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Students' new rules are specific
By BARBARA BEHRENDT, Times Staff Writer INVERNESS -- A year ago, it was enough to tell Citrus public school students that they could face dire consequences if they made a bomb threat, a false police report or gave other false or misleading information. But in a world altered since Sept. 11, school officials want to be more specific. They want to add language to the Student Code of Conduct prohibiting "any false reporting of biological or chemical agents." The current list of conduct requirements allowed officials to discipline a high school student who made a threat about anthrax earlier this school year. But the district wants to be very clear about what is prohibited. "We want to be explicit," said Bonnie Hardiman, director of student services. "A year ago, I don't think people could have told you what anthrax was." The School Board will review that change and others proposed for the Code of Conduct for the 2002-03 school year on Tuesday. A public hearing and approval of the revised document will be set for April. Among the proposed changes in the document is one dealing with the color of students' hair. The new language in the student dress code would read: "Attire should contribute to the health and safety of all students and staff (jewelry, shoes, accessories, hair color, hairstyles must be free of conditions that could be considered hazardous or disruptive)." "From time to time we have young people who do extraordinary things to their hair using color. Sometimes that is a distraction," Hardiman said. The wording doesn't mean an end to all creative hair coloring, she said. "We recognize that certain events during the school year -- homecoming, for example -- bring out the school spirit. We're saying they need to talk to their administration" to find out what will be acceptable, Hardiman said. The only other change proposed in the dress code is the clarification of the rules regarding the length of shorts and skirts. The clothing must be mid thigh or longer and officials are proposing adding the phrase "when standing" to the sentence. To further clarify the issue, another stick figure drawing, this one standing up, is proposed for the document. Several years ago, a sitting stick figure demonstrating how to measure "mid thigh" drew chuckles within the district and from the public. The committee, which makes recommendations about the code each year, did discuss not allowing shorts. But school board member Sandra "Sam" Himmel, who sits on the committee, said that idea didn't get widespread support. Also, the committee discussed beepers and cell phones, which students are forbidden to have in school. Himmel said officials know that children have them and keep them in their purses or cars, but there was no support for dropping the prohibition. Allowing beeping pagers and cell phone conversations in the hallways would be too distracting. Another proposal coming to the board is to add one more reference to the fact that Florida law requires a minimum of one year expulsion for any student making a bomb threat. That already appears in the code but Hardiman said it can't be stressed enough, especially since bomb threats continue to be a problem. "We felt that if we made the statement one more time . . . hopefully that will be a preventative," Hardiman said. Also proposed is an addition of the phrase "intent to distribute or sell" drugs or alcohol to the section that already prohibits selling or distributing drugs. Hardiman said the phrase would cover all of the possibilities. Other changes include the addition of a zero tolerance statement on student victimization, which states that the School Board supports the state law on the topic, and updated rules and time frames for suspended students to make up their school work. While none of the changes are major, Himmel said it is important to clarify what might not have been clear to be sure that students reading the Code of Conduct understand the rules.
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