After months of debate, the Salisbury Township School Board rejected proposed revisions to the Salisbury High School student handbook during its Sept. 16 meeting.

The rejected changes were intended to clarify disciplinary consequences for sexually explicit behavior occurring through social media and other electronic communications.

Following a suggestion by Director Joseph Gnall, the board held a roll-call vote. Directors voted 6-1 to retain the existing handbook language and reject the proposed Level 4 category of consequences. Director Ian Riccaboni cast the lone dissenting vote. Directors Thomas Spinner and Joseph Gaither were absent.

Director Laura McKelvey, who had advocated for stricter penalties, ultimately voted to retain the current policy. She said she supported stronger consequences for sexually explicit conduct but opposed the revised language because she did not believe the proposed Level 4 consequences went far enough to protect students and could expose administrators to legal challenges if disciplinary action were contested.

Under the current handbook, inappropriate use or distribution of social media and electronic communications, including sexually explicit content, is classified as a Level 3 offense. The policy prohibits the possession, creation, posting, sharing or transmission of sexually explicit, threatening, harassing or otherwise inappropriate content through social media, text messages, email or other digital platforms. Consequences include police notification, one to 10 days of out-of-school suspension and possible expulsion.

The proposed revisions would have created a new Level 4 category for sexually explicit conduct. Level 4 offenses generally include some of the district’s most serious disciplinary violations, such as assault, threats, sexual harassment, racial or ethnic intimidation, weapon possession and terroristic threats. Consequences typically include five to 10 days of out-of-school suspension, police notification and possible expulsion. Moving the conduct into the highest disciplinary category was a central issue in the board’s discussion.

The board subsequently approved the Salisbury Middle School handbook, which included an expanded definition of social media under Level 3 of the code of conduct. The Salisbury Elementary School handbook included no changes related to the policy.

In her superintendent’s report, Lynn Fuini-Hetten announced the district’s FalconProud promotional video has been posted to the district website and is available for viewing. The yearlong collaboration with Firerock Production follows a student’s journey from the first day of school through graduation and highlights educational opportunities throughout the district.

The Salisbury Township School Board will hold an operations and finance committee meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 7. A curriculum and technology committee meeting, followed by a regular school board meeting, will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 14. Both meetings will be held in the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown.