Attachments

20240807-134843-908-scl-sc code of conduct doc 7-30-24.pdf

Students in East Providence schools going forward will need to adhere to a new Code of Conduct which has attempted to be slimmed down, made readily accessible and more in line with the parameters envisioned by the Rhode Island Department of Education while also taking into account state law where applicable.

The East Providence School Committee, at a meeting called for July 30, was presented with the final version of the code (see attachment). A group of departmental and building administrators took on the considerable task of reviewing and altering the existing code for the last several months.

Amanda Cascione, a senior associate at the district's legal firm Brennan Scungio & Kresge LLP who guided the effort from a legal standout, led the body through an overview of the changes.

She told the Committee the revisions/updates were intended to "streamline" the code with an "aim was to be clear concise and available for everybody."

Cascione added as well, the subgroup of administrators deemed it "important" that applicable Rhode Island General Laws were "incorporated" into the final text.

According to Cascione, RIDE (https://ride.ri.gov/students-families/health-safety/discipline-schools) wanted districts to remove specific mentions of disciplinary timetables and preconceived severity of an infraction. The state, she said, intended to give local administrators a "broad spectrum of options" on how best to reprimand a student.

She used graffiti as an example, saying there was an obvious distinction between a student writing "Hi, mom!" on a wall as opposed to what law enforcement would consider a "known gang symbol." Another was drawn between that of a serrated plastic knife and a machete.

The idea, Cascione continued, is to allow administrators "greater discretion" while using "case-by-case analysis to determine what's appropriate."

That would include progressive consequences, meaning with each subsequent misstep after the initial one would come with more significant punishment.

However, another key aspect of what state officials are seeking is to keep pupils in buildings as they continue to contend with the conundrum of chronic absenteeism  around Rhode Island.

"RIDE wants to keep kids attending school," Cascione emphasized while noting the variety of options seemingly available to administrators.

The original study committee consisted of Stacey Messier, Dr. Celeste Bowler, Dr. Julie Giangiulio, Laurie Marchand, Sara Duarte, Cory Howland, Lian Furtado and Diana Clarkin.

Their draft was then reviewed by the larger group of district and building admins as well as School Committee Vice Chairperson Jessica Beauchaine. Some revisions were made before it was eventually presented to the entire School Committee for its backing..

Reached after the meeting for further comment, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sandra Forand said, "The Code of Conduct outlines the behavioral expectations and standards for our students. This policy was created to foster a safe and supportive learning environment."

Forand continued, "It was a collaborative effort and the intention is to set clear expectations for student behavior. In addition to setting clear expectations, it gives administrators the ability to look at each student as an individual and has a focus on restorative practices."

The Rhode Island General Laws sited in the new code include the following:

R.I. Gen Laws § 16-2-9(a)(16) — http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE16/16-2/16-2-9.htm

R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-17 — http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE16/16-2/16-2-17.HTM

R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-17.1 —http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE16/16-2/16-2-17.1.HTM

R.I. Gen Laws § 16-19-1 — http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/title16/16-19/16-19-1.htm

R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-27 — http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE16/16-21/INDEX.htm