May 12, 2005- For Immediate Release
Columbia County Schools - 6430 Pollards Pond Road, Appling, GA 30802
For more information contact 541-0650

Changes Recommended for Columbia County

Student Code of Conduct for Next School Year

Includes the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TAADRA) along with tougher consequences for Violence, Drugs/Alcohol, and changes to the alternative school

Every student in Columbia County is given the opportunity for an education in a safe, drug-free, and orderly learning environment. The Columbia County Board of Education has jurisdiction over all offenses occurring on campus, on school property, and on school buses/school bus stops. The Code of Conduct outlines the zero tolerance policy for violence, weapons, drugs, and alcohol at school, bus rules, as well as, age appropriate disciplinary consequences for each violation. Based on input from school principals and their school communities, changes are recommended in several areas for the Student Code of Conduct for the 2005-2006 school year.

The Columbia County Board of Education Alternative School (formerly Crossroads Academy) will have more restrictions to those students in the alternative school setting. Some of the changes to the alternative program: a stricter dress code that includes a school uniform, loss of driving privilege to school, and zero tolerance for any offense at the alternative school.

In addition to changes impacting the alternative school setting, stiffer penalties have been added to the middle and high school code of conduct for fighting, drugs, weapons, physical assaults and other more serious offenses. “Our Schools and Board have been concerned with the growing number of serious offenses over this past school year, so we are proposing to put into effect greater consequences for violations of this nature,” said Tommy Price, Superintendent of Schools. Many parents of students that had appeared for a tribunal with accumulated offenses or offenses involving drugs, were not aware of the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act, so a summary of TAADRA has been added to the middle and high school code of conduct, added Mr. Price.

It is the responsibility of each student to know and follow the rules and for parents to be aware of the consequences. We do not want to diminish the learning experience for our students, but parents are ultimately responsible for the actions of their children. We welcome input on these proposed Code of Conduct changes, which can be viewed on our website at www.ccboe.net by the school level - Elementary, Middle, and High.

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