Belle Vernon rejects teacher misconduct policy
ROSTRAVER TWP. – The Belle Vernon Area Board of Education considered and then rejected a policy requiring the misconduct of any teacher to be reported to the local board so that appropriate action could be taken. “Teacher misconduct happens very infrequently,” said Director Deborah Puglia. “However, any misconduct that is not already required by law to be reported, such as sexual assault or injury to a student due to negligence of a teacher, and could result in the discharge of an employee, would have to be reported.”
Director Ralph Iacoboni and board President Aaron Bialon said they were concerned that the policy could result in false reports, which could harm an employee who did not act in an inappropriate way.
“This puts the district at a risk and puts us in a position where we have to substantiate something,” said Iacoboni.
“This creates a situation where substantiation is in place,” said Bialon. “We can’t have a policy allowing us to do that. I agree with the policy with the exception of turning information into the board.”
Director Harve Anderson responded that he thought the policy would be in the best interest of the students in the district.
“It is our duty to protect our citizens and our students in any way possible,” Anderson said.
Puglia pointed out that if Superintendent Charles Chandler should find out about any misconduct, he should have to report it to the board so the situation could be examined.
“Although I am required to report something, that does not mean that they would take my word for it,” said Chandler, adding that a report would lead to a full-scale investigation.
Director Dr. L. Douglas Pepper said his concern was also with false reports, because “someone could be the best teacher in the school and still not be very popular.”
At the risk of adopting a policy that could harm the reputation or work status of a professional educator, the board voted against it. Bialon said the board would most likely revisit this issue after some changes were made in the policy. “I would assume that (Puglia) will bring this to our attention at a later time.”
Puglia also asked the board to approve an athletic participation policy that would require students who are involved in athletics and other extracurricular activities to meet the graduation requirements in order to be allowed to participate in those activities.
It was brought to the board’s attention that there have been students in the past who were involved with athletics and did not graduate with their class. Students are required to have a grade-point average of 1.5 to be allowed to participate in athletics and other time consuming activities.
It is that requirement that brought on some conflict over the policy, as there were some board members who said they believe the acceptable GPA should be a 2.0.
Pepper gave his thoughts on what should be required of students if the are going to succeed in life, and reflected on what he believed was the purpose of the “No Child Left Behind Act.”
“We all have the same goal of doing what is best for the children, and we are concerned with leaving no child behind,” said Pepper. “I don’t know what will happen to a star running back with a D+ average who goes to Notre Dame and finds that football takes up so much of his time, and he has no discipline to do it and make good grades. What will happen to him and what will happen to other students graduating with a D+ average? We talk about no child left behind, but we also say that a D+ is OK. We say that they can have a D+ average, but still do this and still do that. We should tell them that a D+ is not good enough.”
Pepper explained that he is concerned that many children don’t have parents at home who make sure that their students are performing to the best of their ability. He said he was concerned about students who do have the ability to make acceptable grades but don’t have the discipline or parental guidance. For those students, he said a 1.5 was inadequate.
Anderson agreed with Pepper, saying that once someone goes to college, they must maintain a 2.0 GPA.
“When you go to college, you’re first semester you don’t always need a 2.0 to get in. But during college, if you don’t maintain a 2.0, you are placed on academic probation,” said Anderson.
Puglia said that the policy was meant to bring students’ grades up, and would hopefully keep them from failing.
“If someone was in a musical and was failing English, they would be removed from that activity,” Puglia said. “A D is passing, and a 1.5 is technically between a D+ and a C-. This policy is a start. We can see how it works and go from there.”
Director Dale Patterson said he believes the strategic plan that the board has already approved in accordance with the “No Child Left Behind Act” covers the same requirements that are in the athletic participation policy.
“Everyone involved in the strategic plan should make sure that we leave no child behind,” said Patterson. “We must do everything we can to make sure that all of our students graduate.”
Although Anderson made a motion to accept the policy, but change the required GPA to a 2.0, the board voted to accept the policy with 1.5 being the requirement.
Iacoboni gave his reason for believing that a 1.5 GPA is acceptable in some cases.
“If there is any reason why a student at some point cannot make that 1.5, why should we tell them they can’t participate in other activities? I have known students that didn’t do so well in school for various reasons, but they still go on and function in life. They have jobs and they have businesses. That is my reason for voting no on changing the requirement,” said Iacoboni.