Board appoints due-process hearing designees after explaining new student-hearing timelines

The Bibb County Board of Education appointed six employees to serve as student due-process hearing designees and discussed changes in hearing timelines under a recent student due-process law.

The board approved Kevin Cotner, Kim Partridge, Lane Lightsey, Wes Lawley, Keanu Lynch and Jennifer Downs as designees to conduct student disciplinary hearings that are required when a student is removed to an alternative school for an extended period. The motion to appoint the designees was approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

The superintendent told the board that under the new law, students sent to alternative school for more than 15 days have a right to a hearing and the district has 10 days to organize that hearing once it is requested. The superintendent explained that school administrators have authority to assign a student to alternative school for up to 45 days and that the district's practice is typically to use short-term suspensions; extended placements requiring hearings have been rare. "If they are sent to alternative school for more than 15 days, they have a right to a hearing," the superintendent said, adding that the designees are administrators with appropriate credentials so the board will not need to convene within the statutory 10-day window unless necessary.

Board members discussed the practical effect of the change and the superintendent said the appointments are intended to expedite the hearing process. The superintendent estimated such cases have been "maybe 7 or 8" during the superintendent's tenure, and said most discipline matters remain short-term suspensions that do not trigger the extended-hearing requirement.

The board recorded the appointments and directed staff to implement the roster of hearing designees; the item was approved during the regular agenda.