These consolidated cases appealed the District's application of its Good Conduct Policy. Both boys were involved in the same incident that constituted their third offense under the Good Conduct Code. The boys were passengers in a vehicle that drove over 21 newly-planted trees on the high school grounds. The Good Conduct Policy had a provision for self-reporting which allowed the student to reduce the penalty by one-half if s/he came forward to admit a violation of the Policy within seven days of the occurrence. These boys did not self-report. Because it was their third violation, they were rendered ineligible for all extracurricular activity for a 24-week period. On December 9, 1996, the Board of Directors upheld the administration's recommendation for ineligibility. The parents appealed the Board's decision because they did not feel that their sons' status as passengers rendered them culpable for the acts of the driver and therefore, the application of the policy in this case was too severe. Appellants further contended that the policy, as applied in this case, should be rendered void for vagueness. The administrative law judge and the hearing panel found that after reviewing the evidence, it did not appear credible that the students were "innocent bystanders." Therefore, the application of the policy to their conduct was reasonable.

As a result, the decision of the Rock Valley Community School District's Board of Directors, made on December 9, 1996, upholding the recommendation of the 24-week period of ineligibility against Justin Anderson and Joshua Grom for their involvement in school vandalism, is recommended for affirmance.