Board approves the student code of conduct after a bid to delay it fails.

The school board approved a new version of the district’s code of conduct, but not before debating whether those affected should have had time to review and weigh in on changes.

Director Devon Taliaferro of East Allegheny, chair of the Policy Committee, said that the code of conduct has traditionally been “given a 30-day review period for the public, as our policies state.” She moved to table approval of the code until July’s meeting, to allow for public comment.

Superintendent Wayne Walters, who is an employee of the district and not a member of the school board, clarified that the code of conduct is not a district “policy”—in a technical sense, at least—and is therefore not subject to a 30-day comment period. He cautioned that tabling the approval of the code could delay its translation into different languages and its distribution for the district’s summer leadership academy, “where we launch our school year with professional development.”

Board President Gene Walker of Brighton Heights said the 30-day comment period for the code of conduct is a COVID-era change worth retiring: “I think this is one of those that could go back to the way it was done prior to 2020.”

Director Emma Yourd of Beechview asked about groups “who should have had the opportunity to review the code of conduct and have not had the opportunity to do so.” She then asked Walters to confirm groups that had already been given the chance to review.

Walters reframed the question: “So it’s not about the review, it’s about stakeholders that we meet with to inform any changes,” he said. “An invitation was extended to the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers. I’m not sure if they responded or not. Our Parent Advisory Council members did, our student voice group did, the Education Law Center did.”

Director Yael Silk of Squirrel Hill North suggested both sides of the discussion had merit: “It makes sense to me that there would be public expectations given past practice.” She later added, “I’m also hearing that there will be negative consequences to how we operate as a district and how information is delivered, particularly translated on time.”

The board voted 5-3 to approve the code of conduct without the 30-day public comment period.