Manatee School Board approves 2026–27 Code of Student Conduct and progression plan; members signal future cell‑phone review

After a public hearing with no members of the public signed up to speak, the Manatee County School Board on July 21 approved its Code of Student Conduct and the 2026–27 student progression plan.

Superintendent Dr. Breslin presented both items as having been workshopped and vetted by committees and stakeholder groups; the board then took separate votes. Board member Chad Kennedy moved approval of the Code of Student Conduct and board member Choate seconded; the motion passed 5–0. Later the board similarly approved the student progression plan by a unanimous vote after staff described its scope for elementary, middle, high school and K–12 virtual education.

Members praised staff for the preparation and broad review. During discussion, Board Member Kennedy raised a policy issue for future consideration: a possible ban on student cell phones in high schools. Kennedy said several districts that piloted similar bans reported positive effects on classroom engagement and teacher workload; other board members recommended a workshop to review evidence and hear principal and community feedback before any policy change.

Superintendent Breslin and staff agreed to compile research and practitioner feedback and to include the topic for consideration during next year’s code‑of‑conduct review cycle. One board member cautioned that principals’ perspectives matter and urged staff to solicit their input before final recommendations.

What happened next: both measures were adopted by unanimous vote and recorded as passing 5–0. Staff indicated they will bring data and a potential workshop on cell‑phone policy in the fall and into next year’s code discussions.