BOARD PHILOSOPHY
The board believes inappropriate student conduct causes material and substantial disruption to the school environment, interferes with the rights of others, and presents a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, and visitors on school premises.
Students will conduct themselves in a manner fitting to their age level and maturity and with respect and consideration for the rights of others while:
- On school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district;
- On school-owned and/or operated school or chartered vehicles;
- Attending or engaged in school activities; and
- Away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficient management, and welfare of the school district.
Consequences for the misconduct will be fair and developmentally appropriate.
All employees of the district will share responsibility for supervising the behavior of students and for seeing that they meet the standards of conduct which have been or may hereafter be established. Emphasis will be placed upon the growth of the student in their ability to discipline themselves.
STUDENT BEHAVIOR
Students who fail to abide by this policy, and the administrative regulations supporting it, may be disciplined for conduct which disrupts or interferes with the education program; conduct which disrupts the orderly and efficient operation of the school district or school activity; conduct which disrupts the rights of other students to participate in or obtain their education; conduct that is violent or destructive; or conduct which interrupts the maintenance of a disciplined atmosphere. Disciplinary measures include, but are not limited, to removal from the classroom or school-related situation, detention, suspension, probation, and expulsion.
ASSAULT AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE
A student who commits an assault against an employee on district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on school-owned or school-operated chartered vehicles; or while attending or engaged in school district activities may be suspended by the principal. Notice of the suspension will be sent to the superintendent who shall review the suspension to determine whether to recommend further sanctions against the student, which may include expulsion. Assault for purposes of this section of this policy is defined as:
- An act which is intended to cause pain or injury to, or which is intended to result in physical contact which will be insulting or offensive to another, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act; or
- Any act which is intended to place another in fear of immediate physical contact which will be painful, injurious, insulting, or offensive, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act; or
- Any act of intentionally pointing any firearm, look-alike, or any other dangerous weapon toward another or displaying in a threatening manner any dangerous weapon, look-alike, or any other dangerous weapon toward another.
The act is not an assault when the person doing any of the above and the other person are voluntary participants in a sport, social or other activity, not in itself criminal, when the act is a reasonably foreseeable incident of such sport or activity and does not create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or breach of the peace.
TYPES OF ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINE
Removal from the classroom or school-related situation means a student is subject to discipline by the responsible administrator. It will be within the discretion of the administrator [or designee] to remove the student. This policy is not intended to address the use of therapeutic classrooms or seclusion rooms for students.
Detention means the student’s presence is required during non-school hours for disciplinary purposes. The student can be required to appear prior to the beginning of the school day, after school has been dismissed for the day, or on a non-school day. Whether a student will serve detention, and the length of the detention, is within the discretion of the licensed employee or the building principal [or designee] disciplining the student.
Suspension means; either an in-school suspension, an out-of-school suspension, a restriction from activities, or loss of eligibility.
In-school suspension means the student will attend school but will be temporarily isolated from one or more classes while under supervision. An in-school suspension will not exceed 10 consecutive school days.
Out-of-school suspension means the student is removed from the school environment, which includes school classes and activities. An out-of-school suspension will not exceed 10 school days.
Restriction from school activities means a student will attend school and classes and practice but will not participate in school activities.
Administrative suspension shall be the removal of a student by an administrator from the immediate area to a safe zone until further administrative review can be conducted.
Probation means a student is given a conditional suspension of a penalty for a definite period of time in addition to being reprimanded. The conditional suspension will mean the student must meet the conditions and terms for the suspension of the penalty. Failure of the student to meet these conditions and terms will result in immediate reinstatement of the penalty.
Expulsion means an action by the board to remove a student from the school environment, which includes, but is not limited to, classes and activities, for a period of time set by the board not to exceed one calendar year plus the completion of the current school year.
SPECIAL EDUCATION DISCIPLINE
Following the suspension of a special education student, an informal evaluation of the student’s placement will take place. The Individual Education Program (IEP) will be evaluated to determine whether it needs to be changed or modified in response to the behavior that led to the suspension.
If during a calendar school year, a special education student’s suspensions either in or out of school equal 10 school days on a cumulative basis the IEP team will meet to review the current IEP and determine whether the student is appropriately placed.
REGULATIONS
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principals, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Adopted: 6/70
Reviewed: 5/11; 3/12; 10/14; 1/15; 9/20
Revised: 7/13; 12/16; 10/17; 2/21
Related Policy: 502.1-R; 502.2; 502.2-R; 502.5; 502.5-R1-R3; 502.6; 502.8; 502.8-R; 503.1; 602.5
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): §§ 279.8; 282.3-.5; 708.1; 281 IAC 12.3(6)
IASB Reference: 503.01
Mandatory Policy