MUSCATINE, Iowa — At least two people aren’t pleased with the Muscatine Community School District’s good conduct policy, but it will stand for the time being.

The good conduct policy that was approved Monday night still includes a segment stating that a school principal, in cooperation with another school official, such as the activities director, can declare a student ineligible for school activities if that student’s actions create a negative image of the school.

The Muscatine School Board approved the policy Monday night during its regular meeting, following a third reading. Board member Ann Hart cast the lone dissenting vote.

Hart, along with Muscatine High School girls’ soccer coach, Osama Shihadeh, said part of the policy leaves a grey area that troubles them.

Hart and Shihadeh said students who behave inappropriately when they are not at school or attending a school activity should not be disciplined by school officials unless a legal charge has been filed by a law enforcement official.

“When students do something away from school, it’s hard to follow,” said Hart.

Hart said it is too difficult for school officials who did not witness a student’s behavior to determine whether or not a student is guilty of a specific action without the verification of law-enforcement.

Shihadeh asked the Board to take more time to review the policy.

“It’s not clear to anybody,” said Shihadeh. “Send a survey to parents, coaches and teachers and get some feedback.”

Superintendent Tom Williams  said it is important for school officials to have the authority to determine whether or not a student’s behavior warrants ineligibility.

“I’d rather keep it open so the principal and athletic director have some flexibility,” said Williams.

Williams also noted that the policy contains a provision for parents and students to meet with the activities director or building principal and appeal decisions that are made in conjunction with the policy.

Policy changes

Williams said changes to the discipline policy involve bringing the policy in line with  the new standards for academic eligibility adopted by the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa High School Music Association and the Iowa High School Speech Association for academic eligibility.

In the past, students needed  to pass only four classes to remain eligible for participation in sports and other extracurricular activities. The new state rule now for students to pass all their classes to remain eligible.

Grades will be reviewed at the end of the grading period. Students who do not meet the standard will be declared ineligible for 20 days for athletics and 30 days for speech and music, during which they can raise their performance and then have their eligibility restored, Williams said.

Students in music and speech would not be allowed to participate in competitions and contests for 30 days, Williams said. The amount of time is different for students in music and speech than for sporting events because the Iowa Music and the Iowa Speech Associations write their own standards and rules for students who participate in those programs.

The revised policy also contains a provision for self-reporting, Williams said. Students who tell their coach, sponsor or activity director or principal that they have violated the good conduct policy within 48 hours of their offense will reduce the penalty for that offense by 50 percent.

This applies only to first-time offenses.

New faces

Taking action on the discipline policy was part of the old business that was wrapped up by the Muscatine School Board before the new board was assembled.

On Sept. 13, two school board members were elected and one was re-elected to the board to fill the expired terms of Jerry Lange, Robin Krueger and Paul Brooks.

On Monday, the Board welcomed Brooks back along with first-time Board members Tammi Drawbaugh and Joyce Haller.

Williams told the Board that departing Board members Krueger and Lange served the community well.

Lange, who completed eight years on the Board, said not enough people are voting in the school board elections and recommended combining those elections with the annual local, state and national elections.

The Board elected Tom Welk president of the board for the coming school year and Brooks  vice president.

Contact Cynthia Beaudette at 563-263-2331 ext. 323 or cynthia.beaudette@muscatinejournal.com