Board should have ended the code of conduct long ago

I was so pleased to read that the students from the incident at BMAC would not be punished under the code of conduct. Even though the policy was being suspended, the school board said they could not make it retroactive. But as usual, they have proved that they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, if it fits their needs.

I know about this policy because mine were some of the kids suspended after the "pit incident." My daughter was suspended from participating in a state gymnastics meet and my nephew and his friend were suspended for their senior season from the football team. My daughter was at "the pit" when beer was brought. She did not want to jeopardize herself, so she did exactly what I would have hoped; she called to get a ride out of there. My nephew and his friend were home and went to get her. They were there as the police arrived.

While this may just sound like a story to get out of trouble, the facts supported my kids. The police report said that no beer was open, no charges were filed and all the kids were allowed to go home — including those who drove themselves. No evidence or testimony was ever presented that contradicted them. Basically, the board did not like the facts so they suspended the kids without any proof that a violation had really occurred.

My nephew moved down to Brick and was living with me after the passing of his mother the year before. Here he found a new family. The football team was like brothers he never knew. He and my son were both part of the team, and this helped them bond as well. He loved football, and it seemed that it would be a ticket to college. We had a school interested in having him play for them, but that ended with his season.

After the loss of his mother, it was important to me to find ways to get him focused and moving ahead. For him, that was football, and the school board took it all away. I suppose blaming it all on them would not be fair. Life already dealt my nephew a bad hand. I just could not believe that the school was adding to that.

I am not sure what the reasons were for finally suspending the code of conduct. Perhaps it is because former Superintendent Philip Nicastro is no longer around to tell the board what to do. Maybe it is because there is a school board election coming up, and they don’t want another group of people fighting with them over this hurtful policy. It just bothers me that they did not make this decision back when it could have made a difference.

I read an article that called Brian Deluca "an outspoken critic" of the code of conduct. What a joke! Back then, not one board member ever was allowed to speak at the meetings. The attorney cowed them into keeping their mouths shut because "there may be litigation." None had been filed and none ever was, but this way Dr. Nicastro got to run the show. And not one board member spoke. We begged them to comment, but it didn’t matter. They sat stone silent and let this happen to our kids. Now, Brian Deluca is an outspoken critic. Too late!

But the code isn’t gone, it’s suspended. In fact, John Bendokas wants to put it on the ballot to see if people are for a code of conduct. Mr. Bendokas, will you be able to tell them of all the problems with it before they vote? Will you be able to tell them about my daughter, my nephew and his friend who did exactly what any parent could pray for and had their lives changed anyway?

They keep saying that the policy is a deterrent. That is true, but I thought this was America where we try to keep the innocent from suffering unjust punishment. My kids learned about our system of government and laws inside the same school system that violated all of those ideals.

From where I am sitting, the only thing that the policy definitely deterred is good kids from having the senior year they deserved, my daughter from participating in something she earned and my nephew from the bright future he could have had.

Put that on your referendum, Mr. Bendokas!

Michelle Tignola

Brick