Opinion ID: 2276545
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Requirements for the Coverdell Act's Application are Satisfied

Text: Next, Mr. Dydell argues that summary judgment in favor of Superintendent Taylor was not proper because he failed to satisfy a necessary requirement for the Act to apply. Mr. Dydell claims that the superintendent failed to comply with 20 U.S.C. § 6736(a)(2). It requires that, for the Coverdell Act to apply, the actions of the teacher were carried out in conformity with Federal, State, and local laws (including rules and regulations) in furtherance of efforts to control, discipline, expel, or suspend a student or maintain order or control in the classroom or school. Mr. Dydell maintains that Superintendent Taylor's conduct did not conform with two aspects of an internal Kansas City school district written policy titled Policy JGF, Discipline Reporting and Records. Mr. Dydell cites no authority that a local school board discipline directive falls within the meaning of the term local law as used in the Coverdell Act. Policy JGF has no force of law, and its violation does not constitute a crime or infraction. Even were it considered a local law, however, the record does not show a failure by Superintendent Taylor to act in conformity with the policy. Mr. Dydell contends first that the superintendent failed to comply with a sentence of Policy JGF that directs that any portion of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) that is related to demonstrated or potentially violent behavior shall be provided to any teacher and other district employees with a need to know the information. He says that this required Superintendent Taylor to ensure that information concerning Mr. Whitehead's demonstrated or potentially violent behavior was contained in the IEP, and the failure to include it violated school policy. Mr. Dydell misreads Policy JGF. As just quoted, it does not impose a duty on a superintendent to ensure that an IEP include information about demonstrated or potentially violent behavior. Indeed, as a superintendent has no role in preparing an IEP, such a requirement would be illogical. [6] Rather, Policy JGF states that if the IEP contains information about demonstrated or potentially violent behavior, then that portion of the IEP shall be provided to those with a need to know. As Mr. Dydell explicitly acknowledges, Mr. Whitehead's IEP contained no mention of demonstrated or potentially violent behavior. Therefore, Policy JGF imposed no duty on the superintendent to relay a nonexistent portion of the IEP to others. Mr. Dydell also argues that Superintendent Taylor violated a second provision of Policy JGF: Teachers and other school district employees who have a need to know will also be informed by the superintendent or designee of any act committed by a student in the district that is reported to the district by [law enforcement personnel] in accordance with state law. Mr. Dydell argues that this provision required Superintendent Taylor personally to disclose Mr. Whitehead's criminal conduct to those with a need to know and that he failed to do so. As Mr. Whitehead was not a student of the district at the time he brought a knife to Westport, it does not appear that this provision has any application here. Even were it applicable, however, the policy expressly states that notice be given by the superintendent or designee.  As such, given the size of the Kansas City School District, Policy JGF, not surprisingly, allows a designee to fulfill any reporting duty rather than requiring the superintendent to do so personally. The only record evidence about this issue is Superintendent Taylor's statement at his deposition that these matters were delegated to the Student Hearing Office and that a variety of departments handled reporting. There was no evidence that he personally took on responsibility to ensure that specific information about specific students was transmitted to particular people and that he failed to fulfill any such obligation. No breach of this aspect of Policy JGF has been shown.