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Students urge clear rules, supervision and accountability in clubs policy; board to form student‑staff working group
Summary
A group of Hamilton County students asked the school board to be included in revisions to the clubs policy, pressing for clear supervision rules and an accountability system; the board agreed to work with the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Council and return administrative guidelines.
A coalition of Hamilton County high school students told the Board of Education they must be included in shaping a revised clubs policy that the students say lacks clear supervision rules and accountability measures.
"School clubs are a major part of the school environment," student speakers said, arguing clubs provide belonging, leadership and debate. They said the board’s revised policy, while affirming clubs’ creation under the federal Equal Access Act, leaves key questions unanswered: who supervises non‑curriculum clubs, what constitutes inappropriate conduct, and how administrators should respond when a club "goes too far." The group proposed a "strike system" that would place clubs on probation for violations and allow correction before more serious consequences.
Board members and Superintendent Dr. Robertson welcomed the students’ advocacy and urged them to work with the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Council and Mr. Bennett to craft administrative procedures. Vice Chair Gary Keane said the district will create a working group drawn from the student leadership council "and a working group of people that want to be on," with the goal of returning procedures that support the policy.
Board members repeatedly emphasized the need for clearer procedures so teachers understand their role in supervision and principals have consistent tools to respond to misconduct, noting the policy must avoid inconsistent enforcement across schools.
Next steps the board described include forming a student/staff working group, drafting administrative guidelines to accompany the policy, and returning the recommendations to the board for review.
