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Board reviews first reading of revised ethics bylaw to add workplace-violence protections
Summary
At a March 18 continuation meeting the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District board held a first reading of revised Bylaw 9271 to add workplace-violence prevention language; board members recounted past incidents, urged clearer enforcement steps and said the item will return for a vote.
The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Board of Education continued its March meeting on March 18, 2025, and held a first reading of a revised Bylaw 9271, the board—s code of ethics, that would incorporate recent legal changes on workplace-violence prevention.
Superintendent Dr. Jimenez introduced the drafting changes as technical updates to align the bylaw with updated workplace-violence provisions and to spell out protections and reporting rights for board members and staff. "For this item there was a request to — make a revision for this bylaw to ensure that we included some provisions that have recently been updated in the law with respect to workplace violence prevention," Dr. Jimenez said during the presentation.
Several trustees used the discussion to describe past incidents they said showed a need for stronger remedies and clearer procedures. One trustee who said she had endured two years of harassment urged the board to provide legal support, cease-and-desist orders and other remedies beyond censure. "When people are harassing board members there should be legal consequences," she said, and added that censure alone "does not suffice." Another trustee recommended the board read the code publicly at each meeting so members are reminded of expected conduct.
Trustees also asked staff and legal counsel to verify that the redlined revisions would achieve the intended protections and to supply written steps describing how the district would respond when allegations arise. The president said the item will return for further consideration and a vote at a future meeting after the requested clarifications are provided.
The discussion was framed as a first reading; no policy was adopted at the March 18 session. Board members expressed a mix of urgency about protecting members from harassment and caution about ensuring any enforcement mechanisms are legally sound and uniformly applied.
