Kalispell schools seek input on policies

Kalispell Public Schools wants to hear from parents on two student policies.

After a handful of conduct violations in 2010, the district has been examining its chemical use and bullying policies.

Administrators, coaches, parents and school board trustees met in November to discuss possible policy revisions, but the district still would like input from parents.

“A partnership with parents is the best way to create a strong, supportive program for our students,” Superintendent Darlene Schottle said in a Jan. 3 memo to coaches and parents of students involved in co-curricular and extracurricular activities.

“Together the school, community and home can forge a partnership that creates the best environment for our students as they continue to be engaged in a variety of activities.”

The district’s bullying policy prohibits bullying, harassment, intimidation or hazing by students, staff or third parties. It was put to use in summer 2010 when six Flathead High School football players were disciplined for a hazing incident during a Class AA coaches’ football camp in Billings.

Discussion about the policy has included how to handle issues that take place outside of school, including at summer camps or online. Some parents and school staff also want the policy to address how students report bullying; many victims hesitate to tell adults about harassment.

During the November meeting, the group agreed that training student leaders to positively influence their peers could play an important role in reducing bullying. Prevention education for children and adults has also been discussed.

The district’s current chemical use policy says students in extra- and co-curricular activities will not use, have in their possession, sell or distribute alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs, nor abuse prescription or nonprescription drugs during their seasons.

The rules are in effect 24 hours a day, and students who are ticketed by law enforcement officers or are seen violating the rules will not be allowed to participate in activities.

High school handbooks take the district policy a step further; they say students may not be present where illegal drug, alcohol or tobacco use is happening, even if the students are not participating in the illegal activities.

Students who violate the policies are immediately dismissed from the activity for the remainder of the season.

But the district discovered last fall that its “one and done” policies may not hold up in court.

Four football players were removed from the Flathead football team in September when marijuana and paraphernalia were found in their car during a traffic stop.

One of the players, Connor Thomas, denied using the pot or owning the paraphernalia, but according to the school handbook, his presence in the car violated school policy.

After his mother sued the school district, District Judge Katherine Curtis not only ordered that Thomas be reinstated to the team but also questioned the legality of the school policy.

The lawsuit has not officially been dropped, but the district has had no further inquiry since Thomas was reinstated, Schottle said.

At the November meeting, some suggested adding a tiered approach for handling chemical use violations. Others, however, were uncomfortable with a tiered structure when students have signed contracts pledging not to violate the policy.

Some have suggested the district consider suspending students for a specific period of time rather than for the rest of the season, as current policy directs. That would cover instances of students who violate the policy in the last week of one season.

District staffers and parents have also expressed concern about maintaining a safety net for students in trouble. Allowing struggling students to stay involved can provide that net to some degree, they say.

The district welcomes suggestions on how either policy might be improved or clarified. Direct comments to school board members or to Schottle at schottled@sd5.k12.mt.us.

The policies are available at www.sd5.k12.mt.us. Under the “Board” tab, click on “Policies & Procedures.” Policy 3226 covers bullying; policy 3340 covers chemical use.