The Board of Education expects all students to conduct themselves in an appropriate and civil manner, with proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students, district personnel, and other members of the school community, and for the care of school facilities and equipment.
The best discipline is self-imposed, and students must learn to assume and accept responsibility for their own behavior, as well as the consequences of their misbehavior. District personnel who interact with students are expected to use disciplinary action only when necessary and to place emphasis on the students’ ability to grow in self-discipline.
The Board recognizes the need to make its expectations for student conduct while on school property or engaged in a school function specific and clear. The rules of conduct listed below are intended to do that and focus on safety and respect for the rights and property of others. Students who will not accept responsibility for their own behavior and who violate these school rules will be required to accept the penalties for their conduct.
Students may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension from school, when they:
A. Engage in conduct that is disorderly. Examples of disorderly conduct include:
1. Running in hallways.
2. Making unreasonable noise.
3. Using language or gestures that are profane, lewd, vulgar, or abusive.
4. Obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
5. Engaging in any willful act, which disrupts the normal operation of the school community.
6. Trespassing. Students are not permitted in the school building, other than during school hours, unless supervised by a staff member or attending an approved school function.
7. Misusing computer/electronic communications devices, including any unauthorized or inappropriate use of computers, software, or Internet/intranet account; accessing inappropriate websites; evading the District's content filter; using an outside wireless network; or any other violation of the District’s Acceptable Use Policy.
8. Unauthorized use of personal electronic devices/equipment (i.e., cell phones, MP3 devices, cameras, and other personal electronic devices deemed inappropriate by the administration).
9. Unauthorized used of personal computer, laptop, tablet or e-reader and/or other computerized information through the District computer system is prohibited.
B. Engage in conduct that is insubordinate. Examples of insubordinate conduct include:
1. Failing to comply with the reasonable directions of teachers, school administrators, or other school employees in charge of students or otherwise demonstrating disrespect.
2. Lateness for, missing, or leaving school or class without permission.
3. Skipping detention.
4. Utilizing computers for Instant Messages, personal e-mail, or logging onto any type of social network (i.e. MySpace, Facebook, etc.)
C. Engage in conduct that is disruptive. Examples of disruptive behavior include:
1. Failing to comply with the reasonable directions of teachers, school administrators, or other school personnel in charge of students.
2. Endangering the health and safety of other students or staff or interfering with classes or District activities by means of inappropriate appearance or behavior as per the District Code of Conduct.
D. Engage in conduct that is violent. Examples of violent conduct include:
1. Committing an act of violence (such as hitting, kicking, punching, and scratching) upon a teacher, administrator, or other school employee or attempting to do so.
2. Committing an act of violence (such as hitting, kicking, punching, and scratching) upon another student or any person lawfully on school property or attempting to do so.
3. Possessing a weapon. Authorized law enforcement officials are the only persons permitted to have a weapon in their possession while on school property or at a school function. Weapons may include but are not limited to:
a. firearm, including, but not limited to, a rifle, shotgun, pistol, handgun, silencer, electronic dart gun, stun gun, machine gun, air gun, spring gun, BB gun, or paint ball gun;
b. a switchblade knife, gravity knife, pilum ballistic knife, cane sword, dagger, stiletto, dirk, razor, box cutter, metal knuckle knife, or any other dangerous knife;
c. a billy club, blackjack, bludgeon, chukka stick, or metal knuckles;
d. a sandbag or sandclub;
e. a sling shot or slungshot;
f. a martial arts instrument, including, but not limited to, a kung fu star, ninja star, nun-chuck, or shirken;
g. an explosive, including but not limited to, a firecracker or other fireworks;
h. a deadly or dangerous chemical, including, but not limited to, a strong acid or base, mace, or pepper spray;
i. an imitation gun that cannot be easily distinguished from a real gun;
j. loaded or blank cartridges or other ammunition; or
k. any other deadly or potentially dangerous object that is used with the intent to inflict injury or death.
4. Displaying what appears to be a weapon.
5. Threatening to use a weapon.
6. Using weapon(s).
7. Intentionally damaging or destroying District property, the personal property of a student, teacher, volunteer, contractor, vendor, administrator, other District employee or any person lawfully on District property, or at a District function including but not limited to graffiti or arson.
8. Communication by any means, including oral, written or electronic (such as through the Internet, e-mail or texting) off school property, where the content of such communication (a) can reasonably be interpreted as a threat to commit an act of violence on school property; or (b) results in material or substantial disruption to the educational environment.
9. Engaging in harassing conduct, verbal threats, intimidation, or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical well-being.
E. Engage in any conduct that endangers the safety, morals, health, or welfare of others.
Examples of such conduct include:
1. Lying to school personnel.
2. Stealing the property of other students, school personnel or any other person lawfully on school property or attending a school function.
3. Defamation, which includes making false or unprivileged statements or representations about an individual or identifiable group of individuals that harm the reputation of the person or the identifiable group by demeaning them. This can include posting or publishing video, audio recordings, pictures or written material on cell phones, Internet, YouTube, etc.
4. Discrimination, based on a person's actual or perceived race, age, color, creed, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital or veteran status, use of recognized guide dog, hearing dog or service dog, or disability as a basis for treating another in a negative manner on school property or at a school function.
5. Harassment, the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that has or would have the effect of unreasonably or substantially interfering with a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well being based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, political affiliation, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, marital or veteran status, use of recognized guide dog, hearing dog or service dog, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex, and gender expression.
6. Bullying and intimidation, which includes engaging in actions or statements that put an individual in fear of bodily harm and/or emotional discomfort; for example, "play" fighting, extortion of money, overt teasing, etc.
7. "Internet bullying" (also referred to as "cyberbullying") including the use of instant messaging, e-mail, websites, chat rooms, text messaging, or by any other electronic means, when such use interferes with the operation of the school; or infringes upon the general health, safety and welfare of students or employees.
8. Sexual harassment, which includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests of sexual favors, taking, sending or receiving sexually explicit videos, pictures or auditory recordings and other verbal or physical conduct or communication or sexual nature.
9. Displaying signs of gang affiliation or engaging in gang-related behaviors that are observed to increase the level of conflict or violent behavior.
10. Hazing, which includes any intentional or reckless act directed against another for the purpose of initiating into, affiliating with or maintaining membership in any District or school sponsored activity, organization, club or team.
11. Selling, using, or possessing obscene material.
12. Possessing, consuming, selling or attempting to sell, distributing, or exchanging alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tobacco products, e-cigarettes/vaping devices, or illegal and/or controlled substances, counterfeit or designer drugs, or paraphernalia for use of such drugs or be under the influence of any such substance on school property or at a school function. “Illegal substances” include, but are not limited to, inhalant, marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, LDS, PCP, amphetamines, heroin, steroids, look-alike drugs, drug paraphernalia and any substances
13. Inappropriately using, sharing, selling, attempting to sell, distributing or exchanging prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
14. Possessing or consuming, selling, attempting to sell, distributing, or exchanging "look-alike drugs"; or possessing or consuming (without authorization), selling, attempting to sell, distributing or exchanging other substances such as dietary supplements, weight loss pills, etc.
15. Gambling, prohibited gaming.
16. Inappropriate touching and/or indecent exposure.
17. Initiating or reporting a warning of fire or other catastrophe without valid cause, misuse of 911, or inappropriately discharging a fire extinguisher.
18. Violating gender privacy when using school restroom facilities.
F. Engage in misconduct while on a school bus. It is crucial for students to behave appropriately while riding on District buses to ensure their safety and that of other passengers and to avoid distracting the bus driver. Students are required to conduct themselves on the bus in a manner consistent with established standards for classroom behavior. Excessive noise, pushing, shoving, fighting, harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated.
G. Engage in any form of academic misconduct.
Examples of academic misconduct include:
1. Plagiarism.
2. Cheating.
3. Altering records.
4. Accessing other users e-mail accounts or network storage accounts and/or attempting to read, delete, copy, modify, and interfere with the transferring and receiving of electronic communications.
5. Violation of the District Acceptable Use Policy for technology.
6. Assisting another student in any of the above actions.
H. Engage in any type of retaliation toward another student or staff member for reporting incidents of misconduct, harassment, or threats.
Student Interaction Policy - Under our Student Interaction Policy the Code of Conduct supports our broad discretionary authority to maintain safety, order, and discipline by acting on behaviors that are unauthorized and improper.