OH- Young sex offender will be tutored at Springboro school's expense

9-6-2009 Ohio:

SPRINGBORO — Among students anxious to attend Springboro High School this year is a registered juvenile sex offender.

Rather than allow the student to go to class at the high school, district officials say the boy should continue his education at home with a special tutor at district expense.

“If you’re a registered sex offender, you don’t need to be around other students,” Superintendent David Baker said.

Contrary to their adult counterparts, registered juvenile sex offenders aren’t barred from school grounds. Every school-aged child — no matter their criminal record — is entitled through the Ohio Constitution to a free, public education. However, districts must work out alternatives with parents or guardians for juvenile sex offenders.

The alternatives range from being placed in an alternative school and outpatient counseling in districts like Dayton Public Schools to home-based programs paid for by districts like Springboro.

From July 1, 2008 to June 31, the Ohio Department of Youth Services released 81 sex offenders under 18 years old, according to state records, and Ohio school districts must balance their rights to a public education with the safety of other students and staff.

“Districts have to be very careful about pulling out or segregating students regardless of the intention,” said Scott Blake, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Education.

In Springboro, an 18-year-old student who transferred into the Springboro school district last year is being tutored at home by the district in part because of the violence of the student’s crimes, which were committed several years ago, said Superintendent David Baker. This typically cost about $10,000 — about $2,000 more than it would if the student attended regular classes, Baker said.

“Safety is No. 1. Education is No. 2,” Baker said. “You can’t do academics in an unsafe environment.”

Asked about Springboro’s stance, Blake said, “Can the school keep him from enrolling? Not really.”

At Dayton Public Schools, registered juvenile sex offenders start out with 45 days at the Longfellow Alternative School, while the students work with probation and receive outpatient counseling.

“Following that, they are placed in other schools throughout the district,” said spokeswoman Melissa Fowler.

This year five registered juvenile sex offenders are enrolled in the district, Fowler said.

In the Xenia Community Schools, officials might allow a sex offender into regular classes or at The Academy, where classes are held near the juvenile-court complex for kids with special needs. School officials also can suggest a home-based alternative, Superintendent Jeff Lewis said.

The district looks at the crimes committed, the age of the offenders and their potential for graduating, Lewis said.

“There’s the student body and staff at-large you’ve got to be responsible for as well,” he said.

Officials also must be careful to respect the privacy rights of juvenile sexual offenders, Lewis said.

Xenia uses notification procedures developed about 20 years ago in connection with kids with AIDS, Lewis said. “You tell those who need to know.”

Lewis estimated his district typically has two to six registered juvenile sex offenders enrolled. This year, however, there are none.

Wayne Local Schools in Warren County currently have no registered sex offenders, Superintendent Patrick Dubbs said.

Former Superintendent Tom Isaacs recalled one case in his nine years when the district paid $300 a day to transport and educate a sex offender at a school in Cincinnati.

Isaacs now is assistant superintendent for the Warren County Board of Education. Although about half the board’s alternative school students are on probation, Isaacs said sex offenders aren’t enrolled. Special-needs students can attend the “virtual school” offered by the board, he said.

Citing privacy laws, other districts declined to specify the number of sex offenders enrolled in their schools. One such district is Miamisburg City Schools.

“We have on occasion had students return to the district with court-designated offender labels. Like most districts, we look at all the educational options ranging from online programs to attendance in a regular program,” Jennifer Jones, communications Officer for Miamisburg schools, said in emails.

“As a district, we consider lots of factors — most importantly the safety of the general student population, the safety of the returning student, and the safety of staff.” ..Source.. by Lawrence Budd, Staff Writer