MAESP Leadership Conference Top 10 Legal Adventures for Elementary School Principals Tom Smith & Rachel Meystedt

The Adventures Bullying and Cyberbullying Student on Student Discrimination and Harassment Child Abuse and Neglect Student Injuries That Parent Transgender Students Parenting Plans and Court Documents Political Speech by Students Student Discipline Student Threats of Violence

Number 10: Scenario A number of 5th graders received new phones for Christmas. Several have been repeatedly told to put their phones away during the school day, as required by the student handbook. One 5th grade parent comes in with her student’s phone to show you several vulgar messages from a classmate. One message says, “I’ll stick your head in the toilet again.” All the messages were sent after 10:00 p.m.

Number 9: Scenario A male third grader is chasing a female classmate around the playground during a game of tag. At one point the teacher overhears the male say to the female, “I’m going to rape you!.” When questioned, the third-grader admits saying it, but denies knowing what the word “rape” means.

Number 8: Scenario You have a first year kindergarten teacher who has had issues connecting with his class. During lunch, one of his students refuses to eat. As the class is lining up to dump their trays, the teacher demands that the student take a bite of food, the student refuses, backs up, and the teacher forces a spoonful of food into his mouth. The video of the lunch room shows the student’s had jolting back as the spoon is inserted.

9/22/2015 Number 7: Scenario During recess you witness one of your first graders running under a part of your playground equipment. The student stands up a bit too soon and hits his head on an edge of the equipment, nearly scalping himself. After receiving 38 staples to reattach his scalp, you receive a summons with a lawsuit attached that names you as a defendant Talk about safety plan here; speaking to people involved to prevent retaliation

9/22/2015 Number 6: Scenario One of your visually impaired second grade students has struggled with tasks and got upset with her para. The next day her father comes in and yells at your office staff and asks what room the para is in? When threatened with calling law enforcement, the parent leaves school grounds. Explain how to formulate our AC investigation

Number 5: Scenario You have a 4th grade student who started the school year off dressing as a male. The student has since started dressing as a girl and has asked to be called Danica and not Daniel. Danica’s mom has requested that Danica be allowed to use the girls restroom, because other students have called Danica “a sissy” and “get out of here, Daniel” when using the boys restroom.

Number 4: Scenario A mother brings in a document titled “Parenting Plan” and signed by the father of one of your students. It lists that mom will pick up Susie on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and that Dad will pick Susie up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mom calls and threaten a lawsuit after dad is allowed to pick up Susie after school on Wednesday.

Number 3: Scenario Several high schoolers plan a walk out to curb gun violence and push for more gun control. You receive word that some of your students, younger siblings of the high schoolers, are planning to walk out, too. One of your 5th grade teachers has encouraged her students to make signs during their Social Studies lesson.

Number 2: Scenario You have a 4th grade student that returns from recess to find one of his students already back in class and sitting at his seat. When the teacher sits down and begins to take a drink of his tea, he recognizes an unsavory odor. He asks the student if he did anything to the tea—and the student just shrugs and says no. When you confront the student and say you’ll have the tea tested, he admits to urinating in the teacher’s tea.

Number 1: Scenario A 2nd grade student creates a storyboard on his iPad with several guns pointing at a picture of his school and a caption saying “Tomorrow.” Tomorrow

MAESP Leadership Conference Top 10 Legal Adventures for Elementary School Principals Tom Smith & Rachel Meystedt