• Disciplinary Measures

    Students who engage in prohibited behaviors, as outlined in the Prohibited Student Conduct section of this Handbook, may be subject to discipline, up to and including suspension and expulsion.

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    This section outlines specific prohibited student behaviors, as well as a visual example of potential disciplinary consequences that may be assigned to a student who engages in those behaviors. The behaviors are categorized into four tiers of conduct, based on the degree of disruption to the learning environment. These tiers are visual examples meant to aid in the understanding of the discipline that students may receive for certain actions. The specific tier and discipline assigned to a student will vary, depending on the specific behavior engaged in by the student, the level of disruption, and the surrounding circumstances.

     

    Tier 1

    Type of Conduct

    Potential Disciplinary Consequence(s)

    • Disrespect 
    • Disruption 
    • Interfering with the learning of others in the classroom (e.g., interruptions, excessive noise, refusal to stay in seat)
    • Use of profanity
    • Tardy to class or school 
    • Throwing object(s)
    • Insubordination
    • Violation of cafeteria instructions
    • Review classroom expectations
    • Conference with parent/guardian 
    • Disciplinary conference with administration
    • Restorative conversation 
    • Temporary removal from the classroom 
    • After-school study or Saturday study 
    • Other supportive measures or referrals deemed appropriate
     

    Tier 2

    Type of Conduct

    Potential Disciplinary Consequence(s)

    • Repeated Tier 1 behaviors
    • Prohibited cell phone use
    • Academic dishonesty 
    • Forgery 
    • Plagiarism 
    • Gambling
    • Unexcused absence(s)
    • Improper use of technology (as defined by the District’s Acceptable Use Policy)
    • Possession and/or use of tobacco or nicotine products (including electronic cigarettes and vapes)
    • Unauthorized solicitation or sale of goods/services 
    • Verbal altercations that disrupt the learning environment, but do not require intervention to prevent a physical altercation
    • Disregarding for directions of school staff, causing interruption to other students’ participation in school activities
    • Disruptive physical contact between students
    • Confiscation of cell phone 
    • Confiscation of tobacco or nicotine products or devices 
    • Temporary classroom removal 
    • Classroom or school check in/out system
    • After-school or Saturday study
    • Loss of credit for academic dishonesty
    • Conference with parent/guardian 
    • Disciplinary consequence with administration
    • Restorative conversation 
    • Loss of good standing 
    • In school suspension (1-3 days)
    • Any response noted in Tier 1

     

    Tier 3

    Type of Conduct

    Potential Disciplinary Consequence(s)

    • Repeated Tier 2 behaviors
    • Leaving school without permission
    • Inciting violence 
    • Verbal altercations that require intervention to prevent a physical altercation
    • Excessive disruptions to learning opportunities of other students 
    • Possession, use, or distribution of alcohol or illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, or look-alikes 
    • Trespassing 
    • Vandalism (under $500)
    • Immediate classroom removal 
    • Conference with parent/guardian
    • Disciplinary conference with administration
    • Confiscation of prohibited item(s)
    • Restorative conversation
    • Referral to community organization(s)
    • Loss of good standing
    • Loss of privileges
    • Removal from extracurricular and/or athletic activities
    • Referral to local law enforcement
    • In school suspension
    • Out-of-school suspension 
    • Any responses noted in Tier 2

     

    Tier 4

    Type of Conduct

    Potential Disciplinary Consequence(s)

    • Repeated Tier 3 behaviors
    • Threats
    • Harassment 
    • Bullying and cyberbullying
    • Hazing 
    • Teen dating violence, stalking, sexual violence, and/or sexual harassment, including but not limited to offensive touching, fondling, indecent exposure, and sexual assault
    • Gang activity
    • Physical altercation or assault 
    • Arson 
    • Theft or robbery
    • Vandalism (over $500)
    • Possession or attempted use of a weapon or look-alike item
    • Violating any criminal law
    • Engaging in any activity, whether on or off campus, that poses a threat or danger to the safety of other students, staff, or school property, or interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the school environment, school operations, or an educational function
    • Immediate classroom removal
    • Conference with parent/guardian 
    • Confiscation of item(s)
    • Restitution of property
    • Restorative conversation 
    • Referral to community organization(s) 
    • Loss of good standing 
    • Loss of privileges
    • Removal from extracurricular and/or athletic activities
    • Referral to local law enforcement
    • In school suspension 
    • Out-of-school suspension 
    • Expulsion 

    The District may also notify juvenile authorities or other law enforcement whenever the conduct involves criminal activity, including but not limited to, illegal drugs (controlled substances), look-alikes, alcohol, or weapons, or in other circumstances as authorized by the reciprocal reporting agreement between the District and local law enforcement agencies.

     

    School officials shall limit the number and duration of expulsions and out-of-school suspensions to the greatest extent practicable, and, where practicable and reasonable, shall consider forms of non-exclusionary discipline before using out-of-school suspensions or expulsions. School personnel shall not advise or encourage students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic difficulties. 

    Corporal punishment is prohibited. Corporal punishment is defined as slapping, paddling, or prolonged maintenance of students in physically painful positions, or intentional infliction of bodily harm. Corporal punishment does not include reasonable force as needed to maintain safety for students, staff, or other persons, or for the purpose of self-defense or defense of property.

     

    After School/Saturday Study

    After-school study or Saturday study may be issued, provided the student’s parent/guardian has been notified. The District will not provide alternative transportation to the student. If transportation arrangements cannot be agreed upon with the student’s parent/guardian, an alternative disciplinary measure must be used. The student must be supervised by the detaining teacher or the Building Principal or designee.

     

    Community Service

    Community service with local public and nonprofit agencies that enhances community efforts to meet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs. The District will not provide transportation. School administration shall only use this option with parent/guardian agreement.

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    Detention
    Detentions are viewed as extensions to a student’s school day or week. In certain instances, a student may be assigned a before, during, or after school detention for behavioral or attendance issues. Before school detentions are served from 7:30 – 8:00 a.m. After school detentions are served from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. Detentions issued during the school day will be served during the student’s resource or lunch periods. Failure to report to assigned detention will result in additional consequences. Students may also be assigned Saturday detentions for behavioral or attendance reasons. All Saturday detentions begin at 8:00 a.m. on the assigned morning and may extend as late as 12:00 p.m. depending on the seriousness of the infraction. The Deans' Office will designate the location of the assigned detention.
    All students’ assigned detentions are encouraged to work on academic coursework during the time they are assigned the detention.

     

    Alternative to In-School Suspension
    Students who are placed in an alternative to in-school suspension setting will serve during times when they are not scheduled to be in an academic class. Students may serve before and after school, during free periods, lunch and on Saturday. The Deans' Office will work with the student and their family to create an alternative schedule to serve the amount of time for the disciplinary consequence. A determination will be made regarding the student’s use of electronic devices during the Alternative to In-Suspension. Failure to meet academic and/or behavioral expectations in the Alternative to In-School suspension setting may result in further disciplinary consequences.

     

    In-School Suspension
    Students who are placed in an in-school suspension will be in the school building from the beginning of the day until the end of the day unless otherwise directed by a Dean or the Principal’s designee. On the day of an in-school suspension, the student is expected to meet in the Deans' office at the beginning of the day with all materials required for classes. At this time a review of the day will occur and a determination will be made regarding electronic devices. Assignments are to be sent by teachers and must be completed. No academic penalty is associated with work completed during in-school suspension. Absences from classes that result from serving in-school suspension are considered "school-related" absences. Failure to meet academic and/or behavioral expectations in in-school suspension may result in further disciplinary consequences. At times, a re-engagement conference will be held at the end of the in-school suspension to review the student’s academic/behavior progress and discuss behavioral expectations moving forward from the suspension. The Building Principal or designee shall ensure that the student is properly supervised.

     

    Out-of-School Suspensions
    The Superintendent or designee may issue an out-of-school suspension if: 

    1. The student’s continuing presence in school poses a threat to school safety or a disruption to other students’ learning opportunities; and
    2. School officials have taken all reasonable steps to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of the suspension.

     

    For suspensions of four (4) or more days, school officials must also determine whether other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted. Students suspended for 4-10 days must receive appropriate and available support services during the suspension.

     

    Out-of-school suspension from school and all school activities are in accordance with Board Policy 7-200, Suspension Procedures.

    Suspension Review
    A student’s parent/guardian may request a review of an out-of-school suspension, to be conducted by the Board or a hearing officer appointed by the Board. At the review, the student’s parents or guardians may appear and discuss the suspension with the Board or its hearing officer and may be represented by counsel. Whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be the cause for the suspension, the Superintendent or designee must invite a representative from the Department of Human Services to consult with the Board. 

     

    After presentation of the evidence or receipt of the hearing officer’s report, the Board shall take such action as it finds appropriate. If the suspension is upheld, the Board’s written suspension decision shall specifically detail items (a) and (e) in number 4 above.

     

    Suspension and suspension review procedures are discussed in further detail in the Administrative Procedures implementing Board Policy 7-200. 

     

    Students receiving special education services are subject to different suspension procedures which can also be found in the Administrative Procedures implementing Board Policy 7-230. These procedures can be found on the District website or at the Principal’s or Deans' office.

     

    Expulsion

    The Building Principal or Superintendent may recommend expulsion for a period up to two (2) years when the student’s continuing presence in school poses a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community or would substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school; school officials have taken all reasonable steps to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of the discipline; and school officials have determined that other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted. Expulsion procedures are discussed in further detail in Board Policy 7-210.

     

    Reengagement

    The Superintendent or designee shall maintain a process to facilitate the re-engagement of students who are returning from an out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or an alternative school setting. The goal of re-engagement shall be to support the student’s ability to be successful in school following a period of exclusionary discipline and shall include the opportunity for students who have been suspended to complete or make up work for equivalent academic credit.