Published: July 10, 2008 09:15 am         

BOE debates policy for punishment

CUMBERLAND - The Allegany County Board of Education's proposed student discipline policy came under scrutiny Tuesday when Jane Dawson, board vice president, expressed displeasure at the severity of punishment for a student's first alcohol or drug offense.

Dawson responded to a presentation by Sheree Witt, director of student services, in which Witt provided a one-page policy statement that spelled out the board's expectation that students, parents and teachers share in the responsibility of appropriate behavior in the local school system.

The board passed the first reading of the policy but not without some intense discussion before a vote.

Witt included 11 pages of definitions, reminders of state law and a controversial matrix of proposed punishments for all types of infractions broken down by age groups, prekindergarten through fifth grade and sixth grade through 12th grade.

Should a student in the older age group be involved in an alcohol or drug incident, Witt said the matrix, developed by school administrators during discipline committee meetings, suggests a student be given 10 days out-of-school suspension and be required to work with a pupil personnel worker and local police. A second offense would have that same punishment but the student also would face expulsion.

Board member Tom Striplin asked Witt if there is some flexibility. Witt said yes, to the extent that for some offenses, state law must be followed. That's when Dawson, running the meeting in the absence of board president Fred Sloan, questioned the automatic OSS. Instead, she said, in-school-suspension should be a possibility.

"I will not pass this," Dawson said. "Just turning them out for 10 days is not going to help them."

She said she was not talking about a student caught distributing drugs or alcohol but one caught using them. If the student was caught, Dawson said, "we have Academic Village. I think we need to work with that student (rather than) just send them out to do what they've been doing. That disturbs me.

"I think we're here to educate our kids," she said. "On a first offense, I'd like to see ISS."

Board member Jeff Metz said OSS "must remain an option," an opinion with which Striplin agreed.

"If we remove OSS altogether, you remove the deterrent," Striplin said. "There's always leeway in this decision."

Witt said the separate drug and alcohol abuse policy, which has not been brought before the board for revision, covers the legal requirements for students and staff in those situations. In that policy, students aren't allowed back in school until an appointment for an assessment has been made.

Board member Karen Treber told Witt the matrix, which Witt said is to be a tool or a guideline, and is not part of the policy, should make clear to administrators that there is a range of available punishments. What's in the box for a certain offense shouldn't be read to be automatic or mandatory, Treber said.

Dawson said having a range listed, from Academic Village and ISS to OSS, would "be better."

Striplin cautioned that "we better be consistent" and the district could face appeals by parents if similar situations at different schools aren't treated in a uniform manner.

"We could end up getting ourselves into really deep stuff," Striplin said. "I don't have a problem with OSS."

Janet Wilson, assistant superintendent of instruction, said principals should have the ability to pass judgment on a case-by-case basis. The matrix, she reiterated, is only a guide.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.