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Policy Review Committee 06/29/2011


RensvoldH

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Proceedings of the Board of Trustees

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

June 29, 2011

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

The Policy Review Committee Meeting of the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana, and High School District, Yellowstone County, Montana, was duly held at the Lincoln Center, 415 North 30th Street, Billings, Montana, June 29, 2011 at 6:15 p.m.

 

Committee members present included Trustees Barbara Bryan, Teresa Stroebe, Greta Besch Moen, Travis Kemp, Pam Ellis and Barbara Bryan. Also present were Superintendent Keith Beeman; Administrators Kathy Olson, Josh Middleton, Scott Anderson, Karen Palmer, and District Clerk Leo Hudetz. Also attending were Kim Anthony, Stacy Lemelin, Mike Yakawich (Chairman of the Suicide Prevention Coaltion for the Yellowstone Valley), Reece Kalfell, Carolyn Yegen, and Robin Cormier.

 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC

 

The Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of listening to members of the public in its meetings. The Board also recognizes the statutory and constitutional right of the public to participate in governmental operations. The Board encourages members of the public to participate in and express opinions about issues important to the District. This part of the Board’s meeting is dedicated to public comment on any public matter that is not on the agenda of this meeting and is within the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees. Members of the public may also address particular items on this agenda either now or at the time the Board considers the particular item.

 

There was no public comment.

 

POLICY 3250 AND PROCEDURE 3250-P1 – STUDENT DISCIPLINE

 

Committee Chair Barbara Bryan stated the purpose of this meeting being to provide a public forum for discussion of the recent revisions to the Student Discipline Policy: 3250; policy revisions require three readings prior to being finalized, this particular policy has had one reading.

 

Trustee Kemp provided a brief introduction to the discussion and turned the microphone over to Billings Public Schools Director of Technology Karen Palmer, who briefly explained that the District currently employs a Student Acceptable Use Policy and a Staff Acceptable Use Policy describing what is considered appropriate and inappropriate use of electronic devices on our networks. Those policies refer back to the Student Discipline Policy where particular types of behaviors are mentioned but where cyber-bullying is not mentioned specifically; the district is seeking, through current policy revisions, to clarify our understanding of the importance of, and desire to work with students to avoid cyber-bullying.

 

Palmer provided an overview of the changes to Policy 3250 and Procedure 3251-P1. The question was raised as to whether this policy extends beyond what happens at school, such as what might take place on social networking websites outside of school hours, and the District’s authority or responsibility to intervene. Palmer clarified that the District is in a position to intervene if material posted online disrupts the education of students. The importance of this distinction was discussed at some length, not limited to cyber-bullying, in terms of school administrators having authority to step in when issues have arisen outside of school but if/when those issues disrupt the health, wellbeing and education of other students.

 

Mike Yakawich, Chairman of the Suicide Prevention Coalition for Yellowstone Valley, made a number of suggestions relating to the policy revisions currently being discussed. The first related to strengthening the language of the policy by changing many of the ‘may’ statements to those using ‘shall’ or ‘will.’ Secondly, relating specifically to bullying in the form of falsely accusing other students of having issued a bomb threat. Language should be added relating to consequences for making false accusations of bomb threats. These false witnesses need to know they could be suspended for a year, too. On the whole, Yakawich stated that this is a good policy, but added that the addition of some solid sets of procedures for dealing with bullies, with grade-appropriate step-by-step approach to the problem, would strengthen it further.

 

Dr. Don Harr, Vice Chairman of the Suicide Prevention Coalition for Yellowstone Valley could not be in attendance, but requested that Yakawich read a statement to the group:

 

My primary recommendation is for consistent, age-related bullying – prevention protocol for all SD2 schools that includes appropriate education and training for all teachers and school staff. A method of oversight follow-up to determine if the individual schools are persistent in continuing the program. It is especially important for administrators of the individual schools to be oriented in the importance of this. Parents and guardians should be made aware of the protocol which involves their participation in remedial action for bullies and victims. There are experienced, developed programs regarding this problem, which schools can follow if one is not already available, such as the one in Kalispell, with the Kalispell teachers.

When this committee of the school board makes its report to the full board, I shall appreciate the opportunity to be on the agenda to speak of the mental health importance of prevention programs.

 

Yakawich continued with a recommendation that all bullying incidences be reported to a central entity, regardless of how insignificant they may seem to the teachers and staff, and let the person or people in charge make the call.

 

As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

 

 

 

Barbara Bryan, Chair

 

 

 

Holly Rensvold, Recorder

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