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Discovering the Relationship Between the Law and Your School

Ashley Ramirez

College of Education, Grand Canyon University

EAD 505-0500: Educational Law

Dr. Kuterah Donald

January 20, 2021

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Discovering the Relationship Between the Law and Your School

Administrators hold much more responsibility than the average person may be aware of.

Administrators are constantly working behind the scenes of a school to support student and staff

growth. The job of an administrator does not begin with teacher observations and end with

student discipline. By knowing and being familiar with a school district’s board policies, one will

be more familiar with the tasks of an administrator.

Role of a Principal

While many may believe that a principal’s job is to complete teacher evaluations and

discipline students, their daily tasks are much more complex than that. Administrators are often

ensuring their building is abiding all state, federal, and local laws, in addition to the district’s

board policies. The policies are often built upon laws and translated into the world of education

for staff and students. Part of upholding the policies includes monitoring school staff, teachers,

and students to be sure that they are also abiding the board policies. Kershaw County School

District’s Policy GBEC Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace and Schools, addresses that staff and

students should not be in the possession or influence of drugs or alcohol in the school setting.

The policy describes testing that is to take place, if found necessary and disciplinary actions to

take place in the event this policy is not abided by. It is the administrator's duty to report any

misconduct related to this policy and discipline the person found at fault (2020). By noting that

one task of an administrator is to be aware of, report, and discipline anyone in possession of or

under the influence of drugs or alcohol should be more than enough of a reason to respect that a

principal's duties are far greater than student discipline and teacher evaluations.

Legal Consequences

Board policies are often supported by federal or state laws that support the enforcement of the

policies. For example, Kershaw County School District’s Policy GBAC Discrimination,
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Harassment, and Retaliation, describes what is a discrimination and harassment free work

environment. It explains how preventative actions and responses will be made in relation to

discrimination, harassment, and relation. At the end of the policy, there are references made to

several laws that support and require a policy of this nature to be in place (2020). Due to a policy

of such high regard, there is not a clear or immediate answer to discipline. This form of

consequence is to result in a formal hearing. Based on the hearing, further actions are to be taken.

A principal is busy daily making sure that policies are being upheld. It may be questioned as to

who ensures that a principal is truly doing their part. If a principal is found to break one of the

board policies, they will have the same form of discipline of a teacher or any other personnel in

the building. If a principal is found to not follow or maintain the board policy, they will have to

endure their own set of consequences. According to the Kershaw County School District Policy

CH Policy Implementation, a principal found not implementing board policies, will have a

disciplinary action which may include termination (2019). Dependent upon the degree of the

offense, will result in the degree of the discipline. For example, if a principal simply asks a one

teacher to put out their cigarette but gives another teacher a formal letter of reprimand for

breaking school board policy of tobacco use, the principal may be found with a formal letter of

reprimand themselves. If a principal is found neglecting to investigate and report a harassment

claim, the principal may be suspended or terminated.

Decisions and School Vision

Each school within a district has their own set of views and visions. Despite the difference to

meet the needs of their school, each school’s views and visions should not contradict the policies

and decisions made by the school board policy. If a school is focused on growing in a direction

that is different than the school district, the school’s priorities are skewed. This skewered vision

shows the school does not understand that they are a piece of the district and not its own entity.
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When a principal and the leadership team compose the school’s vision, staff manual, student

manual, and motto, they should be modeled after the district’s vision and board policies. For

example, Kershaw County School District has policies about being drug free and being a

discrimination free environment. Camden High School, a school within Kershaw County School

District has specific statements that relate to these policies in their student handbook. For

example, Camden High School’s Student Handbook states, “We show respect- Student to

Student--Student to Teacher--Teacher to Student” and “We do not allow violence, alcohol, or

drugs into our school environment” (2020). When schools compose handbooks and guidelines

that are created in respect of the district’s policies, there is no room for an administrator to act or

speak against the board policies. The law, school board policies, and actions of an administration

should not be considered as organizations with their own agenda, but one organization in

reaching toward one goal.

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References

Camden High School. (2020). Student handbook. https://www.kcsdschools.net/Page/10749

Kershaw County School District. (2020). AR GBEC-R drug and alcohol-free workplace and

school. Kershaw county school district school board policy manual. Retrieved from

https://www.boardpolicyonline.com/?b=kershaw

Kershaw County School District. (2019). CH policy implementation. Kershaw county school

district school board policy manual. Retrieved from

https://www.boardpolicyonline.com/?b=kershaw

Kershaw County School District. (2020). GBAC discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Kershaw county school district school board policy manual. Retrieved from

https://www.boardpolicyonline.com/?b=kershaw