GHS Policy Change Addresses 'Physical Acts of Affection' That Violate Norms

Students caught in "physical acts of affection that violate the norms of good taste" will violate Grafton High School's behavior code of conduct.

Grafton High had once such incident last year, "and we didn't have anything in the handbook to address the issue," Principal Jim Pignataro told the school committee, which approved the change in the Student-Parent Handbook,  Monday night.

The incident "had not occurred to my knowledge before," he said."I think this was an isolated incident," he said.

The change will be at level six, "the highest level" in the handbook, Pignataro noted.

School board member Daryl Rynning said that  "I fully understand that you need to do something about that behavior, but I don't understand why it needs to be at level six."

She suggested including a statement providing the administration with "full discretion" to handle such situations.

Pignataro said level six gives the administration "more flexibility" than the other levels.