Yesterday’s Daily Dawg was a bit longer than usual. Today we go short, with a quick follow up on one of the main points from yesterday.  You will recall that yesterday’s case involved the potential liability of an assistant principal in Missouri who was charged with violating local policy. That policy said that when police officers questioned a student at school “the principal or designee will be present.”  Because that policy left no room for discretion or judgment, the A.P. was not able to claim “official immunity.”

You should check out your school’s policy on this subject.  It’s at GRA (Local).  I looked up four districts at random and they all had the same language: when law enforcement questions a student, other than in a child abuse investigation, “the principal or a designee ordinarily shall be present…”

That’s not quite as directive as the Missouri policy, but it’s close.  “Ordinarily” someone must be present.

There are two very simple rules about local policy.

• • • • • Rule One: Know What It Says.
        • Rule Two: Do What It Says.

DAWG BONE: KNOW IT.  FOLLOW IT.