The Salisbury Township School District board of directors voted Aug. 19 to strengthen disciplinary language in its student handbook by requiring police notification and specifying a one- to 10-day out-of-school suspension for students who violate the district’s Inappropriate Use/Distribution of Social Media/Electronic Communication policy.

The changes came after a lengthy discussion about whether consequences for students who record or distribute inappropriate content, particularly material of a sexual nature involving minors, were clearly defined and severe enough.

Director Laura McKelvey, who first raised the issue at the board’s June meeting, acknowledged wording changes administrators made to the proposed handbook but said the consequences remained “too loose.”

McKelvey suggested creating tiers of infractions, such as classifying the recording and distribution of a nonsexual video as a Level 3 offense and the use or distribution of sexually explicit videos as a Level 4 offense.

She also objected to language stating penalties could include “up to a 10-day suspension and police notification,” arguing the wording could allow a student to receive little or no suspension because no minimum penalty was specified.

“If an infraction is of a sexual nature and it involves minors, it should not be a possible police notification but a definite police notification,” McKelvey said.

Director Joseph Gnall agreed the district should send a clear message that such behavior is serious and warrants significant consequences. However, he said it is difficult to define every possible infraction and determine what disciplinary level it should fall under.

“The problem becomes, can you think of everything?” Gnall said.

McKelvey pointed to the handbook’s drug and alcohol provisions, noting those consequences are more clearly defined than penalties for sexually explicit recording and distribution of content. She also suggested students who violate the policy complete a reentry program similar to those required for drug and alcohol offenses so they can receive appropriate support.

Gnall proposed approving the handbook as written so Salisbury High School Principal Heather Morningstar would have a finalized handbook available for the first day of school. He suggested administrators continue working to better define Level 4 offenses and corresponding consequences, with any future changes communicated to students and families after board approval.

Following the discussion, the board approved the proposed revisions to the 2026-27 student handbooks. Board members also amended the language to remove the word “possible” from police notification requirements and specify a one- to 10-day out-of-school suspension for violations related to the Inappropriate Use/Distribution of Social Media/Electronic Communication policy.

The Salisbury Township School Board will hold an operations and finance committee meeting 7 p.m. Sept. 9. A curriculum and technology committee meeting, followed by a regular school board meeting, will be held 7 p.m. Sept. 16. All meetings are scheduled in the administration building at 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown.