Wawasee Discusses Possibility Of Revoking Drivers Licenses Of Expelled Students
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE - If a student is expelled from school, should their driver's license be revoked?
The Wawasee Community School Corp. debated the issue at their Tuesday board meeting.
Board member Marion Acton started the discussion when he asked about the status of vandalism at the football field.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Stock said the suspects were arrested and a restitution list was provided to the police. Damages were estimated at approximately $5,000.
The school corporation hasn't heard any more information regarding the case, Wawasee High School Principal Alan Frank said. The students were expelled and put into alternative school for the first two trimesters.
Based on his experience, Frank said, he doesn't expect to hear anything more for two to three months.
In August, those students involved vandalized the Wawasee football field, broke into school buses and broke into the concession stands and the tennis storage room.
According to Acton, the law allows that if students are expelled or drop out, their drivers' licenses could be revoked.
Frank said their work permits also could be revoked, but in this case, "we chose not to." If the students don't want to be at school, he asked if the board wants the students to run the streets or be a benefit to the workforce, which would require them to have work permits.
Stock said he doesn't know if revoking a license or permit is a deterrent. There's no research to support that.
Frank said he's checked and about one-third of schools probably do it, but two-thirds do not.
With standards becoming more stringent and with more testing for students, if a student chooses not to be a part of school, the punishment is way down the road when they can't take care of their family. Revoking drivers' licenses, he said, might be a deterrent.
Students can be disruptive and "do these kinds of things," and if the corporation just expels them, they'll say "so what," he said.
Stock said the downside of revoking licenses is if the student is placed in alternative school, they have to have their own transportation to school and to work. Frank said most of Wawasee's expulsions have been given the option of going to alternative school.
Once a student is sent to alternative school, if they don't fit in there, Frank said, the alternative school then has to do the paperwork for the removal of that student's driver's license and/or work permit.
"You never see a junior (or senior) ride a school bus," said Acton. If students learned their licenses might be revoked, it might be a deterrent to keep them from getting expelled.
Acton said it may take three to four years for students to realize the consequence of having their licenses revoked if they are expelled, but it may work.
Board president Brian Dawes said he is "probably not in favor" of revoking the licenses. If a student is not going to be in school, "that's the end of our responsibility." He said he doesn't think it's the school corporation's business to determine who should drive.
Sometimes, revoking a license could be an option, said board member Jeff Wells, but sometimes not. Each case must be considered on its own.
"There isn't a clear right and wrong to it," said Stock. He said he can see both sides to the issue. If the school expels a student, now what is that student going to do? Stock asked.
"Maybe Mom and Dad will step up to the plate," said Wells.
Acton said he brought up the issue because he wants kids to realize there are penalties and if they choose to do "those kind of things," there are consequences.
In other business, the school board:
• Approved a resolution to deduct a percentage of employees' pay on a pre-tax basis with the employees' permission, which will be contributed to the employees' retirement fund. Once an employee agrees to the deduction, they cannot get out of it as long as they remain with Wawasee schools.
• Approved the corporation goals, including: all students will improve their reading skills, writing skills and math computation skills; and Wawasee patrons and community members will become more aware of Indiana's increased academic expectations.
• Approved a donation of $500 from DePuy to the DECA club.
• Approved Milford School to pay $4,500 from its extracurricular student activities account to help purchase new playground equipment.
Board members are Dawes, Wells, Acton, Dallas Winchester and Mary Lou Dixon. They regularly meet at 7 p.m. in the administration building, Syracuse, on the second Tuesday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE - If a student is expelled from school, should their driver's license be revoked?
The Wawasee Community School Corp. debated the issue at their Tuesday board meeting.
Board member Marion Acton started the discussion when he asked about the status of vandalism at the football field.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Stock said the suspects were arrested and a restitution list was provided to the police. Damages were estimated at approximately $5,000.
The school corporation hasn't heard any more information regarding the case, Wawasee High School Principal Alan Frank said. The students were expelled and put into alternative school for the first two trimesters.
Based on his experience, Frank said, he doesn't expect to hear anything more for two to three months.
In August, those students involved vandalized the Wawasee football field, broke into school buses and broke into the concession stands and the tennis storage room.
According to Acton, the law allows that if students are expelled or drop out, their drivers' licenses could be revoked.
Frank said their work permits also could be revoked, but in this case, "we chose not to." If the students don't want to be at school, he asked if the board wants the students to run the streets or be a benefit to the workforce, which would require them to have work permits.
Stock said he doesn't know if revoking a license or permit is a deterrent. There's no research to support that.
Frank said he's checked and about one-third of schools probably do it, but two-thirds do not.
With standards becoming more stringent and with more testing for students, if a student chooses not to be a part of school, the punishment is way down the road when they can't take care of their family. Revoking drivers' licenses, he said, might be a deterrent.
Students can be disruptive and "do these kinds of things," and if the corporation just expels them, they'll say "so what," he said.
Stock said the downside of revoking licenses is if the student is placed in alternative school, they have to have their own transportation to school and to work. Frank said most of Wawasee's expulsions have been given the option of going to alternative school.
Once a student is sent to alternative school, if they don't fit in there, Frank said, the alternative school then has to do the paperwork for the removal of that student's driver's license and/or work permit.
"You never see a junior (or senior) ride a school bus," said Acton. If students learned their licenses might be revoked, it might be a deterrent to keep them from getting expelled.
Acton said it may take three to four years for students to realize the consequence of having their licenses revoked if they are expelled, but it may work.
Board president Brian Dawes said he is "probably not in favor" of revoking the licenses. If a student is not going to be in school, "that's the end of our responsibility." He said he doesn't think it's the school corporation's business to determine who should drive.
Sometimes, revoking a license could be an option, said board member Jeff Wells, but sometimes not. Each case must be considered on its own.
"There isn't a clear right and wrong to it," said Stock. He said he can see both sides to the issue. If the school expels a student, now what is that student going to do? Stock asked.
"Maybe Mom and Dad will step up to the plate," said Wells.
Acton said he brought up the issue because he wants kids to realize there are penalties and if they choose to do "those kind of things," there are consequences.
In other business, the school board:
• Approved a resolution to deduct a percentage of employees' pay on a pre-tax basis with the employees' permission, which will be contributed to the employees' retirement fund. Once an employee agrees to the deduction, they cannot get out of it as long as they remain with Wawasee schools.
• Approved the corporation goals, including: all students will improve their reading skills, writing skills and math computation skills; and Wawasee patrons and community members will become more aware of Indiana's increased academic expectations.
• Approved a donation of $500 from DePuy to the DECA club.
• Approved Milford School to pay $4,500 from its extracurricular student activities account to help purchase new playground equipment.
Board members are Dawes, Wells, Acton, Dallas Winchester and Mary Lou Dixon. They regularly meet at 7 p.m. in the administration building, Syracuse, on the second Tuesday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]