Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-March 4, 2009 Issue

Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • March 4, 2009 FLOW Area Regional board puts proposed conduct policy on hold by Frank J. McMahon Plans to conduct the first reading of the revised new policy and regulation on conduct away from school grounds has been put on hold again by the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education. The board was scheduled to vote on the first reading of the new policy and its regulation at last week’s regular meeting, but the item was not placed on the agenda after the board received some additional input on the legal ramifications of the new policy and regulation. Interim Superintendent August DePreker explained that concerns about the legal ramifications of the policy and regulation arose since the last work session, when the board decided to move forward with the first reading. The trustees will now go back and get some additional legal perspectives before they move forward. “There have been some other pieces of information we’ve received from parents, some of whom are attorneys, and they provided some additional insight on their point of view,” DePreker said. “I think we ought to pursue that before we make a decision to go forward with this thing.” DePreker emphasized that the board wants to make sure that it is proceeding correctly and therefore, the new policy and regulation will go back to the board’s Policy Committee for further review. The new policy and its accompanying regulation establish the basis upon which the board could take disciplinary action if a student is charged by the police for use, possession or consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs, or violation of the state’s Criminal Justice Code, Title 2C, and/or applicable municipal codes or ordinance provisions, at any time while away from school grounds. The way the current regulation is written, a student could be suspended from participation in extracurricular activities, which the school board maintains is a privilege and not a right. During the suspensions, the student could also receive educational counseling. On the first offense, a student would be prohibited from participating in any extracurricular activities for seven school days, during which time the student would receive educational intervention appropriate to his or her needs. The second incident involving the same student would result in a 90 day exclusion from extracurricular activities and the third would result in a 180 day exclusion from extracurricular activities. While not specifically stated, these rules would be in effect 24 hours a day seven days a week. But the school board has clarified that, if the incident in which a student is charged by police happens during the summer when the district’s schools are closed and the matter is resolved before the schools reopen in September, no disciplinary action would be taken by the school district. Since the policy and its regulation were first proposed in 2007, the school board has revised them several times, seeking a way to address the objections of some parents who have objected to the proposal while preserving the original intent of the policy and regulation, which is primarily to reduce underage drinking and the use of illegal drugs by students who attend Ramapo High and Indian Hills High, the two schools in the regional district. The objections to the new policy and regulation are based on the fact that the alleged violations would occur while the student is in the custody of his or her parents and under their supervision, on weekends, during school vacations, during the summer, at home, or while away from the school; and the fact that the school district’s action would be taken prior to a determination of the student’s guilt or innocence in a court of law. Parent Terry Meese, who has been vocal in her opposition to the new policy and regulation for some time, objects to the requirement that the student who has been accused of committing a crime must meet with district officials to address the charges. She claims that it is in the best interest of the student not to discuss the matter with anyone other than his or her attorney because the student would not be protected for discussions, explanations, or conversations with school district personnel as the student would be for conversations his or her attorney. Meese asked the board at a recent work session what it would do if a student charged by the police is advised by his or her attorney not to discuss the charges with anyone other (continued on page 19) CAN’T WAIT FOR SPRING? SPRING LANDSCAPE PROJECTS �� Pre Season �� Pricing in �� Effect �� Free �� No Obligation Est. & Design �� Now is the right time to start plans on your Then Don’t! �� Weeping Pine Nursery �� MPFD First Annual Charity Open �� 138 Rt. 23 North, Franklin, NJ 07416 • (973) 209-2521 �� YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER �� Keeping Families Warm Since 1929. 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