Scottsdale Unified School District No Dream Too Big . . . No Challenge Too Great

The Governing Board, parents, teachers and community members heard Dr. Christine Loots and Ken Erickson’s presentation on the Elementary and Secondary Uniform Code of Student Conduct for the 2004-2005 school year.

This is the first year that a separate Elementary Uniform Code of Student Conduct was presented to the Board. Because parents of elementary school children have difficulty with the definitions that are in the Uniform Code of Student Conduct the committee worked to establish a new code of conduct for the kindergarten through sixth-grade students. Dr. Loots, assistant principal at Coronado High School, presented the key differences in the elementary code of conduct, which included focusing on traits, partnerships and role models; parents will be contacted for suspensions; suspensions will be a maximum of five days, not 10. Prohibited behavior outlined in the Elementary Uniform Code of Student Conduct includes bullying, cafeteria behavior and closed campus; use of dangerous material, including rocks, sand, gravel and water balloons; electronic devices and toys; gambling, including Pokemon and YuGiYo card games; harassment; inappropriate dress and grooming; insubordination; false endangerment; fighting and horseplay; selling of merchandise; scooters, skateboards or roller blades; theft and stealing; threats; vandalism; weapons, including pocket knives, butterfly knives, scout and camping knives; toy guns; and discipline for absenteeism and tardiness.

Ken Erickson, principal at Desert Canyon Middle School, presented the recommended changes for the Secondary Uniform Code of Conduct. Changes included inclusion of an honor code system, including defining cheating and plagiarism; and changes to behavior, which included academic dishonesty; assault; disruptive behavior; drugs or alcohol; fighting; horseplay; loitering; and obscene behavior.

The Board requested that both Uniform Codes of Student Conduct be brought back on a future agenda.

In other action, the Board:

• Discussed the timeline for a bond election. The timeline includes establishing a dollar amount for the bond; authorizing district administrators to prepare a resolution to bring back to the Board in early June; and preparing the ballot question and ballot pamphlet in early June.
   
• Voted 5-0 to reassign legal representation in the involving teacher Kim Youngblood. The Arizona Retention Trust will be handling the matter. A hearing is set for April 15-16.
   
• Approved the revisions to the Open Enrollment Policy JFB for Unorganized Territory and establish two new categories 5 and 6 for students from the Unorganized Territory.
   
• Approved the cancellation to purchase buses through MOHAVE contract and approved a Call for Bid for buses.
   
• Accepted gifts valued at $58,292. The gifts were received from Lady Sabercats Softball Boosters, Arcadia PTO, C.H.A.P.T.S., Cherokee APT, Coronado Foundation for the Future, Desert Canyon Elementary PTO, Mountainside PTO, Sequoya APT, Mr. Tino Ferrulli, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Judith A. Joseph, Remedia Publications, Salt River Project and Target.

The next Governing Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 20 at the Education Center.