By: Aggie Rieger and Madisson Stanley

“All faculty members of the North Kansas City School District are responsible for knowing the district’s policies,” said principal Joe Hesman.

According to Hesman the 2012-2013 school year marked a change in the way faculty members learn about district policies. In the past, faculty members attended several meetings during which they were read district policies. When they signed into the meetings, they agreed to the policies and acknowledged that they understood the rules.

This fall, however, faculty members went through policies individually and electronically, according to Hesman. Faculty members read through 18 sections of policies, clicking at the bottom of each whether they agreed or disagreed. Faculty members had from the beginning of the school year to Oct. 1 to submit their agreements. Faculty members received reminder emails and were reminded at meetings to finish their online check-offs.

“This year the purpose [of the change] was ‘look, you have a lot of time to look at these and go through these and sign off that you know them,’” Hesman said. “I think it’s a very positive way to do it. I like it. I think it’s very teacher-friendly.”

Hesman said he did not recall hearing any dissent from faculty members about this change. He also said he believed another purpose of this change was to better track which faculty members agreed to the policies.

These policies are approved by the Board of Education and are meant to be “general,” so they may serve as “umbrellas.” Policies may be followed by procedures, which give more information about the policies. All district policies are open to the public and may be accessed on the district’s website, under About Us > BoardDocs > Policies. At the building level, it is the responsibility of administrators, such as Hesman, to enforce these policies and procedures.

“With all policies and procedures, it’s always good to make sure that we look at them and know them,” Hesman said. “There’s a time to look at them again. From a procedural standpoint, that’s revisited every year.”

Another part of Hesman’s job is to handle conflicts regarding breaches in district policies.

“The worst part of my job is having to deal with staff issues, any negative staff issues,” Hesman said. “Those are days when I can’t stand my job.”

Sometimes students become involved with such staff issues.

“It’s hard when you know different facts and different situations and you know the truth and you hear rumors. A lot of times I have to keep my mouth shut,” Hesman said. “I focus on controlling what you can control, and for me, that’s helping students.”

Such student involvement can be seen in the current investigation surrounding science teacher Bill Dennis, Ed.D., who allegedly violated policy GBH, regarding student-staff relations. Hesman could neither confirm nor deny the situation, because doing so would violate the faculty member’s right to privacy. Dennis did not wish to comment.

“There are several people who absolutely loved Dr. Dennis and have felt anything from saddened to hurt to angry,” Hesman said. “There are also a number of students who aren’t engaged. There have been some other students who don’t feel saddened or hurt.”

To the students who are engaged in the issue, Hesman offered advice.

“Focus on what you can control. In students’ cases, they can focus on their school work,” Hesman said. “By all means, it’s appropriate for students to voice their opinion in an appropriate way.”

Hesman suggested voicing student opinions by writing Letters to the Editor of the school newspaper, The Northmen’s Log, and website, www.NorthmenNews.com, and called the action of students writing on the KCTV5 Facebook page appropriate as well. Hesman said he has spoken to several individuals regarding their personal concerns, and that he is willing to speak to others.

NorthmenNews will be following this story, and encourages students to write Letters to the Editor of the newspaper or the website. Students may write up to 300 words for the newspaper and deliver them to E134, or email [email protected]. Or they may comment below.