By Brent Hardin

PLATTSMOUTH - Plattsmouth Board of Education members approved the first reading of a motion Monday night that would increase enforcement of the district's Good Conduct Code regarding all extracurricular activities to 12 months.

Board members wanted to change the policy from its current in-season format to one that would cover a longer period of time. Several board members favored a system that would enforce the policy during the school year while others favored adjusting it to a year-round system.

The new 12-month policy would cover all Plattsmouth extracurricular activities at both the middle school and high school.

"It could be a pretty big mind shift for the community, at least from the feedback I've received, to go from the in-season policy we have now to a 12-month system," Plattsmouth superintendent Dr. Richard Hasty told board members. "I've lived with a 12-month system in another state though, and it worked fine then. There might be some community concerns with going 12 months, but I believe it's doable. I would fully support 12 months just as I would a system that goes during the school year."

Several board members favored a 12-month policy because it would include a self-report system. If a student violates the Good Conduct Code and reports the violation within 24 hours, then he or she would receive a reduced punishment. Punishments would be more severe if the student does not report the violation and school officials find out about the incident later on.

Students would receive two such self-report chances during their four years of high school. Omaha Westside and Elkhorn both have similar self-report systems built into their good conduct policies.

"I was conflicted on whether to increase it to nine months or 12 months, but by doing it this way and having a self-report system it gives kids an opportunity to learn from their mistakes while also being held accountable," board member Ken Winters said. "It's important for them to learn that it's important to do it right year round. You don't get a three-month pass."

The policy would also close a loophole that would have allowed students to go out for one school-sponsored activity in order to avoid suspensions in another school activity. For example, a student might try to go out for a spring activity just to serve suspension time so they would not miss any time in a fall activity. The new policy would require students to complete those seasons in good standing in order to meet all punishment terms. If students did not complete the spring activity, then the suspension would carry over into the fall season.

Monday's first reading does not mean the policy has been officially changed yet.  The Board of Education will hear a final reading of the motion at its June meeting. The policy will be changed if the group approves the final reading.

"If nothing else, this could generate some public interest and we could hear some feedback from the community at the next meeting," Hasty said. "This is an important topic that we're discussing."