[CCHS] Mea Culpa

[Art Dulong]

To all parents,

	I have found that I have made what I consider to be a serous mistake. 

	Today I received information from parents indicating that some students
who were suspended from school for a particular transgression were
specifically told  by administration at this school that this particular
transgression would include suspension and other consequences, but would
not include a potential loss of leadership. I have spoken to Dr. Weinstein
and found that not only did he give the incorrect information regarding
the potential consequences of suspension, but, much to my personal
embarrassment, he got that information from me. Apparently he asked me a
question. I am not sure what the exact wording of the question was, but my
answer was clearly in error, because it led him to believe that the
suspension should have no impact on the possibility of having a leadership
role. I was wrong. My making what I consider a serious mistake on my part
resulted in him being wrong. For that I apologize. I frequently make
decisions that others disagree with but seldom have I made such a blatant
mistake. 

	The question is what to do. I'll be honest, I do not know what is the
right thing to do. I believe that no matter what I do I am wrong again. On
the one hand, I feel a strong obligation to uphold the rules as written.
It is actually a legal obligation we have with the State DOE to publish
the Student/Parent Handbook and then go by the handbook. The expectation
is that all students are then treated the same, even if some feel they are
harshly or unjustly treated. So, if I do not uphold the rule as written it
is unfair to other students, including others who have gone before and
lost leadership privileges. 

	On the other hand, I do not like the idea that people were given a
specific statement made by administrators indicating that in this case the
leadership portion of the rule would not be applied. To now undo that may
subvert due process rights because the penalty, as imposed, is without
full knowledge and ability to appeal such penalty, which is also a legal
requirement. Revoking leadership possibilities at this time carries its
own level of unfairness.  

	Here is what I am going to do. With respect to leadership privileges at
CCHS, no one involved in the particular incident will lose the opportunity
to hold a leadership position. (I checked and there is no one currently in
a leadership position.) If someone from this group is elected to a
leadership position I will meet with that person to discuss the
expectations of a leader here at CCHS, so that they understand their
responsibility to set a good example for their peers and especially for
the younger students. I am sending this out over the parent listserv
(without any mention of any student names) to explain the mistake I made
and why I am ruling in this way. Without doubt some of you will know
specific students and without this explanation you might clearly
misinterpret school rules to include favoritism for some over others. I
will also send something to the  superintendent and DOE (again, without
any mention of any student names) to explain why a written rule is not
being enforced exactly as it is written.

	I fully realize that this decision is wrong, as would be the other, but
in making this I acknowledge my own complicity in muddying the waters of
justice, and I err on the side of the student without favoring anyone,
because there are no current leadership positions to revoke. 



Arthur Dulong
Principal, CCHS
(978) 341-2490 x7110