Policy addresses equal opportunity

Nettle Creek School Corporation has adopted new rules providing equal opportunity in sports and extracurricular activities related to federal Title VI and Title IX during its Dec. 11 meeting. The policies state that students shall “have equal access to opportunities in all aspects of education.” 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin. Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 addresses opportunity based on sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. Both are enforced for schools by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.

In recommending the new policy, Superintendent Emily Schaeffer wrote that they are meant to address “recent concerning situations,” but did not say what those were. The policy took effect immediately.

“One of my goals this year is to decrease the number of Office of Civil Rights complaints,” she said during the meeting. According to the OCR, there are no current open investigations of Nettle Creek schools related to Title VI or Title IX.

The policy includes penalties for student violators. First-time violations lead to the student being suspended from one-fourth of their sport or activity season, but they would be allowed to practice. A second violation would lead to a two-season suspension from the sport or activity; a third violation would lead to permanent suspension from all school sports or activities.

Schaeffer said the Title VI and Title IX protections are not addressed in the current student handbook and “we don’t want to leave things up to interpretation.” 

Board President Shaun Lieberman said, “I don’t disagree … but we have to strike a balance between specific, firm guidelines and have to leave some room for discretion. … That’s what we pay administrators and disciplinarians for.”

Schaeffer agreed about the need for some discretion. She said the new policy addresses behavior that is more likely to “easily land us in court,” unlike other situations such as alcohol policy violations.

In other business, the board heard a report from three HHS students about Family, Career and Community Leaders of America activities. Chapter President Charley Rinehart and Sophia Farmer spoke of competitive activities, meeting people from all over the U.S. and sites the group visited at the national leadership conference in Seattle. Aiden Mraz spoke about how the group provides him with growth opportunities.

Rinehart, a senior, is also the Indiana state vice president of advocacy and development. As such, she attended leadership training in Orlando, Florida.

The board also approved pay increases for employees of Chartwells food service employees and for student employees. Chartwells workers will get a $1 per hour raise to $13, more than 8%. The board had previously approved 3% raises for its own noncertified employees. Schaeffer said the employees of Chartwells have been paid less than the noncertified workers, whose wages start at $14.45. This is an effort to help close the gap. Student employees will be paid $10.52 an hour, 3% more than before.

The board also recognized Dan Davis Jr. and David Moore for their service. Davis has been on the board 12 years and Moore, four. Both chose not to run for reelection; their terms expire Dec. 31. They will be replaced by Ruthie LaMar and Mike Banning, who both attended the meeting. 

Personnel actions:

Noncertified staff hirings: Laura Clark, part-time custodian; Kathleen Yontz and Collin Beaty, on-call substitute teachers; Tabatha Moore, on-call substitute nurse.

Extracurricular volunteers: Earl Gilbert, junior high wrestling; Katie Glunt and Grant Shaffer, cheerleading; Mike Morrow, baseball.

The board’s next regular meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in the Hagerstown Elementary LGI room, 299 N. Sycamore St. The public may attend.