By Marin Howell/Addison Independent
When juveniles were accused of pulling the trigger in two recent fatal shootings just north in Addison County, the spotlight fell on the various questions and complexities that arise when prosecuting crimes committed by minors.
Among those questions: How do Vermont schools educate students who’ve been accused of violent crimes?
Vermont students, even when facing criminal charges, are entitled to a public education. However, parents and community members may have concerns about students who have been accused of crimes returning to their children’s classroom.
“It’s putting parents in a position that’s uncomfortable. It’s putting our children in a position that’s uncomfortable,” a local parent told the Mount Abraham Unified School District Board at a Nov. 21 meeting, where community members raised concerns about a student who recently joined the district and is believed to have committed a violent crime. “We’re having to make decisions that are just really hard, and I know that’s life, but please weigh that when you think about this.”
The Independent reached out to several Vermont school districts and state officials to learn more about how these situations are generally handled.
Fortunately, such cases are rare and are typically evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Officials also emphasized that school-age Vermonters have a right to a public education, and that constitutional right is not revoked when students are incarcerated or facing criminal charges.
“A student has a right to education and cannot be excluded from receiving education services without due process, which is provided in local policies in addition to state law,” Lindsey Hedges, a public information officer for the Vermont Agency of Education, told the Independent. “There are a few different approaches that a Vermont school district could take when dealing with students accused of crimes or who may pose a safety concern. These approaches must also take into consideration special education requirements as applicable.”
Schools’ approaches
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The Independent spoke with a handful of Vermont school districts about how, given the guidance provided in state law, school districts decide how to educate students who have been accused of crimes or who might pose other safety concerns within the learning community.
Many Vermont school districts abide by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that safeguards the privacy of student education records. Thus, school officials weren’t able to discuss situations involving specific students, but spoke generally about how such cases are addressed.
“The number one priority is assuring the safety of our students and staff and our continuous improvement plan focuses on safe, healthy schools and social-emotional health,” Julia Maguire, communications coordinator for the South Burlington School District, told the Independent.
Maguire referenced her district’s policies and procedures on student conduct and discipline, which outline the responsibilities of students in contributing “to a safe and productive learning environment,” and of administrators in responding to student misconduct.
Addison Northwest School District Superintendent Sheila Soule said that instances of students facing criminal charges or safety concerns are “an extremely rare occurrence” in the Vergennes-area school district. The district’s top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of its students, she said.
“Our district is committed to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students,” Soule said. “In instances where a student is facing accusations or safety concerns, we follow a thorough and fair process that takes into account the individual circumstances of each case. We work closely with law enforcement and other relevant agencies to ensure that our response aligns with legal requirements and best practices.”
The Addison Central School District’s policy on student conduct outlines the responsibility of each student to contribute to a safe and productive learning environment in school. The policy also states that the school principal, along with educational staff, will develop an overall discipline plan in accordance with state law.
According to the district’s policy, that plan will include provisions for the suspension or expulsion of students who engage in misconduct “on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity when the misconduct makes the continued presence of the student harmful to the welfare of the school community,” as well as misconduct that occurs outside of those spaces and in which “direct harm to the school can be demonstrated or where the misconduct can be shown to pose a clear and substantial interference with another student’s equal access to educational programs.”
Parent concerns
The Mount Abraham Union School District (MAUSD) board at its Nov. 21 meeting heard from a handful of community members who expressed concerns about a student who recently joined the district and who is believed to have been involved in a shooting crime.
One parent asked how she and other parents could be reassured about the situation and how it’s being handled.
“Whatever the scenario is, there is going to be mental health concerns around this issue, and do we get to be reassured that there’s things in place for this child, there’s a structure around it of some sort,” she asked the board. “I feel like we need something, if we’re sending our kids daily, I think any parent would want some reassurance that’s above some generic response that could just be any situation, any day. This is very unique, and I think we’re deserving of something that’s a little bit more tailored to the situation.”
Another community member provided a different perspective, stating she remains confident in the school’s ability to keep students safe. She noted her grandchild attends school with the student in question and encouraged those with questions or concerns about the situation to reach out to school officials.
“That’s the first thing I did when I found out. The child was there for several weeks before we even had it pointed out to us. They kept our kids safe in those weeks, why would that change just because we now know about it?” she said. “I send my kid every day, whether there’s someone there that’s been accused of murder or not. When we put our kids in public school, we trust them to keep our children safe. That’s what I have done and what I’ll continue to do.”
Robinson Elementary School Principal Edorah Frazer also spoke at the Nov. 21 meeting. She shared with the board and those in attendance information about the various safety measures in place at the elementary school.
“The safety situation in any elementary school is dynamic, it changes day to day,” Frazer said, adding that school officials are trained to adapt to changing circumstances.
Safety measures at the elementary school include ongoing relationships with a variety of community partners, including two police forces, the Counseling Service of Addison County (with which the school contracts for a full-time counselor), and organizations that help ensure each student has access to food, clothing and medical care.
Frazer noted Robinson’s 101 students have unique needs that school officials work to respond to each day.
“Regardless of who shows up, we assess the needs of those students. In the vast majority of cases, we can meet those needs, and we are doing so,” she said. “I have no concerns about my 101 students. I have no concerns that there are safety issues, that any of our students are dangerous within the school building.”
The principal added that school officials plan for a variety of safety measures. The school uses cameras, alarms, drills and has weekly meetings discussing the needs of each classroom, all of which are measures designed to ensure the safety of those in the learning community.
“Every adult in an elementary school is trained to watch, to listen, to respond to student needs, to help kids be calm and happy. All of those things we’re trained to do, and we do it every minute that a student is in the building,” Frazer said. “We take that responsibility seriously. I think we’re doing it well. I feel very safe and comfortable in my school. I think that’s been the case every day this year, and I expect it to be the case going forward.”
