The policy would require all parents who are registered sex offenders to make appointments before coming to school, and would require them to be escorted at all times while in school.

"It protects both the sex offender and children," said Martin Bates, Granite's attorney and an assistant to the superintendent. "It just balances sex offender parents' ability to participate in their children's education versus exposing them to other people's children."

The policy formalizes what has been practiced for some time now in the district. Bates said principals currently send letters to parents who are sex offenders detailing school regulations.

Principals contacted the district asking for an actual policy they can refer to so parents don't feel they are singled out, he said.

"We get about three or four calls a year from principals at our 90 schools asking what to do about sex-offender parents," he said. "This way, principals can hand out a policy to parents along with a letter."

Granite is not alone in creating policies to regulate sex-offender access to public places. Four bills dealing with sex offenders await action by the Legislature.

Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, earlier this fall said he would like to create a law stating no sex offender can live within 500 feet of schools, parks and other public areas.

Twelve other states have similar laws, but court challenges of some of the laws remain unresolved.

There are about 8,000 people on the Utah Sex Offender Registry, according to Jack Ford, Utah Department of Corrections spokesman. He estimated about 70 percent of those listed are pedophiles.

The Granite policy says principals should make "reasonable efforts" to allow parents to take part in their children's education. But it also contains strong language about parent sex offenders.

"The Board of Education finds that conviction of a sexual offense against a child is incompatible with unfettered access to school property and schoolchildren, regardless of whether sentences have been served or probations have ended," the policy states.

A final vote on the policy is scheduled for Dec. 12.

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* SHEENA MCFARLAND can be contacted at smcfarland@sltrib.com or 801-257-8619.