Lee County School Board's code of conduct still on drawing board

Plans for a code of conduct for Lee County School Board members are on hold while they try to agree on its tenets.

Member Jeanne Dozier suggested the policy, which is modeled after one adopted by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. The proposal would require elected representatives to the board to vow to work together “in a spirit of harmony” as well as agree that communication with the public and the media be “conducted in accordance with board policy.”

Board members were receptive to the idea, but won’t take the issue up again until a yet-to-be-scheduled workshop.

Some members, including Jane Kuckel and Vice Chair Elinor Scricca, were concerned certain aspects of the policy might restrict free speech and suggested revisions. Dozier said she believes the policy would simply enforce existing rules that keep school district employees from disclosing confidential information about student records or executive sessions that deal with lawsuit settlements.

At its Tuesday afternoon briefing meeting, the board also learned about other proposed policy changes. Those included a standardized procedure for parents, visitors and employees to sign in to a school campus, as well as revisions to the student code of conduct that strengthen punishment for bullying.