North Pike school trustees voted 4-1 on Thursday to use a discipline committee for student cases.
Newly appointed board attorney Jim Keith said by approving the committee, discrimination complaints involving discipline should be a rare occurrence.
“The Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice think schools are disciplining black males and Individualized Education Program kids unfairly,” Keith said. He added that if a group of administrators is established, “you’re not going to discriminate.”
Keith said he worries that the school board may not be able to hear multiple cases involving a number of witnesses, allowing some offenders to complain of discrimination.
“These lawyers are very aggressive and treat them as full-blown trials, and you’re just not equipped to deal with it,” Keith said.
As general counsel for the Mississippi School Boards Association, he said most districts he deals with seldom have a lawyer in such cases because the committee is accustomed to handling them.
Superintendent Dennis Penton said the board will be comprised of administrators from the elementary, middle and high school, but students will not meet with anyone from their school.
Keith said the committee would consist of members of the same gender and race as the child in the hearing.
He added that this process allows the board to only hear appellate cases.
“You’re like the Supreme Court in that you will hear from the parent and administrators,” he said,
If parents choose not to appeal the committee’s decision, the board won’t hear the case.
The only exception is if the case involved student expulsion, in which the board will continue to have the final say.
“The board should review every expulsion because that’s the most severe discipline of a child,” Keith said.
Trustee Freddie Deer, who opposed the motion, voiced concern that parents and students may not be handled fairly.
Penton said issue will be dealt with in the appeals process. Deer would not comment on his opposition.
Trustees were concerned that parents may bring an attorney to the hearing, but Penton said that’s usually not a big issue.
“Rule of thumb is if a parent has a lawyer, we will too,” he said. “I think you should see appeals if we’re not performing.”
Trustee Scott Campbell asked if there would be a different committee for each hearing.
Penton said the board would try to select committee members based on the situation. “You wouldn’t want a narrow committee because if someone is out, you want to be able to form a committee at a rapid time.”
Trustee Kevin Matthew voiced concern about cases involving weapons, but he was assured the board will hear severe cases such as that.
