The Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees approved a system policy on Aug. 12 creating a standardized process for dismissal consideration across the charter system, district staff told trustees.

The new policy and accompanying checklist were developed to align procedures across the system’s seven charter contracts, according to district staff who spent months reviewing contract language and past practice. Jen Barrows, who led the presentation, thanked legal counsel and principals for the work and said the packet includes the dismissal policy (PS‑101), a checklist (PS‑102) and the forms and letters needed to document each step.

Why it matters: The policy creates consistent timelines and procedural safeguards and clarifies how cases involving students with disabilities will be handled.

Key process elements: Barrows described the stepwise process. If a principal recommends dismissal consideration, the policy prescribes notification to parents and a school‑level dismissal committee meeting that collects evidence and hears testimony. The policy requires a 10‑day written notice to parents for a dismissal meeting; if a student has a 504 plan or IEP, the school must conduct a manifestation determination review before imposing dismissal‑related consequences.

Barrows summarized committee membership: the school dismissal committee must include a principal, at least two staff members not associated with the student, and one of the following: social worker, school counselor, psychologist or mental‑health counselor; the superintendent will appoint additional staff or administrators as needed and the ESE director will attend when the student has a disability. The appeal committee is a separate body that includes the superintendent and a board trustee who is not the school‑based trustee associated with the dismissal request, plus a principal from another Lake Wales school. Counsel and staff are designated to attend and advise at the appeal but do not vote.

Timelines and appeals: Parents have three calendar days to submit a written appeal after a dismissal committee decision. If the dismissal process involves a suspension pending a meeting, the policy limits administrative suspensions to the statutory maximum (10 school days) and provides guidance on postponements.

Trustee discussion: Trustees asked about ensuring consistent definitions of behavior tiers (Tier 1/Tier 2/Tier 3) across schools and whether the district will standardize MTSS behavioral supports. District staff said the MTSS tier definitions are consistent systemwide and that the policy is designed to supplement existing codes of conduct and school‑level behavioral supports, not to replace those processes for minor infractions.

Board action: The trustees approved the dismissal policy with a clerical clarification to the checklist language (clarifying the appeal committee trustee must not be the trustee representing the school that requested dismissal). The motion was moved, seconded and approved at the regular meeting.

Ending: Staff said the policy is the first step in a systemwide effort to ensure transparency and consistent application of dismissal procedures; principals will receive additional guidance and training on implementation.