Following is a general overview on the district discipline procedures. Complete information can be found in the student handbooks.
General overview
Discipline is most effective when it deals directly with the problem at the time and place it occurs, and in a way that students view as fair and impartial. School 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.
Disciplinary action, when necessary, will be firm, fair and consistent so as to be the most effective in changing student behavior. In determining the appropriate disciplinary action, school personnel authorized to impose disciplinary penalties will consider the following:
- The student’s age
- The nature of the offense and the circumstances, which led to the offense
- The student’s prior disciplinary record
- The effectiveness of other forms of discipline
- Information from parents, teachers and/or others, as appropriate
- Other extenuating circumstances
As a general rule, discipline will be progressive. This means that a student’s first violation will usually merit a lighter penalty than subsequent violations. Certain penalties could result in a referral to law enforcement.
If the conduct of a student is related to a disability or suspected disability, the student shall be referred to the Committee on Special Education and discipline, if warranted, shall be administered consistent with the separate requirements of this code of conduct for disciplining students with a disability or presumed to have a disability. A student identified as having a disability shall not be disciplined for behavior related to his/her disability.
Penalties
Students who are found to have violated the district’s code of conduct may be subject to the following penalties, either alone or in combination. The school personnel identified after each penalty are authorized to impose that penalty, consistent with the student’s right to due process.
- Oral warning: Any member of the district staff
- Written warning: Bus drivers, hall and lunch monitors, coaches, guidance counselors, teachers, principal, superintendent
- Written notification to parent: Guidance counselors, teachers, principal, superintendent
- Detention : Teachers, principal, superintendent
- Suspension from transportation: Director of Transportation, principal, superintendent
- Suspension from athletic participation: Coaches, athletic director, principal, superintendent
- Suspension from social or extracurricular activities: Activity director, principal, superintendent
- Suspension of other privileges: Principal, superintendent
- In-school suspension: Principal, superintendent
- Removal from classroom: Principal
- Short-term (five days or less) suspension from school: Principal, superintendent, Board of Education
- Long-term (more than five days) suspension from school: Superintendent, Board of Education
- Permanent suspension from school: Superintendent, Board of Education