County schools debate off-campus discipline

The Albemarle School Board will solidify policies that allow schools to discipline students for off-campus behavior.
    Since two parties in Albemarle and Crozet resulted in the death of 17-year-old Western Albemarle student Nolan Jenkins and the ticketing of dozens of teens, schools have been debating their role in battling underage drinking.
    A recommendation presented Thursday, July 13, says schools may discipline misconduct “where 1) there is a nexus between the conduct and school operations; 2) where the conduct has been shown to have a detrimental or harmful effect on the welfare or safety of the school and its students; or 3) where the conduct has caused substantial or material disruption to the school’s operations.”
    This wording puts policy in line with already-existing laws, schools attorney Mark Trank said.
    The board may also ask legislators to allow names of minors who are arrested for alcohol outside school to be released to school officials. (Some of the students arrested at the parties were under 18, so their names were not released.)
    Lisa Moorefield, a parent who spoke at the meeting, said she was on board with the intent of the policy, but couldn’t understand the language. What types of behaviors, exactly, would schools discipline?
    Superintendent Pam Moran said she doesn’t want the School Board to police every illegal behavior, but to address egregious instances that affect schools. “Police have a job to do, parents have a job to do,” she said.
    Staff will look into whether athletic training manuals should be revised, possibly modeling after “Sports Done Right,” a program that’s had success in Maine. Other extra-curricular activities could be subject to alcohol agreements between students, parents and leaders. “Participating in extra-curriculars is a privilege, and if you’re representing the school we have some different expectations about behavior,” board member Brian Wheeler said.
    Staff will also develop alcohol education seminars for grades 11 and 12. Wheeler expects these revisions in time for the 2007-08 school year.
    Board member Jon Stokes cautioned against combining driver’s education with alcohol education, fearing the message would be “if you’re going to drink, don’t drive.” He argued the message to teens should be to abstain from alcohol altogether.
    The board will vote on the policy August 10; they’ll meet with legislators August 24 to determine if schools should have access to information about alcohol arrests of minors.