Pearl River School Board Discusses Changes to Code Of Conduct

The Pearl River Board of Education reviewed changes to the Code of Conduct that deal with the use of camera phones and other recording devices at Tuesday night's meeting.

In the old code, there was one section devoted to the use of a camera phone to, “Take pictures and/or video recording during instructional time and/or in violation of privacy rights of others in school or at school activities.”

The recommended changes expand that and split it up into two separate entries. 

• “Unauthorized use of any device to record video, audio, or pictures during instructional, non-instructional or practice time in school buildings, on school premises, or on a school bus,” which can result in in-school suspension and confiscation, suspension from school for up to five days or suspension from school in excess of five days subject to a superintendent’s hearing. 
•  “Unauthorized use of any device to record video, audio, or pictures in violation of privacy rights of others in school or at school activities,” which can result in suspension for up to five days or suspension for excess of five days subject to a superintendent’s hearing. 

Pearl River Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Morgano said the changes were recommended just to further protect students’ privacy. He said while with the old code it was clear that students couldn’t take pictures or record video in places like locker rooms and bathrooms, the changes it makes it clear they can’t do it in the hallways and other areas of the school as well.

He added that people will still be allowed to take pictures at plays, sporting events and other activities.

Another matter the board addressed was the district's contract with the Sport-O-Rama ice rink for ice hockey, which is up after this season. They are looking to extend it for the 2012-2013 season to the 2014-2015 season.

The board also approved the school district calendar for 2012-2013 and a boys spring track field trip to Columbia, S.C., that will cost the district $80.

They also had the first readings of two policies. The first is about the distribution of organizational notices, flyers and pamphlets, and the second is the revisions to . Both of those policies will have their second and final reading at the Feb. 7 meeting.

Morgano also took a few minutes during his report to respond to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s push to reform the state’s teacher and principal evaluation system by bringing in . APPR calls for all teachers and principals to be given a performance rating of 0-to-100 to be based in part on how their students fare on existing standardized tests.

“We have to deal with what we have,” he said. “The reality is we have to move forward with it because it’s not going away.”

You can read more of Morgano’s thoughts on APPR .

During public comments, the board was asked if they had thought about what they’re going to use the in settlement from the case with Olympus Surgical & Industrial America Inc.

Board President Michael Clohessy was asked if the board will form a parent committee for the discussions on what to do with the settlement money. Clohessy said the board won’t, but if any parents have ideas they should come to a board meeting and present them during the public comments section.

A few board members said they would like to see the money go to technological upgrades at the schools, but that they  have not started discussing it in detail just yet.