Saddle Brook tightens student conduct rules and details teacher-climate grant purchases

The Saddle Brook School District presented revisions to student codes of conduct that include stricter consequences for vaping, suspected drug use and misconduct during state or district testing, and described investments from a Teacher Climate and Culture Grant meant to reduce administrative burdens on teachers.

Presenter explained the code changes, including stepped consequences for testing misconduct: initial misconduct is handled with detention and an irregularity report to the state; repeat offenses escalate to multi-day suspensions plus required reporting. On vaping and suspected drug use at the high-school level, the presenter described stronger disciplinary responses and referrals to guidance and municipal authorities as outlined in the revised code.

Separately, the district described outcomes from a Teacher Climate and Culture Grant: purchase of 24 teacher monitors with docking stations, district wireless for teachers, digital notebooks that save to Google Drive, and a field-trip coordinator position to schedule elementary trips and reduce after-hours administrative work for teachers. The presenter also said the first 70 staff members who completed an online Vector training will receive a $100 stipend as part of the grant-funded program.

The presenter framed these items as supports to improve teacher capacity and student safety while clarifying that some sanctions (suspensions, referrals) are part of the revised discipline rubric.

Next steps: the board was set to consider the code-of-conduct revisions, the district PDP and related personnel or policy items as part of the board's consent or action agenda.