Sweet Home board opens 30-day review of updated code of conduct with new AI and plagiarism guidance

The Sweet Home Central School District board on Tuesday opened a 30-day public review of its updated code of conduct that includes clarified definitions and new language addressing artificial intelligence in student work.

Dr. Wilson, who presented the draft, said the revisions are targeted and intended to align the code with existing board policy. "Our code of conduct annually we present this and it will be opened up for 30 days for the public to review it and give us comments," she said. She identified three places with recommended edits: updated definitions to match board policy, a spelled-out Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) definition, and a revised plagiarism definition that references AI use.

The proposed plagiarism language clarifies that limited, disclosed use of AI tools is permitted under district guidelines, and that teachers retain discretion about acceptable uses. "We wanted to call out that it is okay to [use AI] when explicitly expressed," Dr. Wilson said, adding the change repeats the definition in two places for consistency.

Board members asked how the comment period will be publicized and how residents can submit feedback. Administration said the redacted draft will be posted on the district website with contact information and promoted through the district's weekly communications; staff said comments will be collected and returned to the board at the August meeting before any adoption vote.

The board framed the edits as limited and clarifying rather than a wholesale rewrite. "They are minor changes, so it's not they're not major," a board member said during discussion.

If adopted, the revisions will be in place for the coming school year. The district plans to present any public comments and proposed edits at the August board meeting before a formal vote.