“In loco parentis,” or just loco?

From the get-go, it was clear that last week’s Albemarle County School Board meeting would revolve around a single topic: alcohol, kids, and what schools can do when those two volatile compounds mix off-campus.
In the wake of 17-year-old Nolan Jenkins’ death, the board was left wondering what more can be done about students’ extracurricular behaviors.
State law already requires that juvenile felonies be reported to schools. The board may now decide to ask the State to include underage drinking in the list of reportable crimes. This would allow police to legally report minors (and there are scads to report: cops ticketed 11 teens for drinking at the party preceding Jenkins’ death, 16 at a recent post-prom bonfire party in Crozet, and at least three others since then).
Deputy County Attorney Mark Trank says schools can also discipline off-campus behavior that has “material or general detrimental effect on the operation or general welfare of the school.” Other school districts, including Charlottesville, have clear policies on these offenses, Trank says.
Also at issue is whether student athletes are subject to a higher standard than other students. Albemarle student-athletes and their parents sign a pledge not to drink or use drugs during the season, upon threat of a 30-day athletic suspension.
Currently the pledge extends only to student athletes. Board members were divided on whether to extend the pledges to all students, or to abolish them altogether.
School Board members also questioned how far to extend a school’s “in loco parentis” role. Board member Steve Koleszar said, “When they’re not under our care, then it’s the parents’ job to be parents.”
The board also may enlist the help of the Board of Supervisors, which is also divided. At a meeting earlier last week, Supervisor David Slutsky said the board should be “proactive” and offered to do “whatever we can do to help.” However, Supervisor Dennis Rooker said allowing schools to punish students’ out-of-school behavior raises the question, “How far down that road do you go?”—Meg McEvoy