While Fayette County Schools have guidelines for student behavior in place, a new bill introduced in the state House of Representatives will require all school districts to establish policies for student conduct and disciplinary procedures.

According to Fayette County School Superintendent Dave Brotherton, the one thing Bill 605 provides, that the county's existing guidelines do not, is a procedure which allows a teacher to remove a chronically disruptive student from class. "The teacher will have the right to remove a disruptive student from the class at some point," Brotherton said. "Teachers have got to have some relief."

Each school board will be responsible for interpreting and implementing the new standard, Brotherton said, as well as determining what constitutes behavior serious enough to warrant permanent removal from class.

"I believe the bill will ultimately be passed," he said. "Some vehicle to serve these students, analogous to our alternative school, must also be provided," he said.

Under the school district's current guidelines for student behavior, "rude and disrespectful behavior and/or the refusal to carry out the instructions of faculty and staff," carries a penalty which is up to the discretion of the school's principal. Parents are notified and a student can be expelled permanently.

Classroom disturbances, when not a serious disruption of learning opportunities for other members of the class, can result in a penalty ranging from an administrative detention, to a nine-day suspension.

The number 15 offense in the guidelines, "School disturbances which substantially disrupt learning opportunities and/or pose a threat to the safety or well being of other students, which may include pulling fire alarms, sit downs, walkout, riots, picketing, trespassing, inciting disturbances, threats or actual violence during a period of disruption, can lead to suspension to a hearing before the Disciplinary Tribunal resulting in expulsion. Parents are notified."