School board approves consolidated student-conduct policy, adopts standalone wireless-device rules

The Pinellas County School Board on July 14 approved consolidated updates to the district code of student conduct and adopted a standalone wireless communication devices policy on a unanimous 7–0 vote.

Leanna Isom, the district’s director of strategic planning and policy, summarized the changes during the meeting’s second readings. “The proposed amendments are designed to improve clarity, consistency, and understanding of expectations for student behavior and consequences,” Isom said. She said the amendment to policy 5500.07 consolidates misconduct, disciplinary actions, suspension and expulsion into a single, cohesive policy and that the wireless communication device rules have been moved into a separate policy (new policy 5510).

Isom said policy 5500.09 adds rules for electric transportation — for example e-bikes and e-scooters — including definitions, storage requirements and safety expectations aligned with state law. The board held the required public hearing; no members of the public spoke on the items.

Board chair Edmonds called for the motion to approve item 6.1 (the consolidated conduct policy). The motion (mover: Mrs. Peters; second: Mrs. Blacksburg) carried 7–0. For the repeal/adoption related to wireless devices (item 6.2) the motion (mover: Mrs. Blacksburg; second: Mrs. Long) also carried 7–0.

The board and staff said the reorganization is intended to make discipline rules easier for students, families and staff to find and understand. The district plans to publish the updated policies on its website following final administrative processing.