Dougherty County School Board considers streamlining student disciplinary policy

ALBANY — The Dougherty County School Board breezed through a light agenda Monday, with most of the attention coming during the board’s pre-briefing.

Among the discussions were an update from state Rep. Darrel Ealum, D-Albany, on the recently concluded state legislative session, information on how a new law will help former students obtain their high school diplomas, and a resolution proposal updates the board’s student disciplinary policy.

Ealum, a former Dougherty School Board member, and School Superintendent Butch Mosely lauded the passage of HB 91, which provides procedures for former students who did not pass one or more portions of the Georgia High School Graduation Test to petition to obtain a high school diploma. A student who didn’t receive a diploma as far back as July 1981 because of that testing requirement may petition for a diploma to be awarded.

The state eliminated high school graduation test requirements several years ago.

“It (HB 91) is going to be good for former students had a good grade point average but for some reason could not pass one section the the graduation test,” Mosley said. “I can tell you stories of many people who have taken one part of that test time and time again, but could not walk at their graduations because of that one test.”

The board also heard a recommendation on a resolution from School System Attorney Tommy Coleman to narrow the language of the district’s disciplinary tribunal procedures involving suspensions, expulsions, and physical violence against employees. The resolution would require that specific policy violations be noted in the charge letter against the student.

Coleman said the updated policy should streamline student disciplinary hearings by placing specific language in the charge letter rather than referring to policy sections. Coleman said that the new policy should significantly improve the speed of the tribunal process.

He added he hopes for board approval before the beginning of the 2015-16 school year.

In action items, the board approved entering into a contract with Dell to provide information technology consulting at the district moves forward with its One-to-One technology initiative.

The next school board meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m on Aprill 22.