SPRINGDALE -- Student discipline policies for Springdale schools now extend to gang-related activities involving social media taking place off of school grounds.
The School Board on Tuesday voted 5-0 on the changes on gangs and gang-related activities policy in place since 2008.
Summary of changes to gang policy
Addition to list of prohibited gang-related activities (changes are in bold) —
New policy: “exhibiting any visual, physical or electronic representation of an item commonly associate with gangs or gang activities.”
On penalties —
New policy: “The penalties for violation of this policy may include counseling, parent notification, informing appropriate law enforcement officials and/or placing the student in an alternative or home-bound setting. Students who choose to violate this policy shall be placed on probation as a minimum and expulsion from school as a maximum consequence.”
New section on discipline for off-campus activities —
New policy: “Students identified or arrested for gang related activities occurring off school grounds shall be subject to the same disciplinary actions as if they had occurred on school grounds.”
Source: Springdale School District School Board meeting agenda packet
Superintendent Jim Rollins told the School Board he believes schools enroll some of the "finest young people imaginable," but some students in recent months have made "tragic choices," he said.
"Students who make choices that put either themselves or other students in harm's way or in danger are subject to not being allowed to attend our schools," Rollins said.
School officials follow social media and saw some YouTube videos promoting gang activity involving a small number of students, Rollins said. Such conduct will be reviewed by principals and parents, he said.
He hopes the response will bring about more appropriate behavior in students, he said.
Concerns over gangs have come to light in a series of shootings since March. A 17-year-old was arrested in connection with a shooting death of an 18-year-old in March. A 13-year-old was among four arrested in the drive-by shooting death of a 20-year-old man in April.
Two men were arrested in July in connection with shooting and injuring a 14-year-old boy.
A 17-year-old was arrested last month after a shooting near Springdale High School that police said was gang-related. A 16-year-old was wounded.
Given the gang-related activity in recent months, Rollins sought suggestions within the School District and community on the district's gang policy last updated in 2008.
Parents entrust schools with the safety of the children, School Board President Mike Luttrell said.
"The events that have occurred are certainly events that have been concerning," Luttrell said. "What can we do in the purview of our responsibility to make our schools a safer place? Hopefully this is a policy that helps with that."
The policy still bans gangs and clothing and handshakes associated with gangs, according to School District documents. School rules now not only prohibit visual and physical representations of items commonly associated with gangs and activities related to gangs, but also electronic representations of gang activity.
Gang activity occurring on social media can lead to disruptions at school and retaliation, Rollins said.
Another change gives principals the option to consider placing students subject to discipline for gangs and related activities in an alternative or a home-bound setting, Rollins said.
A new section applies the disciplinary actions for gang activity at school to students identified or arrested for gang related activities off school grounds, Rollins said.
The policy over gangs has some similarities with issues of cyberbullying, said Bill Bond, a school safety specialist for the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Arkansas was among the first states to pass a law giving schools authority to discipline students for cyberbullying outside of the school. Cyberbullying occurs on social media sites or on apps accessible on a smartphone.
Discipline for off-campus behavior requires principals to show a strong connection between the behavior and the school environment to withstand a legal challenge, showing how a student's involvement in gang activity translated to a disruption or endangered a school, Bond said.
The idea to extend the policy to apply to activities off school grounds came from a policy developed by the Arkansas School Board Association, Rollins said.
Students and parents who disagree with disciplinary decisions still have the ability to ask for an administrative review of a principal's decision, Rollins said. If the student or parent disagrees with decisions rendered following an administrative review, the decision can be appealed for a hearing in front of the School Board.
"Issues occurring in the community, student to student, when brought to school can create enormous concerns for all of us," Rollins said.
NW News on 09/09/2015