Code talk: Students on Superintendent’s Advisory Council weigh in on fairness, discipline and voice

Secondary school students on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council took a close look at the Mount Vernon City School District’s Code of Conduct during a recent meeting with Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland at the Education Center.

The Council includes students from schools across the District who meet regularly to share perspectives and help shape the young scholars’ experience.

The session on March 18 was designed to move beyond simply understanding the Code and instead focus on how it works in practice, particularly whether enforcement is fair and consistent for all students.

Students rotated through a series of stations, each featuring a real excerpt from the Code of Conduct paired with a focus question.

Using a color-coded system, they placed green stickers where the Code made sense, yellow where they had questions and red where they felt changes might be needed. Sticky notes and group discussions allowed them to expand on their thinking.

Among the topics was the prohibition of cell phones during school hours. Rather than debating the rule itself, students were asked to consider how it is enforced and whether that enforcement is consistent across schools and student groups.

Another station examined students’ rights during short-term suspensions, including the requirement that students be informed of alleged misconduct and given an opportunity to respond, with parents notified within 24 hours. Students reflected on whether they were aware of these rights and whether they are upheld in practice.

The concept of restorative practices – when a person who harmed another takes responsibility and makes amends – also prompted discussion. The Code emphasizes accountability, relationship-building and problem-solving over purely punitive measures. Students were asked whether that philosophy aligns with their real-life experiences in schools.

An additional station explored bullying and cyberbullying, with students considering whether the Code’s definitions match what they see among peers, and whether online behavior is treated with the same seriousness as in-person incidents.

The dress code also was examined, with questions about whether expectations are applied equitably regardless of gender, body type or background.
The session began with an icebreaker “Survival Challenge,” in which students worked in groups to develop step-by-step plans for scenarios such as being stranded in the wilderness, shipwrecked on an island or trapped in a snowstorm. 

The activity set the tone for collaboration and problem-solving that carried into the Code of Conduct discussions.

LaJuan White, Assistant Superintendent for Student Personnel Services, encouraged students to take their involvement a step further by joining the District’s Code of Conduct Committee.

“The Code of Conduct is almost like a handbook that sort of guides the rights that students have, that parents have and that school staff have when dealing with behavior and behavior violations and things like that,” Ms. White said.

She noted that while administrators, parents and teachers are represented on the committee, student voices are currently missing.

“We didn’t have students and we need students, so I’m just putting it out there,” Ms. White said. “We are in need of student representation.”

She emphasized that participation is voluntary and open to students who want to help shape policies that directly affect them.

“You have a voice, right? The fact that you’re even here, your voice matters … whether you’re a kid, teenager, adolescent, you have a voice, and your voice is important,” said Ms. White, who added that students are at the center of the Code’s purpose.

“The most important person in the Code of Conduct are students and how we protect you and how you all are protected by all the stakeholders,” she said.

Dr. Strickland reinforced that message, encouraging students to think about fairness and their role in improving the system. Sharing a personal example from his own school days, he underscored the importance of student input.

“So sometimes things are not fair,” Dr. Strickland said. “If you think that you want to help make things fair for your peers, you may want to join this committee.”