R-XIII Schools Adopting New Suspension Policy

The St. Clair R-XIII Board of Education approved the first reading of a new discipline policy that deals with the suspension of students.

The policy was part of the board’s June consent agenda that unanimously was supported.

Assistant Superintendent Mark Denbow told board members that the intent of the policy is to help building principals as they work through discipline issues.

“We’re looking for ways to be more consistent,” Denbow said on June 21. “Our goal is to be fair and consistent with this policy.”

According to language of the policy, a principal may suspend a student up to 10 days without superintendent intervention. The suspension must be reported immediately, in writing, to both the student and the parents, guardian or others having custodial care of the child. A copy also will be forwarded to the superintendent.

If a longer suspension is warranted, the principal can contact the superintendent. A suspension may last up to 180 days.

The policy also states that the student can’t be suspended unless he or she is informed of the charge. If the student denies the charge, he or she will be given an explanation.

Also, the student will be given an opportunity to present his or her version of the incident to the principal or superintendent.

A suspended student may not be within 1,000 feet of any school property unless he or she lives within that distance of a district building.

The policy also reads that in suspensions up to 10 days, the student will not receive credit for schoolwork during that period.

For longer suspensions, the student may receive credit for work completed if certain agreements are made between the district and the student and parents. The agreement usually will involve drug testing.

Suspensions still will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

For more information, contact the R-XIII school district at 636-629-3500.