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Draft Code of Conduct updated to expand harassment, attendance, telehealth and vaping language; 30-day review set
Summary
District staff presented proposed revisions to the Calvert County Code of Conduct covering harassment definitions and reporting, attendance clarifications (chronic absenteeism at 10% threshold), telehealth access, and an updated vaping section referencing the CDC; the draft will be posted for 30 days and staff will incorporate public feedback.
Director of Student Services Cecilia Lewis summarized proposed edits to the district Code of Conduct for 2026–27, explaining changes that range from editorial improvements to statutory alignment. Key substantive changes include reorganized nondiscrimination and harassment language with clearer definitions and a reporting form, added policy language for student access to telehealth, a new chronic-absenteeism definition set at 10% consistent with state guidance, expanded discretionary absence examples for principal consideration, and an updated vaping section that links to CDC guidance.
During board discussion members suggested adding specific modern examples—for instance, including deepfakes in sexual-harassment examples—and asked staff to clarify whether language should prohibit "possession or use" of vaping devices. Staff noted the procedure referenced for confiscation and said vaping detectors are yielding mixed results, requiring adjustments to sensitivity. The board will post the redlined code for a 30-day public review and incorporate feedback before final action.
