By larry Ramer
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — Sparked by a state law which mandates that school districts develop anti-bullying policies, the Board of Education adopted a new conduct/discipline policy at its meeting July 15.
Gov. James E. McGreevey signed legislation on Sept. 6 that requires school districts to adopt policies prohibiting bullying. The purpose of the law is to prevent violent behavior in New Jersey schools, at any school-sponsored function or on a school bus, and to assure a safe learning environment for students.
Marlboro’s new discipline policy outlines detentions, suspensions and expulsions that can be used to punish students who interfere in a substantial manner with the orderly running of schools.
Under the terms of the regulations, any student who commits an assault on a district employee without a weapon will be suspended from school immediately. Expulsion hearings against the student will begin immediately. A student who uses a weapon to assault a district employee will be removed from the school system, pending a board hearing.
Constantly disobeying authority figures within the school, continuously endangering the physical well-being of other students, stealing from other students or inciting other students to commit offenses constitute "good cause" for the district to suspend or expel the offending student.
Other offenses, such as habitually cutting classes, smoking, cheating or damaging property may result in detention or suspension.
The board’s policy complies with the state law by prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying against any student. The definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying is any gesture or written, verbal or physical act that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus that is motivated by race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, gender identity and mental or physical disability — that damages a student’s property or insults, harms or instills fear in the student.
The conduct/discipline policy also directs the chief school administrator to publicize the policy and incorporate it into the student handbook and employee training programs.
A clause was inserted in the district’s policy that will grant officials flexibility in deciding how long information about disciplinary infractions is retained in a student’s file, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Marc Gaswirth said. School officials will review disciplinary records on an annual basis and decide which records should be removed.
"It was extremely important to us not to have to retain all disciplinary referrals that students received when they were young through the time they are in high school," Gaswirth said.