During a recent meeting of the Colonial School District Board, parent Tanya Kearns raised significant concerns regarding the district's student behavior policies and the handling of missing students. With over three decades of experience as a parent in the district, Kearns highlighted that many parents only become aware of disciplinary policies when their children are affected. She emphasized the need for a review of these policies, arguing that current practices may be enabling negative behaviors rather than addressing them effectively.

Kearns pointed out specific issues, such as the handling of class skipping and cell phone usage, questioning how many leniencies should be granted before enforcing disciplinary measures. She also expressed concern over the district's maximum suspension policy, which she believes allows students to repeatedly violate the code of conduct without facing consequences.

A particularly alarming incident was brought to light when Kearns recounted a recent case involving a missing student from William Penn. She criticized the lack of communication and action from educational staff, noting that the student was not reported missing to the parent and was subsequently removed from the missing list without proper follow-up. Kearns urged the board to improve protocols for tracking missing students and suggested utilizing technology, such as Chromebooks, to help locate them.

The meeting proceeded with no further public comments, and the board moved on to approve the consent agenda without any questions or discussions. The board's response to Kearns' concerns remains to be seen, but her call for action underscores the pressing need for policy reassessment within the district to ensure student safety and accountability.