DIXFIELD – A new policy aimed at reintegrating students from juvenile correctional facilities is to be discussed at SAD 21’s board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3.

“It’s a policy that all school districts must have in place, but we don’t have it yet,” Superintendent Thomas Ward said.

After a first reading of the policy on Dec. 6, Ward said the board scheduled a second reading Monday night.

Maine law requires that a reintegration team be established to assist a student entering a public school from a juvenile correctional facility.

The team is to include, at a minimum, the school principal, a guidance counselor, at least one classroom teacher to which the student will be assigned or who is involved in the school’s student assistance team, and the student’s parent, guardian or custodian.

The student’s juvenile correctional officer or other representative from the Department of Corrections may also be invited to attend.

Ward is to be responsible for determining whether a student is to be accepted or denied access to school, based on compliance with the youth’s rehabilitation plan as it affects reintegration.

Access may be denied until the superintendent is satisfied that conditions have been met.

According to the policy, the reintegration team is to determine, on basis of need, which school employees should be given information that would otherwise be considered confidential.

The nature and extent of that information, the policy states, should be limited to that needed to implement the student’s reintegration plan, and ensure the health and safety of the student, safety of the school’s students and staff, and integrity of school property.

Additionally, Ward or a designee is to be responsible for ensuring that confidentiality training is provided to all school employees who have access to the information.

This includes a review of the school unit’s policy and administrative procedures pertinent to juvenile criminal justice system records, the juvenile correctional facility, and to all student educational records under the Family Education Records and Privacy Act.

The policy states that before the student enters school, at least one additional meeting of the reintegration team be held to develop an individualized plan for the student’s reintegration. This is to be based on the student’s educational needs and options available within the school system.

The reintegration plan is to address the student’s educational program, participation in activities, including co-curricular and extracurricular, and access to school facilities, including transportation.

Placement in grade, class or school programs is to be based on the student’s abilities and academic achievement demonstrated in prior educational settings, including the student’s stay at the juvenile correctional facility.