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Board advances student-conduct policy to first reading; members ask to make "hate speech" explicit
Summary
After staff presented a heavily redlined revision to policy 4.12 (student conduct), board members agreed to advance the policy on first reading and asked staff to explicitly include or cross-reference "hate speech" in harassment/discrimination language.
At the Sept. 2 business meeting staff presented an updated student-conduct policy (policy 4.12) for the board's first reading and review. The presenter said the draft showed old and new text side-by-side with extensive strikethroughs and asked the board to review content changes; the changes were described as aligning the policy with VSBA guidance.
Board member Dr. Cohen raised a specific concern about whether the policy's prohibition on harassment clearly covers hate speech, saying, "literally the words hate speech should be part of any anti-discrimination policy that is made." Staff and Dr. Richards agreed that the district's harassment and discrimination policy covers the conduct but that the board should make the language explicit; Dr. Richards said they would "take this back and make sure it's in either 4 37 or we can vote there."
Following discussion the board moved and approved the policy on first reading. Members asked staff to clarify wording (including a noted sentence that read awkwardly in the draft) and to ensure cross-references to the district's harassment policy are clear. The item was advanced as information/action on first reading; the board did not adopt a final policy at this meeting.
