DECATUR — School board members voted to update the school’s student policies, to align with the recommendations of the Arkansas School Board Association, at its Oct. 17 meeting.
Seventeen policies were affected by the changes, ranging from residence and entrance requirements for foster children to dress code, possession of cell phones, and placement of multiple-birth siblings. Some of the changes were minor, while other policies were nearly or completely rewritten.
Superintendent Larry Ben explained that Decatur is a member of the school board association and pays for the model policy services. Classified and certified staff policy changes were made last spring before employees signed new contracts, he said.
The school’s policy on absences was entirely rewritten. The new policy will not allow students to be absent for more than 10 days in a semester. Students who exceed theallowable number of absences can lose credit for the course in high school or be retained in elementary school.
School board member Kevin Smith asked if the school can notify the Department of Human Services when elementary students miss a certain amount of days.
Ben explained that after five days parents will be notified automatically. On the 11th day the parents will get a second notification. If absences continued, school staff could make the decision to notify the prosecuting authority and the parent would be subject to civil penalties.
The policy allows for students who have excessive absences due to illness, accident or other unavoidable reason to be given assistance for obtaining credit for their courses. Parents can petition for special arrangements for the student’s absences or appear before an attendance committee to explain their case.
Students are also allowed to be absent to participate in schoolsanctioned activities, such as FFAand 4-H, and to serve as pages in the state’s General Assemblies or visit a family member in the military.
A paragraph specifying that students are prohibited from wearing clothing that exposes underwear, buttocks or the breast of a female was added to the policy dealing with student dress and grooming. The paragraph exempts from the requirement costumes and uniforms worn by the student while participating in school-sponsored activities or events.
School board member Darleen Holly called into question the use of some of the terminology dealing with female anatomy. Ben explained that the words “buttocks” and “breast” were required to be part of the policy by state law.
Ben said that he was warned early in his career that dress code is one of the most difficult issues for principals and superintendents to deal with because it is hard to determine where to draw the line.
“It is important to enforce thesethings consistently in the manner the community expects ... The key is to uphold the values of the community,” he said.
The school’s policy on bullying was updated to include language requiring the principal who receives a credible report of bullying to make a prompt investigation. The definition of bullying is expanded to include persons who are targeted for their personal characteristics or attributes.
A change in the school’s cell phone policy will allow cell phones and electronic communication devices to be used in the classroom under controlled conditions to enhance student learning.
Several of the policies deal with students who are foster children. The school is required to work with thestudents and the Department of Human Services on matters of attendance and making up work and allow them to continue attending school even if they have moved out of the district if the courts determine that is what is best for the student. The school is also encouraged to provide transportation for students living outside the district.
Policy changes can be viewed on the school’s website, www.decatur.k12. ar.us.
In other business, the school board re-elected officers for the new year.Ike Owens was re-elected board president, Darleen Holly was re-elected vicepresident and district treasurer Terry Burden was reelected board secretary.
Ike Owens was renamed the primary disbursement officer responsible for signing checks. Kevin Smith was named the alternative disbursement officer in place of Justin Thompson, who was not present.
News, Pages 1 on 10/26/2011