Drug offenses to be treated on ‘case-by-case basis’
MEDICAL LAKE – The School Board unanimously approved the first reading of a new student discipline policy when it met Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Superintendent Kim Headrick presented the proposed updates in Policy No. 3241, highlighting significant changes in how the district handles discretionary and non-discretionary discipline.
“We’re making changes around exclusionary practices and refining what we’re defining as discretionary versus non-discretionary,” Headrick said. “The main part of this policy is that we’re moving to share this policy and practice with staff. Previously, this wasn’t the case.”
Headrick noted that the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has introduced emergency rules.
“OSPI has come to recognize that previous rules were an overstep, and they’ve now given the Medical Lake School District more room to make its own decisions,” she said of the new rules effective Sept. 30. “The quotas have been moved into procedures, and we will work with principals on our new administrative procedures.”
Another major change in the policy is a new approach to student data.
“The district will follow the practices outlined in guidance from the Race and Ethnicity Student Data Task Force when dis-aggregating broader racial categories into sub-racial and sub-ethnic categories,” Headrick said.
This means that when the school district collects data about students’ race and ethnicity, they won’t just group students into broad categories like “Asian” or “Hispanic.” Instead, they’ll break these groups down into smaller, more specific categories. For example, instead of just “Asian,” they might ask if a student is Chinese, Filipino, or Vietnamese. This helps the district better understand and support the unique needs of different student groups.
A motion to approve the changes led to a discussion about how the policy addresses substance abuse.
Board member Gerri Johnson asked about the handling of student offenses involving drugs or alcohol.
Headrick responded by explaining that the district will consider various factors before determining discipline.
“It depends on whether it’s a first or second offense, if they’re in possession, or if they’re distributing,” Headrick said. “It wouldn’t automatically be a three-day suspension — it depends on the circumstances. Maybe drug and alcohol counseling would be called for. There’s a matrix of options we can select depending on the situation.”
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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