'Law & Order' Referenced in School Board Debate Over Off-Campus Conduct

Civil liberties and the regulation of off-campus behavior became the focus of a lengthy discussion Thursday among members of the and Superintendent Linda Henke.

At issue are proposed changes to a district policy known as JG-R. It governs how administrators discipline students. The Missouri School Boards' Association has recommended numerous policy updates for individual districts. MRH Board Treasurer Nelson Mitten reviewed the proposed changes and on Thursday provided his own analysis of which to adopt or amend.

The board ultimately reached an impasse, tabling discussion of that measure and several related items. It approved policy revisions related to teacher salary schedules, the reporting of child abuse and work certificates.

Wording of proposed policy revision sparks debate
Disagreement arose when Mitten questioned a recommended provision indicating administrators could discipline students based on off-campus conduct that "impacts the educational environment." He described the phrase as a "meaningless" one and expressed concern that it might prevent students and parents from reading and understanding the policy.

A student might criticize a teacher on Facebook, which could affect the educational environment, Mitten said. But he questioned whether such an action should be punishable.

"I think the administrators are looking for some broad abilities to deal with" complicated issues and facilitate conversations, Henke said. She referenced a discipline hearing earlier in the week in which one party claimed immunity because  the behavior in question happened just beyond campus borders.

Administrators want to be able to say, "Your behavior out there is influencing this environment," Henke said.

Mitten said the district must identify the types of off-campus behavior it would like to regulate because laws about the issue are "still nebulous."

Henke described a situation in which the district disciplined a student who sold dope and engaged in other negative behavior off-campus, even though administrators couldn't prove anything had happened on school property.

"I'm glad he didn't appeal," Mitten responded.

Henke reiterated that the school boards' association had recommended the policy change and that MRH administrators agree with it.

"Does no one else find this as offensive as I do?" Mitten said.

Board Secretary Brooke Rintoul said she understood Mitten's position but also supported administrators wanting such a policy.

"It's very, very tricky," she said.

Henke said the district has had "a couple of really severe cases" that involved bad things happening in the community. Administrators encounter off-campus bullying and family feuds.

"This would be a great Law & Order episode," she said in reference to the board's discussion.

"Yeah, but I don't want to create a Law & Order episode in our school district," Mitten said.

Parental responsibility, police involvement
Henke said there is a problem with students doing things they shouldn't at night at nearby . Parents call the district to ask what school officials can do about the situation. It affects kids' welfare, but officials can't do anything about it without a school policy, she said.

Mitten argued that parents should be encouraged to regulate their children outside of the school district and that the district should offer to call the police in the event of questionable off-campus behavior.

The district does that, Henke said. But she added: "I will tell you it's not enough."

Board members and Henke also debated about whether the policy would allow the district to expel a student based on off-campus behavior. Henke argued it would not while Board Vice President Lamar Agard indicated it might.

Henke said administrators want to be able to request a parent's attendance at a meeting to insist their student address the situation.

"Linda, what you're describing is counseling," said Agard, noting that he supports such action.

Board member Francis Chmelir suggested the phrase be adapted to allow administrators to act if students' health or welfare is affected by off-campus conduct.  Henke said she would support the wording.

Mitten indicated such a phrase would still be vague. But he invited administrators to prepare their own policy draft about the issue.

"I really don't think they'll know what to do" to make everybody happy, Henke said.