The Board of Education for the Jim Thorpe Area School District voted recently to adopt a new code of conduct for its coaches. While the board didn't specify any particular reason for adopting the new code now, there was some buzz among parents in attendance at the meeting that some student athletes may have been mistreated.

That's not likely to happen under the new code as it carries with it stiff penalties for non-compliance, including suspension without pay or dismissal.The code is only 15 items long and fits on a single page. Each item in the code is an activity that is forbidden, such as physical or verbal abuse; use, possession, distribution or sale of alcohol; failure to comply with directives of law enforcement officers and unsportsmanlike conduct.Coaches will be expected to sign the new code before working with students.