Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 14, 1995 TAG: 9509140055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We haven't had any problem with it. One person called me, but we have had no complaints," said Bedford County Superintendent John Kent.
Bedford County has been asking parents to sign a similar pledge for five or six years, but this is the first time there has been a threat of a fine for refusing to sign it.
"Our parents are used to it, and we've always had good cooperation," Kent said, adding that nearly 100 percent of parents have signed it in the past.
James Gallion, assistant superintendent in Roanoke County, said he has received only two calls from parents who were concerned about the conduct pledge.
"I haven't heard a lot of complaints," Gallion said. "I think most parents are signing it."
Roger Martin, assistant principal at Glenvar High School, said a few parents have been irritated by the requirement, but they have signed the pledge.
Richard Turner, assistant principal at William Byrd High School, said he expected many complaints after news reports about some Montgomery County parents' concerns over the issue, but only one parent has complained to him. "After I explained to him the reason for the agreement, he signed it," Turner said.
Garland Jones, assistant superintendent in Botetourt County, said 95 percent of the parents at Lord Botetourt High School already have signed the pledge.
"We've been pleased with the response," Jones said. "We had a couple of parents who felt it was an implied threat, but I explained it wasn't."
In Franklin County, the pledges are coming in, but no tabulation was available Wednesday, said Florella Johnson, associate superintendent.
"We've had some people with concerns, but they have been good about calling to get a clarification and explanation of the law," Johnson said.
Roanoke and Salem will send the student conduct forms to parents in the next few days.
Under the new state law, parents must cooperate in managing their children's behavior while in school, on a school bus or at a school-sponsored activity.
By signing the pledge, parents acknowledge that they have read the school system's student code of conduct and have reviewed it with their children.
If parents don't sign, they can be fined $50.
If a child is suspended or expelled, a parent can be fined up to $500 for refusing to meet with school officials. The parent still retains the right to appeal a suspension or expulsion.
Montgomery County schools started school one week before most Roanoke area schools, and parents there were some of the first in the area to receive - and question - the pledge.
One parent deemed the letter a "nazi tactic," and some refused to sign it.
But Assistant Superintendent Jim Sellers said a majority of the pledges have been signed. He said he'll meet with principals in the next few weeks to decide how to get in touch with parents who did not send the letters back.
Most officials said they would make several requests to parents to sign the pledge before they would ask the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to fine them.
"I am sure we would ask them several times before we would take anyone to court," Gallion said. "We want to maintain a good working relationship with parents."
He said parents can be fined only if they "willfully and unreasonably" refuse to cooperate with school officials.
Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said teachers in urban areas need all the help they can get in handling discipline problems, even though some parents think the requirements might not be needed in Southwest Virginia.
Griffith said the law will help eliminate disruptions in the classroom and foster a better learning environment.
Staff writer Lisa Applegate contributed information to this story.
by CNB