Sex offender policy imperfect

Registered sex offenders whose children attend Granite District schools will have to make appointments before visiting schools, according to a policy under consideration by the Granite Board of Education. Under the proposal, sex-offender parents' attendance at extracurricular activities also would be regulated by principals.

The proposed policy attempts to strike a balance between allowing these parents to participate in their children's educations and limiting their access to other children. This policy appears to meet those aims. But it will require school administrators and their assistants to use the utmost discretion in their communications with sex-offender parents so that the identities of their children — who may have been victimized by the parents — are protected.

School administrators, educators and support staff are to comply with numerous federal and state regulations regarding student privacy. Most would handle this new requirement with care. But this is a difficult issue because society wants to protect the identities of the children of sex offenders. However, registered sex offenders are on a state-managed Web site, which can be accessed by the public. Some will argue that the Web site helps parents and others protect themselves from people who have committed sexual offenses.

It is difficult, though, to argue against giving schools another tool to protect children. The policy also would ban registered sex offenders from volunteering in schools, which makes perfect sense.

But this proposal is not a total solution. Registered sex offenders who are not parents of Granite District students could come and go from events such as football games without restriction. This may pose a constitutional problem because the proposed policy treats sex-offender parents differently than other registered sex offenders. If the school board believes that sex offenders pose a risk to children, why not impose a blanket restriction?

Moreover, the policy does not apply to juvenile sex offenders, although school district officials say those students are educated in alternative settings. Also, the registry includes only adults who are convicted of sex offenses. What of those who have yet to be caught? Sexual predators tend to violate their victims multiple times before being brought to justice.

This policy is no substitute for close supervision of students by administrators, educators and school employees. That is, without question, the best means to ensure their safety at school.