BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County Public School Board chair Matt Susin says he wants to include civil rights and community leaders into the code of conduct discussion.

What You Need To Know

  • Civil rights leaders and community activists are advocating for a code of conduct in Brevard County's Public Schools that won't discriminate against Hispanic and Black students 

  • Data show despite making up about 27% of the student population, students of color made up almost half of those who were suspended out-of-school 

  • Leaders are meeting with the district’s equity and diversity department on Wednesday to discuss the code of conduct

School district officials, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, and State Attorney Phil Archer announced the new code of conduct on Nov. 28, because they say it is needed to protect and retain teachers.

Samantha Nazario said how the message was relayed led to a lot concerns.

“My phone was exploding when it went live,” she said. “We don’t sit well with the message coming from the front of a prison.”

Nazario has been a figurehead for the Hispanic community since she began working with the late Sam Lopez, the founder of United Third Bridge and Florida Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, in 2017.

She said she's using the lessons he taught her to advocate for a colorblind code of conduct where Hispanic and Black students won’t be discriminated against.

According to the district’s data, White students make up about 60% of the student population, Hispanics make up about 12%, and Black students make up about 14%. The data also showed despite making up about 27% of the student population, students of color made up almost half of students who were suspended out-of-school. 

“What I do want to see is a fair disciplinary policy that holds every child to the same standard,” Nazario said. “My only exception would be children with disabilities.”

For his part, Susin has reached out to the NAACP, Nazario, and other minority community leaders to let them know they are welcome in the drafting process — which Nazario said she appreciates.

“We will be holding him accountable for allowing our community activists to be a part of the process,” she said.

Something Nazario would like to see is a review board made up of civil rights and community leaders, plus the addition of cultural sensitivity training for staff.

“Do they understand if a child speaks with their hands it’s not because they’re being disrespectful?" she asked. "It could be a cultural thing.”

Nazario said she and other community leaders are meeting with the district’s equity and diversity department on Wednesday to discuss the code of conduct.