Lee County board hears first reading of updated student and adult codes of conduct, including cellphone and AI provisions
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Summary
Staff presented proposed changes to the student and adult codes of conduct after a district survey; key items include stricter cell-phone enforcement, a three‑strikes Success Academy rule, updated replica-weapon language and an early policy note on AI and parental rights.
District staff briefed the School District of Lee County on proposed revisions to the 2026–27 student and adult codes of conduct during a workshop first reading.
Tammy Scott and Tim Koehling said the district collected 589 survey responses in December and January (about 40% from parents, 36% from teachers and 20% from administrators). They said the feedback showed strong support for reducing off‑task device use in classrooms and a desire for clearer, consistently enforced consequences.
"There was an overwhelming sense of support in regard to the increase in instruction in the classroom," Scott said, describing a recommendation to have wireless communication devices turned off and put away during instruction. Staff noted some open‑ended survey comments called for stricter enforcement and suggested secure, school‑managed storage options for devices.
Koehling described several other proposed changes: a three‑strikes rule for placement at the Success Academy for repeat, serious behavior; aligning consequences for vaping, possession and distribution of substances across categories; modernizing language about replica weapons to treat items that cause fear or disruption similarly to real weapons; and adding an explicit parental‑rights statement and a brief AI-related provision addressing cheating and staff guidance.
Board members asked for clarification about dress-code decisionmaking, how AI concerns will be handled in practice and the student‑advisory conversations planned for parents and students. Staff said principals will follow district policy for school dress-code adoptions, that an AI governance committee is meeting to provide guidance to teachers and principals, and that the draft code will return to the board for approval after the public comment and final revisions.
The presentation was informational; no vote was held at the workshop. Staff said the code will be brought back for formal approval on a later board agenda.
