Court case prompts board to adopt dismissal policy
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - A new Pupil Supervision After-School Dismissal policy has been adopted by the Jackson Board of Education.

"We have this [new policy] because of a court case which occurred a few months ago," board President Marvin Krakower said. "According to state law, we have to have a policy in place."

Superintendent of Schools Thomas Gialanella said, "The school is adopting the policy as a result of a New Jersey Supreme Court decision made last June in a case known as Jerkins vs. Anderson and the Board of Education of the Pleasantville Public Schools."

Gialanella said the court indicated that dangers exist for younger children at school dismissal times. Children are susceptible to numerous risks, including negligent conduct, when leaving school property. Because of this risk, the board has adopted and requires the implementation of the school dismissal policy for the supervision of younger children.

The supervision provisions of the policy are applicable to parents or legal guardians of pupils attending district-operated schools or programs in kindergarten through fifth grade, who are not eligible for district-provided transportation after dismissal or are eligible and elect not to use district-provided transportation after dismissal.

The policy states that any parent or legal guardian of a pupil attending a district operated school under those circumstances may request the school or program administrator not to release the pupil to walk home after dismissal unless the pupil is released to the parent, a legal guardian or escort designated by the parent or guardian, who must be at least 18 years old.

That request must be submitted in a school form, Request for Supervision at Dismissal, and given to the school principal or program administrator. Forms will be made available in the school main office or at the program upon request, or can be found on the school or district Internet Web site.

Only those parents or guardians requesting officials not to release their children to walk home need to fill out the form.

The forms will be valid only for a specific period of time or up to the end of the school year. A new request must be filed each year. The parent can rescind the request only in writing to the principal or program administrator and must indicate the date the request is to stop.

The principal or program administrator will in turn notify the staff as to which children will not be dismissed.

In the event the parent, guardian or designated escort does not arrive to pick up the child, an attempt will be made to contact the parent or guardian using emergency call procedures.

In the event of an emergency where the child cannot be picked up on time by the parent, guardian or escort and the child must remain, the parent or guardian may be subject to after-school program fees.

In order to ensure safety and prevent traffic problems in and around the school area at dismissal times, parents or guardians may be prohibited from entering the school until after normal dismissal occurs or until school buses and other vehicular traffic have departed.

The school will provide information regarding after-school programs and the policy will be provided in school/pupil handbooks.

No member of the public commented on the policy, which was adopted by the board in a 7-0 vote on Aug. 28.