by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the April 4 working session, the Franklin County Board of Education further refined proposed changes to the school clubs policy, as well as discussing changes to the dress code, attendance and drug testing policies.
Continuing a policy review that began in February in response to the formation of a Gay Straight Alliance Club at Franklin County High School, the proposed revised policy adds the stipulation that the director of schools has final approval of all clubs, following recommendation by school principals.
The proposed policy also defines and distinguishes between academic clubs which “serve as an extension of the school’s regular curriculum” and nonacademic clubs which “the principal shall designate” as belonging to one of the following categories: service, honorary, interest, religious, political and/or sports.
School board member Adam Tucker proposed students forming a club have the opportunity to recommend a club’s designation. On the suggestion of board chair Kevin Caroland, Director of Schools Amie Lonas will add the option to the club application form.
Tucker reiterated his opposition to the requirement that a parent or guardian must give permission for a student to participate in a club. Teachers serving as club advisors have contacted him about “the need to police” club participation, Tucker said. But he stressed his biggest concern was that the permission slip requirement could “bar students whose parents aren’t active participants in the student’s life, and these are the students who most need club involvement.”
Other board members disagreed. CleiJo Walker acknowledged she had “one complaint from a teacher,” but Walker suggested a student club officer such as the secretary could be responsible for tracking the permission requirement.
Board members Chris Guess and Sarah Liechty stressed that parents needed to be involved and informed of students’ activities.
Caroland raised a question about the school system’s liability for nonacademic clubs engaged in activities off school property, particularly if the group used school transportation. Lonas will research the liability issue.
The board will vote on the proposed policy at the next board meeting.
In reviewing the administrative procedures document created by Lonas to serve as criteria for implementing the school clubs policy, Tucker recommended the school supply a form for recording minutes to simplify the record-keeping requirement. The board supported the suggestion. The board does not vote on administrative procedures, but Lonas has invited the board’s input on school clubs criteria.
South Middle School student Paul McCray asked the board to consider allowing students to wear shorts, mid-knee length, during warm weather. McCray presented the board with a petition from his classmates supporting the request.
Discussing dress code policy, Guess recommended the solid-color only requirements for shirts, pants and skirts, be rescinded to allow students to wear plaids, stripes, checks and other designs. Caroland agreed. The dress code was last revised in July of 2014 to make student dress “more uniform,” Caroland said, “but there’s a lot of latitude we can put back in.”
“When I visit schools, dress code is what students want to talk to me about,” Lonas said.
In response to teachers’ concerns about excessive excused absences, Lonas recommended making the attendance policy stronger. “At one time we required a certain number of days in attendance for a student to get credit for a course,” Walker said. Lonas will discuss options with school principals.
Lonas expressed concern about the “punitive” drug testing policy at the alternative school, which requires suspension on the first offense and dismissal on the second offense. “I’ve had to expel three students this year,” Lonas said.
She recommended a proactive policy similar to the athletic drug testing policy that provides for counseling and temporary suspension from sports on the first and second offenses, and permanent suspension from sports on the third offense, but not dismissal from school.
Lonas will revise the dress code, attendance and drug testing policies and present them to the board with a view to receiving approval for the revised policies by June. Caroland said timeliness was particularly important in the case of the dress code policy so parents could begin shopping for school clothes.
Lonas announced kindergarten students will be “phased in” next fall by attending two half-day classes the first week and one full day on Friday. Four half-day classes will be scheduled with only half the class in attendance at each session to allow for more individual attention. At the Friday session, all students will attend.
The board meets next on April 11 at South Middle School.
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