news-record.com

Guilford County Schools officials are trying to decide how to handle students who are registered sex offenders, with one such student in a school now.

The system’s Governance Review Committee is developing policies to address a state law passed earlier this year restricting the access registered sex offenders have to places where children are, including schools.

One of those policies will address sex offenders who are students.

 The board could decide to do one or a combination of several things including:

* expelling any student who is a registered sex offender

* expelling any student 16 years and older who is a registered sex offender, considering younger students on a case by case basis

* reviewing each case, applying various options to address the student based on the degree of the crime.

The policy could require that any student who is a registered sex offender be supervised or any student expelled be provided an alternative course of education, such as online classes.

School board attorney Jill Wilson said she has reviewed a few similar policies from school boards and her recommendation is that the board review each case.

“Do a true review of all the risks and benefits,” she said, noting that there is a wide range of crimes that can result in the person being a registered sex offender. Offenses can range from rape to cases of multiple peeping.

Wilson told the committee there is one registered sex offender enrolled in a Guilford County School.

However, officials declined to name which school or reveal any information about the student.

The committee also is working on a similar policy to address adult sex offenders coming on campus, specifically parents and guardians who are registered sex offenders.

A policy being considered would require all such parents and guardians to notify the school’s principal before coming on campus for things such as dropping their child off at school and parent/teacher conferences.

The school board is expected to debate the policy at its meeting Jan. 13.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com