Roaring Fork School Board clarifies search, arrest policies
GLENWOOD SPRINGS A third and final reading of policy changes for the Roaring Fork School District Re-1 was approved by the board of directors Wednesday night at the school boards regular meeting.RFSD district policy regarding student interrogations, searches and arrests was revised in accordance with changing state laws regarding the role of Student Resource Officers (SRO), according to RFSD superintendent Judy Haptonstall.There were some changes in the laws, Haptonstall said. There were some things that needed clarification about what a school resource officer can and cant do during an investigation.Two main points of the policy needed clarification. The first regards student interrogations, where the old policy stated something along the lines that the school will make a reasonable efforts to reach the students parents prior to the interrogations, according to Haptonstall. But that left a gray area of interpretation.Reasonable can be hard to define, she said. The revised policy states that schools will try every means available to contact the parents of the student prior to the police speaking with them, Haptonstall said.The second clarification regards the search of the person. Haptonstall said that the policy previously stated that school officials at any time can search book bags, lockers and cars on the premises, but the policy was unclear on the procedure of searching the student and his or her clothes. The revised policy states that police wont conduct a search of that nature on school grounds, according to Haptonstall.It was really just about getting more specific so people know exactly how these things work at the schools, Haptonstall said. Contact John Gardner: 384-9114jgardner@postindependent.comPost Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around Glenwood Springs and Garfield County make the Post Independent’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.
User Legend: Moderator
Trusted User
Garfield County to move to Level Blue on state’s COVID-19 dial Friday
Though it won’t bring major changes for most Garfield County businesses, local public health officials were notified Thursday that the county will move to the less-restrictive Level Blue, effective first thing Friday.