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Board reviews updated student code of conduct, adds training, education and a recision waiting period
Summary
A multi-stakeholder committee recommended updates to the student code of conduct, including mandatory educational interventions for harassment/bullying incidents, regular administrator norming, and a proposed three-month minimum before a suspension recision request is eligible. Administrators also reported recent countywide reunification training and planned follow-up exercises.
Unionville-Chadds Ford administrators presented a package of recommended updates to the student code of conduct (Policy 218 and associated administrative guidelines) following a committee of teachers, administrators, parents, students and board members.
The committee recommended adding mandatory educational components for certain offenses (harassment, discrimination, bullying) so discipline pairs consequences with learning and behavior-change opportunities. Staff said the educational option aligns with the district's Portrait of a Graduate and with best practices that balance accountability and student development.
A second change would require regular norming and training for building administrators so disciplinary decisions are implemented consistently across schools. Administrators said they would develop annual norming scenarios and training to align principals and assistant principals on consistent application of administrative guidelines.
The committee also recommended a modest procedural tweak for recision (the existing process allowing expunging a qualifying suspension): add a minimum three-month waiting period before a student may apply for recision to make the review meaningful and ensure time for reflection; the policy also retains discretion for special circumstances and a transparent process.
Separately, district staff recapped a countywide reunification exercise run with the I Love You Guys Foundation and multiple agencies (police, fire, EMS), highlighting practical takeaways about roles and the importance of building-level reunification plans and staffing ratios. Administrators said more building-level training and inter-district cooperation plans will follow.
Board members praised the committee's work and asked staff to return with implementation details (who will deliver student education programs, staffing needs for in-school suspension pilots, and data collection for recision requests). The board did not vote on policy changes at this session and set a timeline for follow-up implementation work.
