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Board sends student-discipline policy back to committee amid off-campus concerns
Summary
Concerned board members flagged language in proposed policy 2-18 that could expand discipline to acts that 'threaten to interfere' off campus; the board voted to send the policy back to the policy/curriculum committee for revision.
The Kutztown Area School District board voted Dec. 16 to return proposed policy 2-18 (student discipline) to the policy/curriculum committee for further revision after members raised concerns about the scope and wording of the policy.
Policy committee member (speaker 9) said the draft included language creating "a third category" in the conduct standard: "Item 7, the conduct interferes with or threatens to interfere with the rights of students or school staff. The 'threatens to interfere' is a separate category above the rights," which the member said could broaden discipline beyond clear interference.
Members discussed whether the draft would inappropriately expand the district's role into policing off-campus conduct. One board member said the language could require the district to act in situations properly handled by the courts; others agreed the committee should tighten definitions before returning the policy for a subsequent reading.
After a motion and second, the board approved sending policy 2-18 back to committee by roll call. The board asked that the policy-curriculum committee prepare clarified language addressing (1) the distinction between interference and a threat to interfere, and (2) the limits of district jurisdiction for off-campus activity.
The chair said there was no urgent deadline to finalize the policy and that returning the draft to committee would allow more focused discussion. The policy will return to the full board for a future second-reading vote once committee revisions are complete.
