FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Florence School District One is on the verge of possibly adopting a new discipline code.
“Our students are changing, the communities they live in are changing, and their families are changing. Our code of conduct has to change to keep up with that,” said Florence One School Board Vice Chairman Barry Townsend.
Townsend along with fellow members of the code of conduct committee started a year long process reviewing and researching discipline codes from districts across the country.
“Rather than patching it yet again, let’s just throw it out and start it from scratch,” he stated.
The new discipline code would replace a 30 year old code that would focus more on intervention rather than suspension.
“If we can keep them in school we have a better chance to reach them,” Townsend mentioned.
Townsend says there is already overwhelming support from school leaders and the community. He believes it has the potential to increase test scores and graduation rates district wide.
“We have literally received 100 percent approval. On my time on the board I have never seen anything received so well. As a parent, I have three children in Florence School District One schools. As a parent I’m very excited for them,” he explained.
The school board will vote on it at their next meeting on May 12th with expectations that it will pass.