Students Suggest School Improvements

BOARD CONSIDERS PROPOSED DISCIPLINE POLICY

FARMINGTON — Farmington School Board’s September meeting only lasted about 30 minutes and included two short presentations from students at Farmington Junior High.

Principal Joe McClung said students from the school’s EAST class have been pitching ideas on ways to improve the campus and improve the culture of the school.

Two groups presented their ideas.

One group wants to document the district’s past and present by interviewing teachers and students. The other called its project Cardinal Academy. The students proposed creating education videos to help students with common problems inside and outside the classroom.

Other students, McClung said, would like to improve landscaping in front of the junior high building and improve safety along Double Springs Road.

Nathan Ogden, junior high assistant principal, proposed a new discipline policy for the school. Board members received the proposal before the meeting and Superintendent Bryan Law asked them to look over the document before the October board meeting.

After the meeting, Law said the proposed policy was “not set in stone” and that parts of the plan may be amended to fit policies in place at other Farmington school buildings.

Ogden proposed changing some of the verbiage in the handbook for consistency and clarity as far as discipline.

The proposed discipline policy has procedures to follow for four separate categories of improper student behavior.

For Category 1, for example, any discipline is at the discretion of the building principal. Category 1 includes misbehavior such as disruption and interference with school, public displays of affection, gambling on school property and violations of established classroom or school rules.

Category II shows that improper student behavior could include angry outbursts, disregard of reasonable directions or commands, damage of school or private property, inappropriate attire, possession of tobacco related products or electronic cigarettes or truancy.

Improper student behavior in Category III includes possession of drugs, use of drugs, assault of another student, bullying, verbal abuse, possession of a knife or similar instrument that might cause injuries, indecent exposure or gang related activity.

Category IV incidents could include assault of a school employee (on and off school property), purchasing or offering for sale narcotics, drugs and alcohol, possession of a firearm, bomb or terroristic threat, breaking or entering a school facility or computer trespass.

The policy outlines disciplinary actions for Categories II-IV, based on whether it is a student’s first infraction or subsequent infractions.

The proposed policy includes a referral system that offers staff the ability to refer students for positive behavior, Ogden said. It also would help with communication with parents and helps document any improper behavior and consequences applied.