BestEssayHelp | Board of Education Reviews New Discipline Referral Policy

Teachers could soon practice a new discipline referral policy in accordance with legislation passed by the General Assembly earlier this year.

The policy, drafted by a nine-member committee, aims to create consistency when filing discipline referrals.

"It was truly a collaborative process," said Anne Arundel County Board of Education President Patricia Nalley, who served on the committee. "We had a charge from the legislature to develop a discipline referral policy that was consistent and we received input from all the stakeholders."

The policy created a four-part form that is completed by an administrator, teacher or other staff member and cites the specific reason for the referral. Previously a three-part form, the fourth copy is to be retained by the person who completes the form.

"The concern brought to the legislature was that the form would not be returned to the originator," said George Arlotto, the assistant superintendent who sat on the committee. This way the person who wrote the referral could have a copy for his or her records if follow-up was necessary, he said.

Administrators are then asked to review and process the referral within 48 hours, discuss the appropriateness of the referral and ask any questions necessary, speak with the student about his or her actions and determine if any disciplinary measure will be taken and, if the referral is to be process, ensure the information is entered into the students record.

"Just because a discipline referral form is completed, it doesn't necessarily mean it was warranted," Arlotto said.

School board member Eugene Peterson, representing Dist. 21, said he hoped reviewing the discipline referral policy would create an opportunity to narrow the gap between the student-teacher relationship. He said the bulk of discipline referrals are for insubordination.

"We're suspending kids, we're kicking them out, for insubordination—which is described in one of my favorite movies, Cool Hand Luke, as a 'failure to communicate,'" he said. "I hope that we [are able] to foster communication."

But school board member Solon Webb, Dist. 30, said he reviewed about 30 discipline referral forms Tuesday and saw a different trend.

"The vast majority of referrals were for skipping class … there was a very low number of [referrals for] insubordination," he said. "So I'd be interested to see some more research on that."

The proposed policy will be discussed by board at least one more time before it comes up for a vote, said schools spokesman Bob Mosier. It is available online for public comment through Dec. 31. The policy will then go through a revision period.

"Pertinent comments will be integrated and then it will come back for a second reading," he said.

The dates for the second and third reading of the policy have not been set.

The Office Discipline Referral Policy and Guidelines Committee was comprised of the Nalley, representing the Board; Arlotto as the designee of the Superintendent; a representative from the Anne Arundel Citizen Advisory Committee; and two representatives each from the Anne Arundel County Council of PTAs, the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County and the Association of Educational Leaders, according to the Board's website.

source: Severn Patch