Superintendent outlines draft code of conduct and APPR law update; public comment to follow

During the superintendent’s report on May 21, the superintendent (S3) told the board that both the Assembly and Senate had passed a new teacher and principal evaluation law (APPR) that still needed the governor’s signature and, if signed, would shift more evaluative control to local districts.

"Once signed by the governor, we have 8 years to negotiate that plan," the superintendent said, adding that the law would decouple state test scores from evaluations and leave multiple measures to be locally negotiated.

The superintendent also presented a draft code of conduct that explicitly incorporates restorative practices and includes an extracurricular code of conduct. The administrative team will present the draft to building steering teams, the inclusivity committee and other stakeholders before bringing it back to the board for public comment and possible adoption. The superintendent described the timeline as compressed and said the goal is to present a final document for adoption in time for the September school year start if stakeholder feedback and editing permit.

Board members asked how the draft relates to existing board policy and the student handbook. The superintendent said the draft mirrors some board policy language but is not a replacement for board policy; the district is considering whether the student handbook will be retained as a separate document or absorbed into a single code. The public‑comment step is required prior to adoption; the superintendent said feedback will be solicited through steering groups and likely an online form.

Board discussion noted the need for clarity about how the new APPR law will be implemented locally and for opportunities to gather broad stakeholder input on the code of conduct.

Next steps: the administrative team will gather stakeholder feedback, post the draft for public comment and return to the board with revisions ahead of a scheduled adoption opportunity.