Springdale School Board Adopts Gang Measure
Date: 2008-11-12 13:00:00
Source: http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/11/13/news/...
Submitted By: Gang Fights
SPRINGDALE - Gangs and gang-related activity won't be tolerated in Springdale schools. The Springdale School Board enacted on Tuesday the district's first anti-gang policy as a proactive step to signal students and the community that gang activity, even dress, isn't welcome in local schools. The policy was adopted as a discipline policy, meaning it takes effect immediately, said Hartzell Jones, deputy superintendent. State law requires school districts to enact policies to deal with gangs on school campuses, Jones said. Fayetteville, Bentonville and Rogers are among districts in Northwest Arkansas that have such policies on the books. Springdale's new policy states, in part: "the district ... bans all gangs, gang affiliation, gang behavior and gang related activities from school buildings, school buses, school related activities, while traveling to or from school, and on school property at all times." Penalties for violating the policy include counseling, parent or law enforcement notification, school probation or expulsion, depending on the severity of the violation or the number of violations a students has. * No specific gang-related activity prompted action on the policy, Jones said. "We're trying to stay ahead of it," he added.