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Session: State Capitol, Room 104 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2199 Fax: (907) 465-4587 Send E-Mail Interim: 10928 Eagle River Rd., Suite 140 Eagle River, AK 99577 Phone: (907) 694-6683 Fax: (907) 694-1015 |
Maintenance of Safe Classrooms to be Community Effort
| For Immediate Release: April 21, 2000 | |
| Contact: | Representative Fred Dyson at (907) 465-2199. |
Juneau -- The Alaska Senate Friday passed House Bill 253, sponsored by Representative Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River).
HB 253 would require schools to develop behavior standards and safety programs in collaboration with local communities, calling on parents to be actively involved in writing a school's behavior standards. It also permits establishment of discipline practices and procedures for students who do not follow the school's behavior standards and requires district officials to back up teachers who stand by the classroom safety procedures.
"School teachers must be able to maintain civil and safe classrooms," Dyson said. "While House Bill 253 does mandate inclusion of basic requirements for respect and honesty, it does not specify what local behavior standards must be. HB 253 calls on local school boards to work collaboratively with parents to develop standards for their schools. HB 253 also protects teachers who lawfully enforce the community's standards from being fired or reprimanded for their actions."
The bill allows most criminal activity in schools, including assault and sexual harassment against students, teachers, or staff, to be dealt with by public safety officials and the court system.
HB 253 passed the Senate 17-2.
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