The Examiner U-46 News Feed

U-46 approves changes to student conduct code

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 unanimously approved of changes to the Student Code of Conduct at its June 20 meeting.
  The changes to the code are largely grammatical and updated language based on changes in state law, according to Lela Majstorovic, assistant superintendent of schools.
  However, Majstorovic said there’s clarification to “some of the infraction events” like “attendance referral for tardy and truancy, we clarified so it’s says ‘tardy’ only.”
  Majstorovic added: “One of the larger areas is around the suspension appeal process. So, as opposed to the superintendent’s designee hearing these suspension appeals, the suspension appeals will go straight to the Board of Education to hear and then make a determination.”
  Robin Barraza, coordinator of culture and climate, detailed some of those changes in a June 6 memo when the changes were presented.
  Removed from the suspension appeal-requesting a review section of the code was: “Coordinator of Culture and Climate will request and review evidence used by school administrators to determine student discipline. Evidence may include witness statements and video footage if available.”
  That section replaces the administration’s review of such evidence described above during the appeal/review process replacing it with “will submit a written report to the Board of Education.”
  The code will now say the board “will review the evidence and render a decision,” which replaces the district “will ensure that the appeal decision is impartial. The Superintendent will appoint impartial persons to make the appeal decision.”
  Barraza detailed the process for changing the code: “The current proposed changes to the Student of Conduct were reviewed by the Coordinator of Culture and Climate, the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, the Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, and the Chief Legal Officer. The changes were reviewed and approved by the U-46 Safety Council, which is jointly chaired by U-46 district administration and ETA leadership. Membership on this committee also includes teachers, building administrators, and parents. Additionally, feedback on proposed changes were discussed with site level administrators and students.”