Valdosta City Schools revises Code of Ethics for the 2024-2025 school year

• Valdosta schools have implemented new protocols for late arrivals and early dismissals due to inclement weather.
• Bus drivers can now assign seats and issue infractions for misconduct, with repeated offenses leading to suspension.
• Watch the video to hear from neighbors and former students about why these changes are needed.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT

Valdosta School students will be starting a new year with some new rules.

"Get your kids under control. Step in before the police have to step in."

I'm Malia Thomas, your neighborhood reporter here.

I'm speaking with neighbors who say it's time for changes to school discipline policies.

This is Tricia Williams, who has lived here for six years.

She has four children, one of which who has recently graduated.

"Our oldest is 29, and my youngest is 17, about to turn 18."

She tells me even though all her kids have graduated, she has been noticing a behavior shift from local kids since they've been in school.

"When I was raising my two oldest ones in the late 90s, early 2000s, there was a lot more parent involvement, so the kids were held accountable a lot more in general. And today, there just doesn't seem to be hardly any accountability for the students."

She's happy to hear about the city schools implementing changes to get students back on track.

"It's phenomenal. I mean. The teachers absolutely deserve the respect of the students and the parents so. I'm looking forward to seeing these changes."

Valdosta has made the following changes to their Code of Ethics for the upcoming school year:

1. Inclement Weather Procedures:

- District officials are finalizing plans for determining specific times for late arrivals and early dismissals. However, those will be based on the weather or other conditions which impacted the decision causing the late start or early dismissal.

2. Bus Misconduct Handling:

- Bus drivers can now issue infractions to students for misbehavior.

3. Bus Riding:

- Riding the school bus is a privilege.

- Non-compliance with rules may lead to loss of bus riding privileges.

- Repeat offenses may result in extended suspension from bus services.

4. Serious Offense: Fighting on Bus:

- Fighting on a school bus is a severe offense.

- Students involved will face immediate bus suspension without prior warning.

- Fighting endangers all passengers by distracting the driver.

These updates are part of the 2024-2025 Code of Student Conduct, emphasizing safety and discipline procedures in our schools and on our buses.

Tre' Zimmerman, a former student who graduated, tells me these changes have been needed as he's noticed increased misbehavior while he was in school.

"Kids were running wild back then, and they still are. I'm glad the school is listening is making needed changes."

These changes will be effective as school returns on August 2. In Valdosta, I'm Malia Thomas, reporting for ABC27.