The Williamsport Area School District adopted a revised policy on disciplinary actions that may be taken regarding employee comments made outside of the workplace at their August meeting, PennLive.com reported.

The change to the “Freedom of Speech by Employees” policy, as well as two others, was the result of recommendations made by the Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA), according to the news outlet.

“The Board respects employees’ freedom of speech. Public school employees do not surrender their rights to free speech merely because of their status as an employee of the school district. The Board acknowledges the right of administrative, professional and support employees as private citizens in a democratic society to speak on issues of public concern,” the new language of the policy reads.

The policy goes on to clarify when such expression by an employee, while not engaging in work-related duties, may conflict with the district’s interests.

Free speech may be addressed by the district “when the employee’s speech impacts efficiency or constitutes a reasonable likelihood of disruption,” the policy said, going on to give specific instances, including, “impairing discipline by superiors or harmony among co-workers; having a detrimental impact on close working relationships requiring loyalty and confidence; impeding the performance of the duties of the employee that conducted the speech; or interfering with the operations of the school district.”

Decisions made based on the above scenarios will be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with district solicitor Fed Holland, the policy states.

District spokesperson Greg Hayes said the reason for the change is that the district “follows the recommendation of the PSBA,” PennLive.com reported.

PSBA policy guides members to ensure they comply with laws and regulations. Districts may adopt the PSBA policies or draft their own, PSBA Director of Marketing & Communications Mackenzie Christ explained, according to PennLive.com.

The Pennsylvania State Education and the Williamsport Area Education associations, declined to comment on the new policy.

While acting as private citizens, district employees are directed against making comments that would interfere with the maintenance of student discipline; public statements about the district known to be false or made without regard for truth or accuracy; threats against co-workers, supervisors or district officials; discussing a child’s disability with any individual outside of the classroom instructor, building principal(s) or direct staff member; and using photographs, video, written or verbal statements outside of the school that would divulge a child’s disability or health condition, the policy states.

The district had no comment as to whether the changes were a result of recent criminal and civil litigation involving the district, PennLive.com said.

Math teacher Christopher Yoder and high school principal Roger Freed were found not guilty in separate sexual misconduct trials in December 2023 and March 2025, respectively. Both remain suspended without pay.

The district has filed School Code charges against Yoder that could lead to dismissal and is conducting its own investigation of Freed, PennLive.com reported.

Michelle L. Pulizzi, a former teacher with the district, who resigned in 2022, pleaded no contest to harassment by communications and was placed on one year’s probation. She may, however, regain her teaching license after five years.

Also added to the district’s conduct/disciplinary procedures policy was the language, “certified employees shall comply with the Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators in accordance with applicable law and regulations,” according to PennLive.com.

Litigation in federal court is ongoing against Richard Caschera III, a teacher accused of strapping a special education student to a backboard because he believed he was sleeping during a test. Caschera held a temporary substitute teaching certificate, the news agency said.

Caschera’s resignation as a full-time homeland security and protective services teacher was accepted at the same meeting at which the policy revisions were adopted.

The new conduct/disciplinary policy also details new procedures to be followed when considering the demotion or dismissal of an employee.