Hamilton County school board members will finally discuss the district's long-awaited plan for handling student behavior and discipline issues on Thursday.
School board members received a draft of the new "Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline" last week. A committee of school principals, assistant principals and other district staff has been working it for most of the school year.
The 29-page document expands on the previous one, which is two pages long, and details the rights and responsibilities of students; the role of student athletes and consequences for a variety of infractions such as bullying and fighting; cutting class; alcohol or drug use; and violating cellphone or dress code policies.
Board member Joe Smith, of District 3, said he's pleased with what he's seen so far and is anxious to hear what his fellow board members have to say.
Smith is, however, concerned about enforcement and how the district will ensure that discipline looks the same across the county - something that it has struggled with in the past.
"What's going to be important is that it is enforced, and I want to see it enforced with consistency across the district," he said. "A lot of times I think one principal will do one thing and another will do another thing. Principals and administrators will need be trained and we need to ensure it will be enforced. Those policies are in place for a reason, and if they aren't being implemented the same across the district, then we're in trouble."
Board member Tucker McClendon, of District 8, echoed Smith. As a more recent graduate of the school system, McClendon said he saw firsthand how principals with autonomy dole out punishment unfairly or unevenly.
"I don't think it should be a free-for-all where principals have every say," McClendon said. "It's one of those things that's never had much consistency across the district, and I think Dr. [Bryan] Johnson and his team are working hard to get there and to get to a point where there's options and consistency."
Under the new code, bringing weapons and drugs to school or using drugs and alcohol on campus, as well as assaulting any district employee or threatening another student or employee with an electronic device, will remain zero-tolerance offenses. This means a student violating the policy would be expelled for one school year.
Other serious infractions carry consequences such as out-of-school suspension up to 10 days, in-school suspension up to five days, recommendation for behavior intervention plans or consultation with law enforcement.
But the new code lays out other options for less severe offenses or first or second incidents that include counseling, peer meditation or conflict resolution, referral to social workers or substance abuse case managers and community service.
Smith said those types of interventions are important for young people.
"You've got to give kids second chances, third chances when possible - some interventions work for some, you have to do other interventions for others," he said.
But board member Rhonda Thurman, of District 1, said she felt that since discipline remains the district's biggest issue, the code isn't strict enough.
Thurman said teachers don't have time to deal with disruptions in the classroom and many complain that they aren't being supported by school administrators when disruptive students just get sent back to class. Thurman would also like to see parents more involved in the process.
"In the end, that's where the responsibility for children's behavior lies - with the parent," she said.
McClendon also said he'd like to see tighter rules and consequences, but since this is the first year the district has implemented such a robust code, it's still a work in progress.
"I think that we will look at it more in detail on Thursday. I think that we as a board will take it under consideration and will make any changes that we see necessary to make sure that our students are held to a high standard on behavior and that there [is] clear and concise consistency across the district when it comes to behavior," he said.
Board member Kathy Lennon, of District 2, also had some concerns about the draft. She said she has questions for Johnson and wants to hear from other board members before making an official comment on the code.
The school board meets Thursday for a work session to discuss board policies, the proposed fiscal year 2020 budget and the draft code of acceptable behavior. The meeting is at 5 p.m. at 3074 Hickory Valley Road.
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.