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Board adopts 2026–27 student code after debate over academy naming and timing
Summary
After questions about consequences and whether a virtual "academy" is accurately described, the School Board of Highlands County voted to adopt revisions to the 2026–27 Code of Student Conduct; board attorney warned delaying adoption would require restarting the APA process and likely delay implementation by months.
The School Board of Highlands County approved revisions to the 2026–27 Code of Student Conduct following debate about implementation timing and language referencing the district’s academy program.
Board discussion focused on whether the code as advertised adequately addressed consequences and on wording that refers to the district’s Academy (often called the Academy at Youth Care Lane). One board member said they were not ready to advertise and raised concerns that references to “the academy” could be misleading because the program is currently virtual or not located at the named site.
Board attorney Mrs. Nash warned that declining to adopt the code at this meeting would restart the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) rule process, requiring a new notice of rule development, workshops, re-advertising and re-adoption — a delay of roughly three to four months that would push adoption beyond the start of the 2026–27 school year. “If you all do not adopt the code of student conduct today, then you have run out of time for it to be brought back to you,” she said, and explained the steps necessary to restart the process.
Andrew Lethbridge, deputy superintendent, clarified the academy’s status: “The official name of the academy is Academy at Youth Care Lane,” he said, adding that the academy has a Department of Education school identifier and that the district can workshop a new name and avoid listing a physical location if the program remains virtual.
After discussion about carving out academy-specific language later, the board voted to adopt the code as presented so the student-conduct handbook would be available for the district before the school year. The roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript show the motion carried with affirmative votes from the board members present.
The board was told that any substantive revisions to the code after adoption would again require APA steps for amendment. The board then moved to routine personnel and contract items.
