Coatesville Community & Parents: Decoding the Code of Conduct

The purpose of today’s blog is simply to identify some concerns with the Coatesville Area School District’s Code of Student Conduct. I hope that after reading this overview, you reach out to the school board via email or attend the next board meeting to ask for more clarity, insist on consistency, and demand truth for the benefit of our students. It is important to note that in the past teachers from every building in the district submitted suggestions that CATA presented to Dr. Taschner in a liaison meeting. These suggestions were more or less ignored as few if any made it into the approved code of conduct in use today.

We have seen the discipline committee's presentations and have heard the principal's comments. Much talk of PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) implementation in each school. It is not fully implemented in each school, and all faculty and staff are not trained. It is a preventative measure that is hailed as a solution at board meetings, yet the same discipline issues remain.

In the forward of the 2019-2020 proposed Code “The Codes that will be in effect for the 2017-2018 [sic] academic school year contain very few additions, modifications, and/ or amendments from prior editions of the Codes.” One would expect if a draft is being released for input, the sender, specifically in a school district, would ensure that the document is free of egregious errors such as this. Unfortunately, we found that the comprehensive plan draft contained the same lack of attention to details.

New to the 2019-2020 proposed Code on the parent/ student acknowledgment page is an introduction to Mr. Palaia, the Director of Elementary and Secondary Education. This introduction also includes a link for his job responsibilities and states that he “supervises discipline in all buildings and works to analyze discipline data, in addition to other responsibilities.” As discipline ranked high as a reason for parents to leave the district, it might be beneficial for the community to see what data is being analyzed and why changes are not occurring based on the data. Especially as the forward mentioned above remarked the proposed code “contain[s] few additions, modifications and/or amendments.”

Coatesville’s Code has four levels of infractions. It is a lengthy document, which is not user friendly. Below is a sampling of what is included in it to help provide an overview and what neighboring districts' Codes include:

CASD Code of Conduct levels and infractions	Other Districts
Level 1 infractions are minor incidents that generally do not involve or affect other Persons. It includes student behaviors that impede orderly classroom procedures or interferes with school operation to a minor or negligible extent. Except where there are repeated instances of Level 1 infractions or other aggravating circumstances, Level 1 infractions generally do not result in suspension, in-school suspension or expulsion. Sleeping Smoking at school or possessing Tobacco (including vaping) Riding a bike to school without proper approvals (Policy 223) Failing to attempt to complete satisfactorily the course of study prescribed by the district Failure to comply with directive Being insubordinate Unexcused lateness to school or class Using an Electronic Device at School to make a voice or video call Using an Electronic Device to harass or threaten a student or other Person Shutting down any computer without properly logging off	● These CASD infractions are listed in different charts with “minimum infraction level” noted ● Other districts' consequences to match specific infractions WCASD results in a three- day suspension (Level 2 offense with district only having 3 levels) AGSD considers this a Level 3 offense of 4 infraction levels DASD - results in five days In School Suspension and fine
Level 2 infractions are infractions that are more serious than Level 1 infractions and that can be described as repetitive or frequent or that cause a serious disruption to the learning climate of the school or affect other Persons. Except where there are repeated instances of Level 1 or 2 infractions or other aggravating circumstances, Level 2 infractions generally do not result in suspension, in-school suspension or expulsion. Lying to school authorities bringing, possessing, or operating a drone without authority by an administrator Failure to wear assigned safety equipment Failure to cooperate in any district investigation or to answer questions Bringing or possessing medication (policy 210 and 210.1) Falsifying school district records Violating the legal rights of others	WCASD, AGSD, DASD do not have most of these infractions identified in their code of conduct manuals.
Level 3 Infractions are serious infractions which result or could result in the violation of the legal rights of other, violence to another person, damage or destruction of property, conduct that poses a direct threat to the safety of others in school, or conduct that may constitute a criminal offense where exclusion from School would be justified. Level 3 Infractions can also Include repeated Level 1 or Level 2 Infractions where progressive discipline does not appear to be working. Assaulting any person Using threatening language directed toward anyone at school Misusing school district communication systems, Including emails, computers, Internet access, and telephones Using Digital technology to violate any applicable law, Including the Wiretap and Electronic Surveillance Control Act	WCASD - Assault is a level 3 of three infraction levels; verbal assault is level 2 and results in three days suspension. DASD - Assault is a level 3 infraction of three infraction levels. It results in one to ten days suspension. AGSD - Assault is only termed with teachers; fighting is a level 4 behavior (their highest)
Level 4 infractions are infractions that are serious, perhaps criminal in nature, where expulsion from School is justified or intervention by law enforcement is justified. Level 4 Infractions can also Include repeated Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 Infractions where progressive discipline does not appear to be working. Injuring a person by assault or battery Calling in or making Terroristic Threat	Assault is identified as level 3 and repeated with injury in level 4. I am unsure why this is necessary based on other district's Codes. Terroristic threats are the highest level for all three districts.

From the faculty's perspective, students are in violation of level 1 infractions too often to address. Without the support of the administration, teachers continue to battle the same offenses. Students have learned that a warning or conference is the consequence for cutting class. They know how to work the system and they are. Unfortunately, they are missing out on their educations, and teachers are struggling to help prepare them for the next level.

Agree with us? Contact the school board and let them know how you feel today