District 300 considers peer juries

In a memorable episode of "Family Matters," Steve Urkel's classmates grill him on his alleged role in a chemistry lab explosion.

Like Urkel, students in Community Unit District 300 who run afoul of school rules would be judged by their fellow students under a plan for a districtwide peer jury.

Although the details are still being worked out, district officials have discussed having a single jury next year that would judge high school offenses that don't merit expulsion. If all goes well, the program could be expanded to the middle schools in 2009-10.

"I think it's a great program because it deals with students and discipline in a positive way," District 300 board member Anne Miller said.

Miller, a lawyer, serves on the school board's discipline committee. Drawing on her experience as the coordinator of McHenry County's peer jury program, Miller has led efforts to bring the idea to District 300.

Unlike the jury on "Family Matters," the peer jury as conceived by District 300 would take up only student discipline cases when a student has admitted guilt.

The task of the jury, which an adult moderator would supervise, would be to consider the facts of the case and determine punishment.

Training would be mandatory for peer jurors and the adults that supervise them, Miller said.

Penalties could range from writing an apology letter to doing community service -- with an eye toward changing behavior and keeping kids in the classroom, Miller said.

"Oftentimes, an out-of-school suspension doesn't deter the behavior," she said.

Shelley Nacke, the principal of Oak Ridge, District 300's alternative school for grades six through 12, agreed.

"For the majority ... out-of-school (suspension) doesn't affect them as much," Nacke said.

Nacke, who is among the group working on District 300's peer jury, recently observed McHenry County's version in action and was struck by the maturity of the young jurists.

"I feel it's another intervention we can use with students, especially for the less serious incidents," Nacke said. "The more you can keep them in school and getting an education, you're helping them out."

Neighboring districts Elgin Area School District U-46 and Huntley Unit District 158 don't have peer juries and have no plans to adopt them, according to school officials.

But other area districts, including Chicago Public Schools and Northwest Suburban High School District 214, have embraced the idea.

District 300's discipline committee will meet Thursday to iron out the details of the peer jury proposal before sending it to the school board.