AUGUSTA — The school board on Wednesday approved the first reading of two new policies — both of which have been criticized by some parents — one on public concerns and complaints, the other on drug and alcohol use by students.
The policy on drug and alcohol use by students states principals may suspend and/or recommend expulsion for students who violate the policy by using, possessing, distributing or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs on school property, or at any school-sponsored event.
Parent Kathleen Mahoney, echoing other parents’ concerns made at a meeting earlier this year that the school system’s consequences for student tobacco use were too severe, argued that students with substance abuse problems shouldn’t be suspended and should, instead, be disciplined but stay in school.
“I totally disagree with suspending a child from school,” she said. “There is not an organization I can find that deals with children that thinks suspending a child is the best way to help them with substance abuse. If you suspend them three days they will sleep in late, hang out and not be accountable to anybody, because most parents work.”
School officials listened to her concerns, but did not respond to them.
New policies require two readings, with Wednesday’s being the first reading for both. The policies could come up for final approval at the next board meeting.
The drug and alcohol policy states that schools will take a three-pronged approach to student drug, tobacco and alcohol use, of prevention and education, intervention and discipline.
The policy also bans “clothing or accessories advertising and/or promoting drugs, tobacco products and alcohol.”
The public concerns and complaints policy establishes a process by which parents, students and others can raise complaints about school matters, and an appeals process should they not be satisfied with the initial response.
Generally the policy pushes for problems to be resolved as directly as, and at the lowest level, possible.
“If the complaint cannot be resolved at the lowest level, the person initiating the complaint may appeal the decision to the next level (e.g., teacher, principal, directors, or assistant superintendent),” the policy states. “If the complaint cannot be resolved at any lower level, it may be appealed to the superintendent. If the complaint remains unresolved at the superintendent’s level, the person making the complaint may request that the matter be placed on the agenda of the next regular board meeting. The superintendent/board chair(person) shall determine whether the complaint should be placed on the agenda.”
Laura Hamilton, at-large board member and chairwoman of the board’s policy committee, said the policies were debated and revised by the committee before being forwarded to the full board for a first reading.
She said Maine schools are required, by law, to have versions of both policies in place.
Monday night the policy committee approved a policy on tobacco use and possession at school to be forwarded for consideration by the full school board. The policy bans students, parents, teachers and other staff from using or posessing tobacco at school. The board did not vote on that new policy Wednesday.
Board members, at the end of the meeting, narrowly voted 5-4 to go into executive session to evaluate Superintendent James Anastasio, which was an agenda item. Some members said they didn’t feel all aspects of the evaluation had been completed and needed to be resolved first. Board members first had a tie vote regarding whether to go into the closed-door session, leaving Kim Martin, chairperson, to cast the deciding vote to enter the executive session.
Board member Tom Connors objected to the vote, stating it takes a vote by three-fifths of the members of the board to enter into executive session, and the 5-4 vote did not constitute a three-fifths vote.
State law says executive sessions may only be entered into following “a public, recorded vote of 3/5 of the members, present and voting, of such bodies or agencies.”
Board members went into executive session after Kathy Casparius, business director, said entering into executive session only requires a majority vote.
Keith Edwards — 621-5647
Twitter: @kedwardskj
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