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Board sets maternal birth‑leave policy for review and adopts 2026–27 student code of conduct
Summary
The Forsyth County Board set proposed changes to Policy G (employee leaves) and Policy JR (student records) for a 30‑day public review — Policy G was updated to reflect House Bill 118’s maternal birth‑leave entitlement (up to three weeks/120 hours) — and the board adopted the 2026–27 Student Code of Conduct with consolidated bullying language and other edits.
At its June 6 meeting the Forsyth County Board of Education moved two personnel and student‑privacy policies into a 30‑day public review period and unanimously adopted a revised 2026–27 Student Code of Conduct.
Derek Kersy presented proposed revisions to Policy G (employee leaves) and said the updates incorporate language from House Bill 118: "eligible employees are entitled up to three weeks, 120 hours of paid maternal birth leave, which must be taken immediately following the birth of a child starting on May 5th, 2026," he said on the record. The board voted to place the proposed Policy G changes on a 30‑day review for public input rather than adopt the policy that evening.
Kathy Carpenter, director of student information, presented proposed updates to Policy JR concerning directory information and the district’s interpretation of FERPA/FURPA‑type rules; a cross‑functional committee recommended preserving limited directory information for items such as honors, athletics, yearbook and approved vendors while strengthening protections for family information. The board set these changes for the same 30‑day review period.
The board also reviewed and adopted the 2026–27 Student Code of Conduct. District staff explained key edits: consolidation of prior multiple bullying sections into a single, clearer section; removal of misdemeanor references for off‑campus behavior (retaining felonies); and revising language to address "misuse of AI tools" rather than the broader term "use." Presenters and legal counsel recommended a statutory reference for MTSS (multi‑tiered system of supports) language; the revised code references OCGA 20‑2‑742.
Additionally, the board adopted Policy GA (staff conflict of interest) after clarifying that the policy’s definition of related employees explicitly includes substitutes and lay coaches. All policy votes recorded as unanimous.
Next steps: the public review period will allow stakeholders to submit comment on Policies G and JR; staff will return with any suggested changes after the 30‑day input period. The adopted code of conduct becomes the district’s operative discipline policy for 2026–27.
