Lance and Debra Spesard, Jack Mills, and Liz Witham appeared at the Carroll School Board meeting Monday night to question disciplinary action against their children, as determined by junior-senior high school administration.

The action stems from recent vandalism to homes in Homestead Acres, Burlington Township. Some of these homes belonged to teachers.

"The kids have made restitution, cleaned up, and apologized," Lance Spesard said.

The students involved were given a three-day out of school suspension. Spesard said they were told by administrators that the customary accompanying grade reduction for out of school suspension is two percent per day per teacher. This is a total of a six percent reduction of the nine-week grade in each class.

"I don't have a problem with the punishment, but I do have a problem with the grade reduction," Mills said.

Spesard said the school handbook does not specify a grade reduction. He said whether or not there is a grade reduction is left to the discretion of the classroom teachers. However, he said the administration appeared to expect the teachers to impose a two percent reduction.

Although the parents had some complaints about the three-day out of school suspension, their main concern was the grade reduction.

Debra Spesard said as their son applies for scholarships and to colleges, a reduced grade point average will not reflect how hard he has worked in school.

She cited a court case where parents sued a school corporation because of disciplinary grade reduction, and the parents won.

She concluded her comments with a formal request that the school board overturn the grade reduction.

The Spesards had also lodged a complaint with the superintendent, John Sayers, and their final step was appealing to the board.

The board made no comment at the meeting. School attorney Miriam Robeson said Tuesday that board members cannot comment on student disciplinary matters or personnel matters at public meetings because of privacy rights.

Board president Sam Zook said he has been on the board 12 years and this is the first time he can remember that parents have made a formal request for the board to take action in a student disciplinary matter. Usually it is handled before it gets to that point, he said.

Sayers said the matter calls for a response from the board within 10 business days. He said the issue was discussed after the meeting, and he will be formulating a response. He said he can't comment on what the board's response will be because it is a student disciplinary issue.