MADISON, Wis. -- The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education met on Monday night to discuss a new positive behavior support plan as well as a new code of conduct for students who attend Madison public schools.

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The code of conduct has been under review for months by a committee who made recommendations to the board in a special meeting on Monday. The meeting is especially timely after the highly publicized recordings of students fighting at Toki Middle School came to light last week, WISC-TV reported.

Committee members will recommend making a few major revisions or additions to the code, including specifically banning voice or image recording.

Board members discussed safety, discipline and cell phones, which were all topics of importance that applied to the Toki situation.

Madison's new student code of conduct targets cell phones. Secret or hidden recordings are a serious offense that could get a student suspended or expelled.

"Cell phones and video cameras are being used in very wrong ways -- to take pictures of tests, to film fighting, to record kids in the locker room. That's just not acceptable," said school board president Arlene Silviera. "I think we have to be very specific in the use of these types of devices -- what can and what cannot be done."

Committee members also recommended that the board create a "party to a violation" rule. The rule would apply to students who, for instance, participate as lookouts during drug buys. Those students would face the same penalties as violators, WISC-TV reported.

There is also a proposal for a stiffer penalty for students caught carrying a weapon that isn't a gun. Under the committee's recommendation, students caught carrying a knife or other non-gun weapon would also be expelled.

The board is also looking at more severe penalties for cheating, forgery and gambling.

Last year, the school board expelled 52 students, that's one more than the year before. Seventy-seven percent of those expelled were high school students, nearly a quarter were middle school students.

According to the district, most of those expelled, over 65 percent, involved four primary offenses; intentional use of force against a staff member, possessing a weapon with an intent, threat, or attempt to cause harm or causing harm, possessing an illegal drug with intent to deliver, or possessing an illegal drug as part of a drug transaction.

Madison East High School had the most expulsions last year with 18, Toki Middle School had three and Cherokee and Whitehorse schools each had two. The year before, Sennett Middle School had four.

Parents, Teachers React To Proposals

Some parents concerned about their children's safety at school turned out at Monday night's special school board meeting to find out what's being proposed for conduct, safety and discipline next year.

Toki Parent Teacher Organization president Betsy Reck said she's hoping for permanent solutions.

"I'm encouraged that the board is moving in this direction," she said.

Reck said she'd like a behavior plan that specifically defines what is and isn't acceptable and outlines consequences.

She said being specific is the key to bringing about change.

"I think that's a really good message for the children in our schools," said Reck. "For students and for teachers to understand that from the top level that that physical harm to teacher is not acceptable."

"As a teacher, I don't feel as safe as probably 10 years ago," said Cherokee Middle School teacher Karlton Porter.

Porter teaches sixth-grade social studies and math and said student conduct is a district-wide issue.

"There are a number of students that are disobedient and disrespectful," said Porter. "Whatever the rules they come up with, it's not going to matter because to them that's what they're there for."

Porter said making changes in that behavior involves the entire community.

"All of us need to work together," said Porter. "If we do not work together than no matter what system they come up with, to me, it's going to have little effect."