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Board adopts updated Code of Conduct that tightens penalties for hate speech and physical altercations and formalizes AI reporting
Summary
After a second read the board approved Code of Conduct revisions that adopt full SBAR offense language, tighten minimum consequences for hate speech and physical altercations (including suspension protocols), and direct that AI use be recorded in offense descriptions while the underlying offense is coded for reporting.
The New Kent County School Board approved revisions to the district Code of Conduct on a second read, directing staff to implement clarified offense descriptions and tightened minimum consequences for the most serious student behaviors.
Staff said the revisions replace abbreviated SBAR descriptions with the full SBAR language from the state guidance to provide clearer offense definitions and consistent application. The board was told two specific areas would receive stricter minimum consequences: hate speech and physical altercations — staff described possibilities such as automatic suspension for certain egregious acts.
On use of artificial intelligence, staff said the district will record AI involvement in the offense description but continue to code the incident according to the underlying violation (for example, AI-enabled cheating would be coded as cheating). "If a student uses AI for cheating we code it as cheating ... in the description we put that they used AI," the superintendent said, noting the approach preserves offense-level reporting while allowing administrators to track AI-related incidents.
Staff also presented changes to behavioral-level descriptions (adding or clarifying levels such as a level three suspension and level four for serious repeated offenses) and discussed potential alternative placements for repeat offenders. Board members pressed for more granular definitions (for example, distinguishing racially motivated or anti‑Semitic incidents from general bullying) and staff agreed to consider more detailed breakouts and specific language prior to broader implementation.
The board approved the Code of Conduct revisions and asked administration to provide training, consistent language for administrators, and communications for families before school resumes.
