DISTRICT DEMANDS CIVILITY NEW CODE SETS PENALTIES, RULES FOR PARENTS' BEHAVIOR.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The Antelope Valley Union High School District wants to encourage civilized behavior at its schools and offices.

The board has adopted a policy that outlines the possible consequences for parents who become belligerent on school grounds, such as the summoning of sheriff's deputies, and provides for incident report forms for staff to fill out on such occasions.

``It's sad that we have come to the point that it's necessary to explain rules about being civil,'' trustee Al Beattie said. ``There's been a number of incidents at sites where literally we had to have school deputies or security remove people from offices. I understand people get emotional about their kids, but there are civilized ways to act. You can only make the problem worse by that kind of inappropriate behavior.''

The policy was approved by the board at Wednesday's meeting.

State law spells out how to handle people causing disturbances on school grounds, but the board wanted to develop a new policy that specifically encouraged positive communication with the public, said Bridget Cook, the district's attorney.

``Oftentimes, individuals come on campus, and they forget, even though it's a public school and a place of business, that they have to conduct themselves in a way that is appropriate,'' Cook said. ``Sometimes they come and become upset about circumstances, and they end up in escalating situations that should be handled in a calm and peaceable manner.''

No single incident prompted the policy's formation, officials said. Although no statistics were available, officials said incidents of parents or guardians being abusive on campus are on the rise.

``In general, they are increasing, not just at our district but at all districts,'' Beattie said. ``It's almost an attitude that, when a child is in trouble, it's not the child's fault. It's the teacher's or administrator's fault. The kids don't feel that they have to be responsible or follow rules.''

The new policy states that people who disrupt or threaten to disrupt school or office operations; threaten the health and safety of students or staff; willfully cause property damage; use loud or offensive language which could provoke a violent reaction; or who have otherwise established a continued pattern of unauthorized entry on school district property, will be directed to leave the school or office.

If they use obscenities or speak in a demanding, loud, insulting or demeaning manner, school officials will ``calmly and politely admonish the (them) to communicate civilly,'' the policy states.

If they continue to use abusive language, school officials will end the meeting or telephone conversation, and if they are on school grounds, they will be told to leave.

If they re-enter the school within 30 days after being told to leave, or within 14 days if the person is a parent or guardian of a student at the school, without the principal's permission, they could face a misdemeanor charge.

``If any individual refuses to leave upon request or returns before the applicable period of time, the principal or designee may notify law enforcement officials,'' the policy states.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com