The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - Because of a lack of information and clarity in parent access laws at the state level, the Waitsburg School Board will wait until its next board meeting Dec. 12 to address the issue again.

This school year, the stu- dents and staff members at the high school had come up with six new dance rules aimed to prevent inappropriate dancing at school-sponsored events. The final rule limited parent access at school dances to 10 minutes before and after any coronation that may occur at the dance.

This rule was added by the students, ASB President Logan Dozier said at the last meeting. At prom last spring, it was said a large group of parents attended the dance and stood along the walls. Those parents were overheard making comments criticizing the dress and behavior of some students. Some parents were giving orders to chaper- ones. Dozier said students had more fun at Homecoming in October without the parents hanging around.

Some parents in the community complained that they were asked to leave the Homecoming dance in October because of the new rule and questioned whether the district could legally limit parent access at school-sponsored events.

At the end of the school board's meeting on Nov. 13, it had decided to seek legal counsel and possibly have a special meeting to approve a new policy before the Harvest Ball was to be held Dec. 1. Secondary Principal Stephanie Wooderchak had even suggested canceling the Har- vest Ball until a new policy was approved.

Superintendent Dr. Carol Clarke said the students and the members of the FFA de- cided to go forward with the dance last Saturday.

"The board was supportive of that," Clarke said.

Right now, the district is still working to obtain information and reviewing precedent to find out what it can and cannot do regarding limiting parent access, she said. The district has been working with the director of legal services for the Wash- ington State School Directors to get information.

As of last Monday, Clarke said a lot of the legislation comes down to the interpreta- tion of the word "disruption" in the state law. Parent access to school activities and the classroom should be given as long as it is not defined as disruptive, Clarke said previ- ously. However, there is no language in the school policy or state law that describes parent access to student social activities sponsored by the school.

"Nothing is cut and dry," she added.

Since the Nov. 13 meeting, school board Chairman Ross Hamann said he hadn't heard any more feedback from parents in the community. And he expects to address the issue again at the upcoming meeting.

"We'll have more discus- sion about it," he said.