QUOTE
MCAS board must enact new policies
By Deborah Sederberg, The News-Dispatch
Policy review at a school board meeting can be dry as ashes, but at its core, policy is the thing that shapes and refines the lives and responsibilities of students, teachers, administrators, staff, members of the board and ultimately, the community.
At Tuesday's meeting of the board of the Michigan City Area Schools, members discussed several policies which are in need of change that will put them in line with changes in Indiana education law.
The board, for example, spent considerable time discussing the Swanson Center and the Madison Center, both of which are community mental health facilities and, according to Indiana law, school officials must make services from those organizations available to students and their families.
That policy received its initial reading Tuesday. The board will take up the matter at its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, although the board hasn't much choice because members are bound by state law.
Another new law deals with the appeals process available to students who are suspended or expelled.
In the past, the board was permitted to choose whether to hear individual suspension or expulsion appeals based on their merits. Now, state law says the board must decide to hear all appeals or to hear none.
“(Students) would still have access to the courts,” said board member Beryle Burgwald, who has an extensive background in Constitutional law.
Board vice president Jim Kintzele said the board is asked to hear about four appeals a year.
The Michigan City board likely will make a decision on that policy at its Jan. 23 meeting.
In LaPorte County, only one district - the New Prairie United School Corp. - has decided to hear all appeals. Assistant Superintendent Phil Bender said, “We don't get many requests and I think the board's thinking was that if the board hears the appeal and the decision is not what the student had hoped for, the board hearing would move the process along a little more smoothly to the local courts,” should the student and parents decide to continue the appeal in the courts.
Among the LaPorte County Township Schools, LaCrosse High School, which boasts the highest graduation rate among the public schools in the county, voted no. Wanatah elementary and middle school, has not yet decided, said LaPorte County Superintendent Norm Kleist.
Dick Cook, corporate manager of the Metropolitan School District of New Durham Township, said his board decided not to hear appeals.
Jim Dermody, assistant superintendent for LaPorte Community Schools, and Christopher Smith, superintendent of South Central Community School Corp., said their boards voted not to hear appeals.
“(Hearing the appeals) can get to be a political mess,” Smith said.
On the other hand, he said, it is vital to remember that schools and school boards are dealing with the lives of youngsters.
“We must be very sure to do a good job and be fair in the investigation of alleged student wrongdoing,” Smith said. “We should involve law enforcement if necessary and outside agencies (such as community mental health facilities) where appropriate.”
Fred LaBorn, director of communications and personnel and labor relations for MCAS, said the administration will not offer the board any advice on this matter. “This is really for the board to deliberate and then to decide,” he said.
Contact reporter Deborah Sederberg at dsederberg@thenewsdispatch.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Board considers changing policy dealing with knives
One policy change the board of the Michigan City Area Schools will consider at its Jan. 23 deals with weapons in school, specifically knives.
“This is not about students, but about the non-certified staff,” Fred LaBorn, director of communication and personnel and labor relations, said.
“The change brings it in line with intent,” he added. “In other words, a bus driver who might happen to have a pocket knife in his pocket likely will not be subject to disciplinary action,” he said.
The school corporation still prohibits “staff members from possessing, storing, making or using a weapon in any setting that is under the control and supervision of the Corporation for the purpose of school activities approved and authorized by the Corporation ...”
The policy still prohibits firearms and guns at any time, including air and gas-powered guns (whether loaded or unloaded) knives , razors, clubs, electric weapons, metallic knuckles, martial arts weapons, ammunition and explosives...”
The policy defines a knife and notes that it is a weapon if it “is intended to be used as a weapon.”
The superintendent will no longer be required to call the police on a bus driver who happens to have a knife in his pocket - unless he threatens someone with it.
- By Deborah Sederberg
By Deborah Sederberg, The News-Dispatch
Policy review at a school board meeting can be dry as ashes, but at its core, policy is the thing that shapes and refines the lives and responsibilities of students, teachers, administrators, staff, members of the board and ultimately, the community.
At Tuesday's meeting of the board of the Michigan City Area Schools, members discussed several policies which are in need of change that will put them in line with changes in Indiana education law.
The board, for example, spent considerable time discussing the Swanson Center and the Madison Center, both of which are community mental health facilities and, according to Indiana law, school officials must make services from those organizations available to students and their families.
That policy received its initial reading Tuesday. The board will take up the matter at its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, although the board hasn't much choice because members are bound by state law.
Another new law deals with the appeals process available to students who are suspended or expelled.
In the past, the board was permitted to choose whether to hear individual suspension or expulsion appeals based on their merits. Now, state law says the board must decide to hear all appeals or to hear none.
“(Students) would still have access to the courts,” said board member Beryle Burgwald, who has an extensive background in Constitutional law.
Board vice president Jim Kintzele said the board is asked to hear about four appeals a year.
The Michigan City board likely will make a decision on that policy at its Jan. 23 meeting.
In LaPorte County, only one district - the New Prairie United School Corp. - has decided to hear all appeals. Assistant Superintendent Phil Bender said, “We don't get many requests and I think the board's thinking was that if the board hears the appeal and the decision is not what the student had hoped for, the board hearing would move the process along a little more smoothly to the local courts,” should the student and parents decide to continue the appeal in the courts.
Among the LaPorte County Township Schools, LaCrosse High School, which boasts the highest graduation rate among the public schools in the county, voted no. Wanatah elementary and middle school, has not yet decided, said LaPorte County Superintendent Norm Kleist.
Dick Cook, corporate manager of the Metropolitan School District of New Durham Township, said his board decided not to hear appeals.
Jim Dermody, assistant superintendent for LaPorte Community Schools, and Christopher Smith, superintendent of South Central Community School Corp., said their boards voted not to hear appeals.
“(Hearing the appeals) can get to be a political mess,” Smith said.
On the other hand, he said, it is vital to remember that schools and school boards are dealing with the lives of youngsters.
“We must be very sure to do a good job and be fair in the investigation of alleged student wrongdoing,” Smith said. “We should involve law enforcement if necessary and outside agencies (such as community mental health facilities) where appropriate.”
Fred LaBorn, director of communications and personnel and labor relations for MCAS, said the administration will not offer the board any advice on this matter. “This is really for the board to deliberate and then to decide,” he said.
Contact reporter Deborah Sederberg at dsederberg@thenewsdispatch.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Board considers changing policy dealing with knives
One policy change the board of the Michigan City Area Schools will consider at its Jan. 23 deals with weapons in school, specifically knives.
“This is not about students, but about the non-certified staff,” Fred LaBorn, director of communication and personnel and labor relations, said.
“The change brings it in line with intent,” he added. “In other words, a bus driver who might happen to have a pocket knife in his pocket likely will not be subject to disciplinary action,” he said.
The school corporation still prohibits “staff members from possessing, storing, making or using a weapon in any setting that is under the control and supervision of the Corporation for the purpose of school activities approved and authorized by the Corporation ...”
The policy still prohibits firearms and guns at any time, including air and gas-powered guns (whether loaded or unloaded) knives , razors, clubs, electric weapons, metallic knuckles, martial arts weapons, ammunition and explosives...”
The policy defines a knife and notes that it is a weapon if it “is intended to be used as a weapon.”
The superintendent will no longer be required to call the police on a bus driver who happens to have a knife in his pocket - unless he threatens someone with it.
- By Deborah Sederberg