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Committee restores language in LEA code of conduct after debate over staff conduct wording
Summary
A Utah State Board of Education committee reinstated previously struck language in the LEA code of conduct and rejected an amendment to remove the phrases 'participate in' and 'results in,' after members debated how the rule would apply to staff‑organized activities during the school day.
The Utah State Board of Education committee voted to reinstate lines 114–117 in the LEA code of conduct (R277‑322), reversing an earlier edit and forwarding the draft to the full board for further consideration.
The reinstatement came after a heated exchange over phrasing that would bar school staff from planning or encouraging unauthorized activities during the school day. Chair Carey said the language was intended to prevent staff from organizing events that would "disrupt school activities" and that the rule should make clear such conduct is unacceptable.
The committee considered a narrower amendment proposed by one member to delete the words "or participate in" and "or results in," expressing concern the phrases could be applied too broadly. That amendment failed on a roll call, 3‑1, with one member recorded in the minutes as the lone yes. After that vote, the committee approved reinstating the lines 4‑0 (one member absent) and moved the amended draft to the board for second and final reading.
Legal counsel Amanda Cooper (AAG Cooper) told members the provision targets "unauthorized" activities and is not meant to prohibit authorized school events such as a team attending a state championship, noting the rule allows LEAs discretion to determine what is disruptive. "The way I read it is that the teacher is doing something separate from the school on school time," Cooper said, and authorized activities with substitutes or official approval would not be prohibited.
Members also revised other portions of the draft to separate LEA obligations from staff responsibilities and to move superintendent duties into a distinct section. The committee struck two lines that staff said were redundant about contractors and volunteers, passing that technical change unanimously.
The committee recorded its concerns that some language remains subjective and that LEAs need clear examples, but members agreed the current draft is an improvement and should advance to the full board for final action.
