Anderson Community Schools board approves disciplinary policy

May 14—ANDERSON — The school board Monday voted for approval of the changes in the student discipline policy recommended by attorney Charles Rubright.

There were no public comments on the student discipline policy.

Rubright said at the board's April meeting they approved changes to the student handbook.

"The policies were out of date and needed a lot of work," he said. "Four of the five policies just needed cleanup language."

Rubright said a change was if a student appeals expulsion from school, the appeal goes to a local court instead of to the school board.

The policy states a suspension can be up to a maximum of 10 days and could be for a longer period of time when there is a pending expulsion.

The expulsion policy is for the number of days remaining in the school year. If the superintendent expels a student in the second semester, it can include the remainder of the current school year, summer school and the first semester of the following year.

A student bringing a deadly weapon to school can be expelled for one year, and the superintendent will notify law enforcement and the prosecutor's office immediately.

The corporal punishment policy states staff may use and apply reasonable force and restraint to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury, to obtain possession of a weapon and in self-defense.

The policy states if a staff member inflicts unnecessary, irrational or inappropriate force upon a student, they may be subject to disciplinary action by the school board and possible criminal assault charges.

In other business, the board named Sonia Caldwell as the principal of Eastside Elementary School to replace Val Scott, who is retiring.

Caldwell is a 1995 graduate of ACS and has been teaching with the school system since 2000.

"Thank you so much," she said. "I'm so excited for this journey."

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.