Although the overall policy remains unchanged and the new procedures are pending approval by the school board, over the last two years Central has formed and now has drafted new academic integrity procedures, said Assistant Principal for Curriculum Jackie Thornton.

These changes have been proposed as a way to better allow deans and administrators to provide consequences that match the scope of the offense for students who engage in academically dishonest behavior. The new procedures outline three levels of offense coupled with three tiers of consequences.

“It will give us the flexibility to have the consequences match the situation and I don’t think we really had that before,” Thornton said.

The new procedures will also define cheating and outline pillars of academic integrity for learners, teachers and parents, said Thornton.

“Part of what every student has next fall is an education of, ‘what is cheating?,’” Thornton said.

The hope is that if students are more aware of behaviors that qualify as cheating, Central will see less instances of academic dishonesty.

Despite the upcoming change in procedures, Central continues its long-standing zero-tolerance policy when it comes to cheating, plagiarism and obtaining an unfair advantage in any way on assessments of academic ability.

Principal Bill Wiesbrook thinks there is no good reason to cheat and believes that cheating is very much like lying to teachers about what you as a student know and understand about the material being taught.

“Do your best and be honest,” said Wiesbrook. “Don’t miss represent yourself.”

Thornon had a similar message for students about integrity.

“You are defined by your words and your actions,” said Thornton. “Think about how your actions are a reflection on your character.”