New district hazing policy carries harsh penalties.
The new hazing policy adopted by the Pottsgrove School Board has some serious consequences for violators.
Students found to be involved in a hazing incident can be fined as much as $150 and their diplomas and transcripts withheld if the fine is not paid.
Further, any adult involved in an activity, be it a coach, teacher, volunteer or sponsor, condoned or ignored an incident of hazing could be fired and possibly be subject to criminal prosecution, according to the policy which became official Feb. 14.
District Superintendent William Shirk said copies of the policy are being distributed to the staff this week along with a signature sheet to ensure that the policy has been received and read.
The new policy is much more thorough than the previous one, said School Board President Matt Alexander, who also heads up the board’s policy committee.
“The old policy basically said ‘don’t haze people,’” he said after the school board meeting.
The new policy is based on new guidelines issued by Gov. Tom Wolf’s office, said Shirk.
Alexander said Shirk “stays on top of new guidelines and rules and makes sure we’re up to date as well” when asked why other area districts did not seem to be adopting similar policies.
Alexander said the necessity of having a specific policy became evident after the “No gay Thursday” hazing scandal in the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District.
The new policy defines “hazing” as “any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a person or which willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition of continued membership in, any organization.”
It gives seven common examples such as “Intentionally forced calisthenics; Intentionally exposing students to the elements; Forced consumption of any food.”
Complaints are made to the building principal and a fine can be imposed only after a hearing has been held.