Code of Student Conduct
prohibited student conduct
V. Prohibited Student Conduct
A. Introduction:
1. 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.
2. 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 student’s ability to grow in
self-discipline.
3. 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 that follow are intended to do that and focus on
safety and
respect for the rights and property
of others. Students who do not accept responsibility for their own
behavior and
who violate these school rules will
be required to accept the penalties for their conduct.
B. Students may be subject to disciplinary action when they:
1. Engage in conduct that is
disorderly. Examples of disorderly conduct include, but are not limited
to:
a. Running in
hallways.
b. Making
unreasonable noise.
c. Using
language or gestures that are profane, lewd, vulgar or abusive.
d.
Obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
e. Engaging
in any willful act that disrupts the normal operation of the school
community.
f.
Trespassing. Students are not permitted in any school office or school
building, other than the one they regularly
attend,
without permission from the faculty member in charge.
g. Entering a
building/facility after regular hours or using any facility for anything
other than its intended purpose.
h. Misusing
computer/electronic communications, including any unauthorized use of
computers, software or
Internet/intranet account; accessing inappropriate Web sites; or any
other violation of the school district's
Computer and
Internet Acceptable Use P (see Policy (See Policy #4526.2).
i. Engaging
in conduct that is insubordinate. Examples of insubordinate conduct
include but are not limited to:
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) Arriving late for, missing or leaving school without permission.
3) Skipping detention.
j. Engage in
conduct that is disruptive to student learning or teacher instruction.
k. Engage in
conduct that is violent or threatening. Examples of violent or
threatening conduct include but are not
limited to:
1) Committing or threatening an act of violence (such as hitting,
kicking, punching, spitting, and scratching)
against a teacher, administrator, other school employee or against
another student or any other person on school
property or at a school function, or attempting to do so.
2) 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.
3) Displaying what appears to be a weapon.
4) Threatening to use any weapon, or any object as a weapon.
5) Intentionally damaging or destroying the personal property of a
student, teacher, administrator, other district
employee or any person.
6) Intentionally damaging or destroying school district property.
C. Engage in any conduct that endangers the safety, morals,
health or welfare of others. Examples of such conduct
include but are not limited to:
1. Lying to school district
personnel.
2. Stealing the property of other
students, school personnel or any other person on school property or
while 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.
4. Discrimination, which includes the
use of race, color, gender, religion, ethnic origin, economic status,
sexual
orientation or disability as a basis
for treating another in a negative manner.
5. Intimidation, which includes
engaging in actions or statements that put an individual in fear of
bodily harm.
6. Cyberbullying or cyberthreats (see
Policy #5810), and other inappropriate acts using technology.
7. Hazing, this includes any
intentional or reckless act directed against another for the purpose of
initiation into,
affiliating with or maintaining
membership in any school-sponsored activity, organization, club or team.
8. Physically detaining or
restraining any other person.
9. Selling, using or possessing
obscene material.
10. Using vulgar or abusive language,
cursing or swearing.
11. Smoking a cigarette, cigar, pipe
or using chewing or smokeless tobacco.
12. Possessing, consuming, selling,
distributing or exchanging alcoholic beverages or illegal substances or
being under
the influence of either. "Illegal
substances" include, but are not limited to, inhalants, marijuana,
cocaine, LSD, PCP,
amphetamines, heroin, steroids,
look-alike drugs and any substances commonly referred to as "designer
drugs."
13. Inappropriately possessing,
consuming, selling, distributing or exchanging prescription and
over-the-counter drugs.
14. Gambling.
15. Indecent exposure, that is,
exposure to sight of the private parts of the body in a lewd or indecent
manner.
16. Initiating a report warning of
fire, bomb threat or other catastrophe without valid cause, misuse of
911 or
discharging a fire extinguisher.
D. Harassment
1. General Harassment: severe action
or a persistent, pervasive pattern of actions or statements directed at
an
identifiable individual or group that
is intended to be, or that a reasonable person would perceive, as
ridiculing or
demeaning.
2. Intimidation, which includes
engaging in actions or statements that put an individual in fear of
bodily harm.
3. Cyberbullying or cyberthreats(see
#5810), and other inappropriate acts using technology.
4. Hazing (see #0115), which includes
any intentional or reckless act directed against another for the purpose
of
initiation into, affiliating with or
maintaining membership in any school-sponsored activity, organization,
club or team.
5. Sexual Harassment:
a. Sexual
Harassment: a severe action or a persistent, pervasive pattern of
actions or statements directed at an
identifiable
individual or group that is intended to be or that a reasonable person
would perceive as ridiculing or
demeaning
based on gender and sexual orientation.
b.
Intimidation, which includes engaging in actions or statements that put
an individual in fear of bodily harm.
The Board of
Education affirms its commitment to non-discrimination and recognizes
its responsibility to provide all
district
students an environment that is free of sexual harassment and
intimidation. Sexual harassment is a violation of
law and
stands in direct opposition to the district’s philosophy and policies.
Therefore,
the Board prohibits all forms of sexual harassment by employees and
students. Board of Education Policies
#0100 and
#0110 indicate the procedures for resolving sexual harassment complaints
by students.
6. Racial Harassment
a. Racial
Harassment: a severe action or a persistent, pervasive pattern of
actions or statements directed at an
identifiable
individual or group that is intended to be or that a reasonable person
would perceive as ridiculing or
demeaning
based on race and/or ethnicity.
b.
Intimidation, which includes engaging in actions or statements that put
an individual in fear of bodily harm.
The Board of
Education recognizes its responsibility to provide all district students
with an environment free of racial
harassment
and intimidation. Racial harassment is a violation of Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and stands in
direct
opposition to the district's philosophy and policy.
c. Therefore,
the Board prohibits all forms of racial harassment by employees and
students. Board of Education
Policy
indicates the procedures for resolving racial harassment complaints by
students.