THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 8, 1995 TAG: 9501060161
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Punishment is coming swifter these days for students who misbehave in city schools. But School Board members are making even more changes to simplify the process.
Board members voted 9-1 Tuesday (one member was absent) to increase the number of board disciplinary committees, which rule on serious student infractions, from three committees to five. Also, each committee now will consist of a school guidance counselor and two board members, instead of three board members.
That means students recommended by their principals for expulsion may have their cases heard quicker and School Board members may handle fewer of the time-consuming hearings.
School Board member Robert Hall dissented. He said he didn't think three-member committees were fair. Hall asked instead that the committees be made larger, with two board members, a guidance counselor, a school psychologist and a community member.
Other board members, however, were worried that a community member on the committee would mean less confidentiality for students, whose disciplinary records traditionally have been guarded closely by school officials and state law.
``If I were a parent, I don't know that I'd want my neighbor knowing my business,'' said board member Ulysses Van Spiva.
The changes come as board members grapple with disciplinary problems that are increasing in number and seriousness.
In the past, board committees heard all cases involving long-term suspensions (from 10 days to a year) and expulsions.
This fall, the board began allowing some of its less serious cases to be heard by two hearing officers. The officers are Robert G. Hicks, coordinator of student services, and Emilie Tilley, retired principal of Cox High School.
So far, the hearing officers have taken a large chunk of the disciplinary cases off the shoulders of board members. Of the 268 new cases since September, Hicks and Tilley have heard 149, said J. Wylie French, director of school leadership. Board committees have handled 119, French said.
Students and their parents have a right to appeal the hearing officers' decisions to board committees, but so far this year, only 11 have elected to do so, French said.
Board members praised the use of hearing officers, although some are still concerned about the amount of time they spend handling problem students.
Board member Susan L. Creamer said she takes it in stride, even though she has to take off from work to hold disciplinary hearings on weekdays.
``I realized when I came on the board that it was going to be a time commitment,'' she said.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOLS EXPULSION by CNB