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Fights spur change to board policy
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| By: Melissa Turner, News Editor |
February 09, 2010 |
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Seeking a solution to a rash of fights at some of their schools, the Tate County School board voted last week to allow principals to call law enforcement after student altercations. The action was taken at their February 1 meeting.
Board members were told that there had been a number of fights breaking out at the schools in Independence. There was no clear reason for the outbreak of fighting, and Superintendent Gary Walker said that there did not appear to be a similar problem in other areas of the county.
Conservator James Malone asked board members to make an addendum to board policy, authorizing principals to call the Tate County Sheriff's Department if they deemed it necessary for "appropriate action." The two leaders said that they realized that the law would not need to be called in every instance, so the decision would be left up to the "principal's discretion."
Already, Malone said, deputies had been roaming the halls, and administrators had reported that the visits were having a calming effect on the student population. He hoped that the authorization to call in the authorities would prove more of a deterrent than a simple suspension.
Board member Arthur Avant, who is a Senatobia Police officer working closely with the city schools, said that district already has a similar policy in place, where students can be charged with disorderly conduct and removed from campus. He said he felt it was a beneficial policy.
With a motion by board member Eddie Pitts, and a second by Avant, the policy was approved unanimously. It went into effect immediately.
All board members were present for the meeting.
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©The Democrat 2010
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