HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 07-20 Responsibility policy draws small group of residents REVIEW • • ...
Responsibility•
small g
by Melinda Hawley-Falteisek collecting laws and comparing policies.
ThA handful of persons out of ap- the PFDA.major emphasis in the 622 policy is
proximately 18,500 school district The first draft was created by a corn-
residents receiving notice of a North St. mittee of 27 which met approximately
Paul-Maplewood District 622 public three times, eventually upgrading and
hearing regarding discipline of their modifying it to note recommendations.
children were present July 14 at the The committee as a whole created a
District Center in Maplewood. second draft. A third draft was shared
The proposed policy, determining with North St. Paul and Maplewood
corrective measures including suspen- professional representatives,St.Germain
sion,corporal punishment and expulsion, noted,which was submitted to the school
was expected to create parental interest. board for a first reading April 28.
The school board scheduled a public Notification numbering 18,500 was then
hearing in an effort to receive public input sent to district residents scheduling a
regarding the proposal. public hearing. The fourth draft was
Richard St. Germain, director of created, reduced in size.
secondary education for the district,
headed the discipline policy review THE CRUX of the policy includes these
committee studying the policy. When requirements: to inform the student as to
presenting the results to the board, he what he or she is accused or guilty of; to
said he had received one phone call give them opportunity for input in an
following the mass mailing of the notice. informal or formal hearing; to give
Board members Mike Wasiluk and students right to due process and the right
Robert Hansen each received one phone to an appeal with the State Department of
call; Arthur Meyer, B.J. Haak and Education; and to give students the right
Donald Robertson no phone calls but to an appeal in court.
informal comment. St. Germain pointed to a second major
"Maybe they have confidence," Meyer policy concern of o law
n the
that ofthe school district's
ventured. "I guess it's a vote of con-
fidence." Bell diagnosed the low hearing responsibility to continue responsibility
for the education of the pupil during the
attendance as normal, suggesting that
dismissal period, a requirement he ter
comments would follow implementation
of such a policy. "When this starts to med having a"tremendous impact on the
affect people you'll have comments,"Bell school district."
forecasted. "They're probably thankful We're responsible to continue
we're doing it." education," he noted. If the event a
St.Germain said the written policy has student is expelled,he or she must be able
essentially been in action since the im to receive an education. St. Germain
plementation of the Pupil Fair Dismissal estimated a $1,500 per year cost for an
Act of 1974 (PFDA). Tartan High School expelled student's education if taught on
an individualized,one-to-one basis.After-
Principal Larry Hartman agreed:
school alternatives, in addition to ex-
"If you expect this document to do pulsion,cost$5,000 last year,he noted. A
something magic, don't," St. Germain final figure for continuing education in
noted. "Hopefully what this is is a students absented from the "main-
beginning." The policy was begun by stream" could reach $35-$50,000, St.
looking at other school districts, he said, Germain estimated.
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BOARD MEMBER DONALD Robert- corrective measures we would think
son said students have indicated after would be determined by the degree of
school alternatives are a "big joke" to seriousness," St. Germain said. Parents
them. He said he would prefer seeing an will not be contacted for every
emphasis on sequestering students in
disciplinarian the problem, however, under
school. "Time of day is not necessarily policy. "Sometimes the worst thing
important," St. Germain disagreed. you can do is call mom and dad — you
The critical ingredient to effective have to make a judgment," St. Germain
St. Germain said, is said. `We're relying
on professional
alternatives, judgment."
an The policy is already and un
to holdd children in program(withwhabthey g students,known Germain
un-
to produce) and "tough
for what caringnderstood by
enoughcan n abllove," buyt
to make them accountable but yet maintained. "In some ways it's kind of a
game," he noted. "There's nothing in
here kids don't what's right in
not caring too much and becomingin here thato
r
lenient. "The key is the people and theThere's nothing
concept and the program," he added. wrowoag.d be a shock to anyone ithis
New board member Bill Lester ex- community."
pressed an"uneasy" feeling with regard
to the policy. He said he would prefer to
see the emphasis placed on a good at- THE ONE CITIZEN remark of any
length was made by a citizen who felt the
twas hard to read n whofelthe
mosphereherthanfor the studentsmsy of create Nchild will be a to nd understand.thing
proble on ddiscwho create policy hea said. hang
problems. behaviorh good should
be he noted, and know what it says," It's
intolerable should ue corrected,hmore complex than the U.S. code." St.
but "you don't lose the student in the Germain said the document,to be correct
whole policy,"
cy,y,should be the thrust. of this legally, must include complicated ter-
" he maintained. minology•
St. Germain said the policy essentially "The attorneys have said that it is one
did nment concentratefor all a good learning en-as of the most comprehensive, complete
v
stressing
nt d students us well self- policies they have run across,"he added,
stscssing "discipline through but I know where you're coming from."
discipline."saI think when "This is an absolute necessity legally,"
"It's a set s rules — Robertson agreed. "They'll hang you
someone knows the rules the game goes ever time if it's not stated in black and
more smoothly,"Meyer said. "Most kids Y
really want discipline." Robertson white, legally."
stressed the importance of enforcing such "The point is nobody's goingto read
a policy.He asked St. Germain to return this," Bell answered. "That's im-
to the board at its next meeting July 28 material," Robertson said.
with cost estimates for the alternative STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE hand
educational plans. books with registration materials
ling what is expected of them.
e
"IN THE FRE—in going to seenext year,andhandle boarld will look at the responsibility policy
more casesy areag g past," July 28 in the form of a motion to adopt or
Germain than we've had in the p not to adopt the policy. Cost figures for
St. The amount
t ofcted.
parents)menet degreemuandati�communication
reviewed at that time. plans will. be