Kennett College Board approves up to date insurance policies for weapons and medicines

The Kennett College Board authorised upgrades to its weapons and drug insurance policies, however not with out prolonged dialogue concerning the nature of enforcement utilized to pupil violators.

Coverage Committee Chairman Don Kohler offered the small print of the 2 insurance policies on the Could 8 board assembly. The resolutions had been then placed on the desk by assistant superintendent Michael Barber and had been authorised by the board.

Kohler launched the subjects, saying that they had been “not a straightforward nut to crack.”

The code defines weapons as knives, chopping instrument, firearms and different implements able to inflicting bodily hurt. However it additionally contains “replicas” of weapons, which may name into query issues like water pistols and butter knives.

The coverage gives that the board “shall expel,” for not lower than a 12 months, any pupil who’s in possession of a “weapon.”

Kohler suggested additional conversations with native legislation enforcement to find out precisely what replicas of weapons are.

“We don’t wish to be accused of arbitrarily treating a pupil unfairly. … as a result of what’s a reproduction? I put my finger up like a gun? We don’t wish to go down that rabbit gap,” he mentioned.

The coverage contains wording that states, “(T)he superintendent might suggest modifications of such expulsion requirement on a case-by-case foundation.”

Board member Ethan Cramer took concern with the expression “shall expel” and mentioned it extra appropriately ought to say “might expel.”

Kohler referenced the discretion clause that’s given to the superintendent within the wording, however Cramer claimed that he was nonetheless uncomfortable with it.

Superintendent Dusty Blakey assured Cramer and the opposite members of the board that he has month-to-month conferences with Kennett Sq. Police Chief William Holdsworth to debate any authorized issues that come up. He added that the principle objective of the weapons code is to make sure pupil security.

A dialogue of the drug coverage adopted.

The drug coverage forbids the possession and distribution of mind-altering unlawful medication in addition to being underneath the affect of such within the faculty.

“Any pupil who violates this prohibition shall be topic to self-discipline, which can embody exclusion from faculty and referral for prosecution,” the coverage states.

It provides, nonetheless, ”(T)he superintendent might suggest to the board any measures she or he deems cheap and needed to manage such abuse, even when his or her advice exceeds the minimal requirements of this  coverage. The board might require participation in drug counseling.”

The coverage additionally gives that the superintendent will contact the mother and father or guardians of pupil violators in addition to the police.

Cramer mentioned he was extra comfy with the wording of the drug coverage than with the weapons coverage. “By no means take away discretion,” he mentioned.

Each paperwork are prolonged and include detailed explanations and definitions. Kohler defined that they include wording concurrent with rules sourced from the Pennsylvania Division of Training.

On the assembly, the board authorised a movement declaring its intent to resume the contract of Dusty Blakey as district superintendent and to re-appoint him to that place. The contract can be negotiated between Blakey and the board, with the vote to approve the brand new contract anticipated on the board assembly on July 10.

The board additionally authorised the contract renewal of district CFO Mark Tracy, who has been with the district for 22 years.