Journal Blog

No substitute for school supervision

Ruby Brabo, a Dahlgren resident, wrote the following email to King George School Superintendent Dr. Candace Brown, and copied it to the School Board members:

Ms. Brown

Today's incident at the high school is simply the straw to break the camel's back. Something appears to be very much lacking in the supervision of our children and the care for their safety.

After a decision made in reference to budget cuts, substitute teachers were no longer provided for the high school placing undo strain on teachers as they attempted to cover classes during planning periods and lunches. On February 28, 2008 my daughter called me in Las Vegas to inform me that there had been no substitute teacher (or any adult supervision) provided for 2 class periods of that day. The boys became rowdy and some wrote profanities on the walls. Fortunately for everyone's sake nothing more serious ensued. I was angry that my daughter's safety at school had been placed in jeopardy. Mr. Satterwhite appeared not to believe this had actually occurred coming to my daughter's classroom the next day to question her and that block's teacher. The teacher confirmed that yes my daughter had brought the situation to her attention the previous day. When the reporter from the Free Lance Star contacted the school in reference to the situation, everyone denied that substitute teacher's had been cut from the schedule. When I allowed teachers to listen to the voicemail left by the reporter, I was informed that on 29 February an e-mail had been sent to teachers informing them that funding had been "found" to reinstate substitutes. None of the teachers knew about the incident or why the funding had suddenly been reinstated. How quickly we react to cover our tracks!?!?

Even with substitute teachers back in the classroom, the question arises as to just what kind of supervision is taking place? How safe are our children? What qualifications are required of these substitute teachers and what kind of follow-up takes place by school authorities?

Last week my daughter came home to tell me that the substitute teacher in her German class literally laid his/her head down on the desk and went to sleep while a rowdy classroom full of boys wrote with permanent marker on the floor and stuck sandwiches to the ceiling. Today the school nurse called for me to pick up my child and take her to the clinic for stitches. How does a classroom get so rowdy that a roll of masking tape is hurled with such force as to cause such a gash on a child's face?!!? My daughter stated that the substitute was so oblivious to what was taking place that when she requested a pass to the nurse the teacher inquired as to why and then looked up to see the blood all over her face.

I no longer have the confidence that my child will be well supervised and kept safe from harm when attending King George High School. The school's only recourse seems to be to reprimand the students whose behavior has gotten out of control and not those parties who are actually responsible for their supervision. As a parent, I have the right to know that my child is well cared for when I place her on that school bus and entrust her to the school system for the day.

Sincerely,
Ruby Brabo

When asked for more information about the nature of the incident, Mrs. Brabo responded:

The substitute teacher in my daughter's art class simply was not paying attention. The boys began by throwing balls of paper which progressed to a louder level of balls made from tape which then escalated to throwing of the actual rolls of masking tape. How does a teacher allow this kind of behavior to get so out of control and not even realize when a student has been injured?

My husband called Mr. Satterwhite at about 10:30am after learning I was on my way to the school but only got his voice mail and no one has returned the call as of yet.

At the end of February, Mrs. Brabo sent an email to The Journal - “Today my daughter basically acted as the substitute teacher for her second and third block classes. There was no adult present to supervise the children. …”

A little late for that

Someone has been put out a petition asking Supervisors Joe Grzeika, Jim Howard and Dale Sisson to bring back the proposed commercial rezoning at Rts. 3 and 301 for reconsideration at the next meeting of the Board of Supervisors "thereby allowing input and discussion from all concerned parties...."

Even if the Board members were inclined to do so, they would not be able to. In order to reconsider the Board's vote, the motion to reconsider would have had to be made by one of the supervisors in the majority at the same meeting.

The meeting where the vote took place was adjourned and we suspect the Board members who voted to deny the rezoning are not interested in reconsidering the vote.

So the rezoning application, at least by the current applicants, cannot be brought back for a year.

Here is the petition. Note - no indication of who is sponsoring it.
Download Petition.gif

 

From the documents

Linda Davis’s son was suspended on March 19 for 10 days.

King George School Board policy provides:

“III. SHORT-TERM SUSPENSIONS
A pupil may be suspended for not more than ten school days by either the school principal, any assistant principal, or, in their absence, any teacher. The principal, assistant principal, or teacher may suspend the pupil after giving the pupil oral or written notice of the charges against him and, if he denies them, an explanation of the facts as known to school personnel and an opportunity to present his version of what occurred. In the case of any pupil whose presence poses a continuing danger to persons or property, or whose presence is an ongoing threat of disruption, the pupil may be removed from school immediately and the notice, explanation of facts, and opportunity to present his version shall be given as soon as is practical thereafter.”

But then School Superintendent Dr. Candace Brown wrote Mr. and Mrs. Davis on March 31 saying she was extending their son’s suspension until April 11.

King George School Board policy provides:

IV. LONG-TERM SUSPENSION
A pupil may be suspended from attendance at school for more than ten days after written notice is provided to the pupil and his parent of the proposed action and the reasons therefore and of the right to a hearing before the school board, or a committee thereof, or the superintendent or his designee, in accordance with regulations of the school board. If the regulations provide for a hearing by the superintendent or his designee, the regulations shall also provide for an appeal of the decision to the full school board. Such appeal shall be decided by the school board within thirty days.

Although the policy provides that:

The written notice of a suspension for more than ten days shall include notification of the length of the suspension and shall provide information concerning the availability of community-based educational, alternative education, or intervention programs. Such notice shall also state that the student is eligible to return to regular school attendance upon the expiration of the suspension or to attend an appropriate alternative education program approved by the school board during or upon the expiration of the suspension. The costs of any community-based educational, alternative education, or intervention program that is not a part of the educational program offered by the school division that the student may attend during his suspension shall be borne by the parent of the student.

No notice was provided in the letter from Dr. Brown about the availability of community-based educational programs, etc.

Note the letter includes a cc: to Richard Roberts, Discipline Committee Chairperson.

The Policy JGE-R/JGD-R adopted April 9 provides that:

If the decision of the Discipline Committee is unanimous, the student or his/her parents have no right of appeal. If the Discipline Committee’s decision is not unanimous, the student or his/her parent may appeal the Discipline Committee’s decision to the Superintendent of Schools. The appeal must be in writing and must be filed with the Superintendent within five (5) calendar days of receipt of the written notice of the Discipline Committee’s decision. Failure to file a written appeal within the specified time will constitute a waiver of the right to appeal. The School Board shall consider the appeal upon the record within thirty (30) calendar days of the request for an appeal and shall transmit a written decision to the student, his/her parent and the principal.
Although there is no appeal, Dr. Brown wrote to Mrs. Davis that:
“during his time of suspension ______ may be at the School Board Office during the times of his tutoring sessions.”
Which appears to be a change from ruling of the Discipline Committee that her son was suspended for the remainder of the school year and could not come on school property and that he could attend summer school.

Download cbletter3-31-08.pdf

Download letter4-15-08.pdf

Download letter4-22-08.pdf

Download letter4-24-08.pdf

King George's school board Discipline Committee

When the King George School Board considered the formation of a discipline committee Chairman Dennis Paulsen provided a handout with the following information to his fellow board members.

The handout indicated how six other divisions handle major student disciplinary violations, as follows:

~ Fredericksburg City Schools – committee of three administrators hears discipline referrals, sending up decisions to the superintendent for final review.

~ Caroline County Schools – three-person committee of administrators, but if decision is for expulsion, the matter is heard by the full school board for review.

~ Stafford County – discipline committee composed of three school board members.

~ Virginia Beach – discipline committee composed of the director of guidance and three school board members.

~ Spotsylvania – for matters of expulsion, an administrator brings the case to a school board discipline panel composed of three random members of the school board.

~ Orange County – discipline decisions around suspension or expulsion are made by the principal and the superintendent with the right of appeal to the full school board.

What the websites say:

Now that a lawsuit has been filed challenging whether students have been denied due process, we took a look at the policies of some those jurisdictions.

Fredericksburg:

According to the Fredericksburg City schools website “A pupil may be suspended for not more than ten school days by either the school principal, any assistant principal, or, in their absence, any teacher.”

A pupil may be suspended from attendance at school for more than ten days after written notice is provided to the pupil and his parent of the proposed action and the reasons therefor and of the right to a hearing before the school board, or a committee thereof, or the superintendent or his designee, in accordance with regulations of the school board.

Pupils may be expelled from attendance at school after written notice to the pupil and his parent of the proposed action and the reasons therefor and of the right to a hearing before the school board Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the regulations of the school board.  The regulations shall provide that such committee may confirm or disapprove the expulsion of a student. Any such committee of the school board shall be composed of at least three members. If the committee’s decision is not unanimous, the pupil or his parent may appeal the committee’s decision to the full school board. Such appeal shall be decided by the school board within 30 days.

The regulations shall also provide for subsequent confirmation or disapproval of the proposed expulsion by the committee regardless of whether the pupil has exercised the right to hearing.

So in Fredericksburg expulsions are handled by a school board Disciplinary Committee, not a committee of three administrators, at least according to the policy posted on the website.

Caroline:

The Caroline County School Board  lists the following policies:

The principal, assistant principal, or designee may suspend a pupil out of school for ten school days or less.

The superintendent or his/her designee(s) may suspend students from school in excess of ten (10) school days.

As for expulsion, a principal may recommend that a student be expelled. The principal shall notify the student and his parent(s), or guardian in writing of the following:

(a) The proposed action and the reasons therefore;

(b) The right of the student and his parent(s) or guardian to a hearing before the superintendent or his designee(s) under the procedure for suspensions in excess of 10 days, and

(c) The right to inspect the student’s school records;

The student and his parent(s) shall also be provided with a copy of the Standards of Student Conduct.

Upon Written request of the student and his parents or guardian, the superintendent may waive the hearing at this step and have the case heard directly by the School Board as provided below.

2. If the superintendent or his designee(s) upholds the recommendation of expulsion, the student shall be suspended until the matter is decided by the School Board. The superintendent or a designee may impose a lesser sanction. If the principal’s recommendation of expulsion is approved by the superintendent or his/her designee(s), the student and his/her parent(s) or guardian may request a hearing before the School Board.

In Caroline, a case for expulsion is heard by the Superintendent, but the parent or guardian can request that the hearing before the Superintendent may be waived and the case can be heard directly by the School Board.

Stafford:

Stafford County appears to be in the process of updating its policies, but still the policy on Student Suspensions and Expulsions provides that students may be suspended for up to and including ten (10) consecutive school days by the school principal, assistant principal or acting principal.

The Board and the superintendent designee may suspend students from school and/or the bus in excess of ten (10) consecutive days after the student and his/her parent or guardian have been provided written notice of the proposed action.

The Stafford policy provides that “Only the board or a committee thereof exercises the authority to expel a student.” The principal, assistant principal or acting principal may recommend to the superintendent/designee that a student be expelled. If the principal’s recommendation of expulsion is upheld by the Superintendent/designee, a hearing shall be conducted by the board or a committee thereof. Determination as to whether a committee of the board shall consider the matter shall be within the discretion of the chairman.

In the case of expulsion hearing conducted by committee, the committee shall be composed of at least three board members. A unanimous decision of the committee of the board shall be a final decision and is not subject to appeal.

Virginia Beach:

Virginia Beach Public Schools website sets out its procedure on suspension or expulsion.

The principal or acting principal may recommend to the Superintendent that a student be expelled.
The written documentation of the principal regarding his/her consideration of these factors shall be transmitted to the Superintendent/designee, Hearing Officer/ Discipline Committee/School Board, with the student’s case and each shall consider these factors in recommending expulsion of the student.
The Superintendent, or his/her designee(s), shall review the principal’s recommendation for expulsion and may either uphold or modify it. If the principal's recommendation of expulsion is upheld by the Superintendent or his/her designee(s), the Superintendent or his/her designee shall notify the student and his/her parent of the time and place of a hearing before a hearing officer or a discipline committee of the School Board. If the recommendation is referred to a hearing officer, the student may appeal the decision rendered by the hearing officer to a discipline committee of the School Board. The discipline committee of the School Board is composed of at least three (3) voting members of the School Board and the Coordinator of Guidance Services, or designee, who will serve as a nonvoting member. In the event that only two School Board members are present, the committee can proceed to hear and decide the appeal with the Coordinator of Guidance Services, or designee, providing the third vote.
If the decision of the full discipline committee is unanimous, the student or his/her parent have no right of appeal to the full School Board. If the discipline committee’s decision is not unanimous or the decision is made by a committee consisting of less than three School Board members, the student or his/her parent may appeal the discipline committee's decision to the full School Board.

Orange:

Orange County's school policy provides: that Pupils may be expelled from attendance at school after written notice to the pupil and his parent of the proposed action and the reasons therefore and of the right to a hearing before the school board.

The regulations shall also provide for subsequent confirmation or disapproval of the proposed expulsion by the committee regardless of whether the pupil has exercised the right to a hearing.

It appears that the procedures listed on the websites of the various school boards do not match the information distributed to the King George School Board.