, video analysis, accelerometer experiments and other classroom activities. “Banning cell phones is a rush to judgment,” Brunner said, arguing the board should not remove tools that support differentiated instruction without evidence.
A former student, Liam McGehee, warned strict prohibitions drive students to find ways around rules and praised other schools that integrate technology into classroom learning.
Board member John raised changes to the dress-code draft during the hearing, urging gender-neutral wording (he proposed adding “pants” to the list of garments) and clearer anatomical language to avoid enforcement ambiguity. Tim and other board members agreed to incorporate wording adjustments.
After the hearing and discussion, the board considered a resolution to amend Policy 5,300 and voted to waive the second reading and adopt the amended policy effective 08/14/2024. The board recorded the action as approved with seven affirmative votes.
The academic-honesty language added an AI-specific provision: work generated exclusively by artificial intelligence will be treated as plagiarism and subject to discipline unless a teacher explicitly permits AI use; permitted AI use must be disclosed on the assignment with the tool named and a description of how it was used. Tim told participants the board and administration will review public comments and provide formal responses at the next regular meeting on September 3.
The policy adoption concludes the hearing phase; the board indicated it will make editorial adjustments to clarify phrasing based on comments made during the meeting and will follow up publicly at the September meeting.
