A CLOSER LOOK AT STUDENT CONDUCT

Student Conduct and Discipline    F01

The Leland and Gray School District maintains a safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environment. In order to ensure that the school is free from disruptive misconduct, a system of classroom and school management practices, supported by consistent, clear and fair disciplinary procedures, will be utilized. It is the responsibility of each student to contribute to a safe and productive learning environment in the school by demonstrating respect and consideration for fellow students and adults. This includes complying with all policies and rules of conduct of the School District and individual classrooms.

Personnel Involved in School Discipline

All Leland and Gray staff members have the obligation to hold students accountable for actions that violate the rules set forth in the student handbook. Teachers and staff primarily address yellow concerns, whereas administrators and the campus supervisor handle orange and red infractions. The campus supervisor is an administrative designee and can assume administrative functions at the request of the principal. The lead administrative staff-member in disciplinary matters is the campus supervisor. Appeals of decisions can be made to the building principal. On occasion, school counselors, teachers, and staff become involved in disciplinary matters by attending meetings and supporting their students. Additionally, a school resource officer provides building security, supervision of school activities, buses, buildings, and grounds, helps maintain safety during emergencies, visits homes of students with excessive unexcused absences, manages traffic and parking, and supports individual and groups of students in need. Due process is followed during interviews and investigations regarding rule-breaking. Together all school personnel cooperate in maintaining a peaceable school for an optimal learning environment.

Immediate Action

Leland and Gray administration, faculty, and staff may take immediate action without due process if a student presents an immediate threat or danger. Due process to review the student’s actions will take place as soon as possible after the incident.

Behavior Outside of School

Leland and Gray administration may impose disciplinary consequences for behavior that occurs off school grounds or at an activity unrelated to school, if direct harm to school life is demonstrated, such as threats or plots to endanger the school’s climate or safety. In addition, co-curricular regulations require participating students to adhere to a zero-tolerance, substance-free standard, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Bus Discipline    F02

It is the policy of the Leland and Gray School District to provide a safe environment on school buses transporting students to and from school and school activities. Maintaining student control on the bus is a primary responsibility of the driver. Unmanageable behavior will be reported to the school Principal. Parents/guardians will be notified at the discretion of thePrincipal. In the event a student is denied transportation privileges for a periodof time, parents will be given notice by letter as well as by direct verbal contactwhen possible. A driver may remove a student from the bus when that student's behavior represents a serious immediate threat to the health and safety offellow passengers and/or the driver and when removal of the student will notendanger the student's health or safety.

All students are responsible for practicing school-wide expectations of respect, responsibility, and honesty/integrity when at bus stops and on the bus. In addition, bus transportation is a privilege, not a right, which may be suspended or revoked as a result of a student’s failure to comply with bus rules. All Leland and Gray rules apply at bus stops and on the bus.

• Students must follow all of the bus driver's instructions.
• Students must remain seated until their stop.
• Students must tell the driver if bullying is taking place.
• No food or drink is allowed on the bus.
• Students must remove their own trash from the bus.
• No snowboards or skis are permitted.
• Band instruments, duffle bags, and backpacks must be placed under the student’s seat.
• The bus driver may request a large item be placed in the front seat.
• Any windows opened by a student must be closed before the student leaves.
• Students may never stick or throw objects or heads, arms, etc. out of bus windows.
• Students must maintain a calm and quiet atmosphere on the bus.
• Bus drivers have the authority to maintain discipline on the buses and bus stops to ensure safety.
• If a driver disciplines a student, s/he first warns the student, second s/he notifies the bus company, and third, the bus company contacts the campus supervisor.

The consequences of rule breaking are directly related to its impact. In general,
these consequences are as follows:

1st incident: Minimum of 5 days of administrative detention

2nd incident: Up to 5 days of suspension from the bus

3rd incident: Up to 30 days of suspension from the bus

Further incidents: Increasing length of suspension from the bus

Any incident, whether first or fifth, that poses a significant danger in the driver’s point of view, results in temporary or permanent suspension from transportation privileges. Students may be requested to participate in restorative justice or mediation with the bus driver in conjunction with or an alternative to the suspension of bus privileges.

Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating is the theft of another person’s ideas or work or using print or electronic information when not permitted, such as during an exam. Aiding another student for this purpose is also considered cheating. Plagiarism entails using someone else’s words or ideas as one’s own or copying directly from an article, book, or webpage without citing its source. This includes study guides such as Cliff, Spark, or Monarch notes. The consequences of cheating are: The student meets with his/her teacher and parents/guardians to discuss the issue. Once cheating or plagiarism is determined, the student receives a zero onthe particular assignment. Future incidents result in possible suspensions and/or other appropriate actions as determined by administration.

Obscene or Other Offensive Language

To ensure a safe learning environment, students refrain from using obscene or other offensive language that they may otherwise use in more casual settings. Staff verbally warn a student who uses offensive language and may write a behavior referral, which can result in administrative detention. Students who direct offensive language towards another individual may face detention, suspension, and/or restorative justice options.

Appropriate Clothing for School

Students maintain the right to free speech to express political, social, or other opinions on bags, clothing, hats, armbands, etc., so long as they do not disrupt learning or school climate. Clothing that promotes tobacco, drugs, or alcohol, sexism, racism, obscenity, violence, or profanity may not be worn in school. In addition, students need to take care that their choice of clothing is respectful to themselves and others, and appropriate for a workplace environment.

Students must adhere to these dress code standards:

• Students’ shoulder straps must be at least two fingers in width.
• Students’ backs may be not be exposed.
• Students’ skirts, dresses, and shorts must be longer than their pointer fingers when held at their sides. Shorts appropriate for fitness may be worn for PE class and athletics.
• Students’ may not wear low-cut, revealing necklines.
• Students’ abdomens and lower backs may not be exposed.
• Undergarments may not be visible.
• No bare feet are permitted.
• Students may not wear clothing or accessories that hide their identity.

Staff, students, and administrators who see students violating the dress code will send them to the planning room.

The consequences are as follows:

1st incident: Behavior referral, warning, and changing clothes

2nd incident: Behavior referral, 2 detentions, and changing clothes

3rd and subsequent incidents: Behavior referral, 3 detentions, and changing clothes

Students Found Cutting Class or in Unauthorized Areas

Students found leaving campus or in an unauthorized area without permission
from the main office face the following consequences:

1st incident: 1 administrative detention per class

2nd incident: 2 administrative detentions per class and meeting with parent/guardian

3rd incident: In-school suspension and meeting with parent/guardian

Leaving Campus Without Permission

Students found leaving campus without permission from the main office face the following consequences. Consequences may increase based on the length of time the student was off campus and whether or not s/he was driving him/herself or other students.

1st incident: 2 administrative detentions

2nd incident: 4 administrative detentions and meeting with parent/guardian

3rd incident: In-school suspension and meeting with parent/guardian

Throwing Snowballs and Other Horseplay

Students participating in horseplay on school grounds face the following
consequences:

1st incident: Warning

2nd incident: 1 administrative detention

Additional incidents: Administrative detentions, suspension, meeting with parent/guardian, and/or restorative justice options

Investigations, Searches, and Seizure By School Personnel  F03

The Leland and Gray School District seeks to provide a safe learning environment, maintain school property to assure the safety and enjoyment of students, school employees, and the general public, and extend the useful life of the school facilities. To carry out this policy the school retains the right to examine its property at any time. In addition, school officials may search students and search or seize student property upon reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will reveal evidence of a violation of law or a school rule. Desks, lockers, textbooks, computers, and other materials, or supplies loaned by the school to students remain the property of the school, and may be opened and inspected by school employees at any time. When prohibited items are found in school property they will be confiscated.

Searches of students’ persons, personal effects and vehicles may be conducted where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting at the time of initiating the search that the search will reveal evidence of a violation of law or of school rules. The scope of the search must be reasonably related to the objectives of the search and not excessively intrusive in light of the student’s age and sex and the nature of the infraction. A search of a student's person will be conducted by a school employee of the same gender and, whenever possible, in the presence of another school employee. A strip search is overly intrusive for the purpose of most student searches. A strip search will be conducted only after consultation with the school district’s legal counsel.

School district employees may detain students to question them regarding violations of law or school rules if reasonable in light of the possible infraction and the degree of suspicion. School officials may act on information related to violations received from outside law enforcement personnel. School officials are not required to notify parents of interrogations of students. The School Resource Officer is not considered a school district employee for the purpose of interrogations.

Investigations, Searches and Seizure By Law Enforcement or Other Non-School Personnel    F04

The Leland and Gray School District will work with law enforcement officers and other non-school personnel as necessary to provide a safe school environment and a safe community. School district officials may invite law enforcement officers to assist them in an emergency. Under certain circumstances, law enforcement officers may also have independent lawful grounds to enter school property and to conduct criminal investigations. School officials who assist law enforcement officers (including school resource officers) in a search, seizure, or interrogation must follow the laws applicable to law enforcement.

Searches and Seizures

Generally, officers may conduct searches and seizures of school property or student property if they have probable cause to believe such action will produce evidence of criminal activity. If a law enforcement officer presents a proper warrant for the search or seizure of property, or for the arrest of a person, school officials must comply with the warrant and the officer’s request. However, there are exceptions to the warrant requirement, and it will be up to the officer to determine whether a warrant is needed in the circumstances.

Interrogation

School officials may request the assistance of law enforcement officers to deal with an emergency potentially affecting the safety of the school population, and may give law enforcement officers permission to interview students as necessary. No advance notification of parents/guardians is required in this circumstance. If a student is placed under arrest or removed from the school by a law enforcement officer, the student’s parents/guardians should be notified of this action by school officials as soon as possible, as described below. If school officials have not requested the assistance of law enforcement officers, there is no emergency potentially affecting the safety of the school population, and the questioning is not part of a child abuse or neglect investigation or an investigation of possible criminal activity by the parent/guardian, no questioning by non-school personnel of a student under the age of eighteen shall occur without the knowledge of the school administrator and the knowledge and permission of a parent/guardian who will have been given the opportunity to be present at the time of the questioning. Non-school personnel may also question students under the age of eighteen without notification of parents if such questioning (1) is part of a child abuse or neglect investigation conducted by the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services in accordance with Chapter 49 of Title 33 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated, or (2) concerns possible criminal activity by the parent/guardian.

Arrest

If a law enforcement officer presents reasonable grounds for the arrest of a student or a subpoena for the student’s appearance, school officials shall cooperate in locating the student within the school. Before releasing a student to law enforcement authorities under these circumstances, school officials shall ask for proper identification and require the officer to sign a form indicating the reason for the removal of the student from school. If a student is placed under arrest or removed from the school by a law enforcement officer, the student’s parents/guardians should be notified of this action by school officials as soon as possible.

Public Display of Affection

Public display of affection that is overtly suggestive or disruptive to thelearning environment is not permitted on school grounds. Behavior beyond holding hands and brief hugs may result in disciplinary action.

Valuables and Theft

Leland and Gray is not responsible for any lost or stolen personal property belonging to students. While every attempt is made to supervise students and secure property at all times, theft is a common problem in schools. Students are advised not to bring large sums of money or expensive devices to school, such as computers, ipods, and cell phones. Students should lock their belongings, including backpacks, in their hall and gym lockers.  If a student chooses to bring such items to school, s/he is advised to keep them on his/her person. Selling personal items and loaning money to friends is strongly discouraged.

A student found to be stealing may face suspension or be recommended for expulsion for the remainder of the school year. Restorative justice options may be sought to reduce the severity of consequences. Reporting thefts to the police is at the discretion of school administration. Students and their parents/guardians are expected to make restitution of stolen property and damages incurred.

Damage to School Property and Vandalism

A student found engaging in misuse or willful destruction of school property (lockers, books, chairs, desks, technology, etc.) may face administrative detention, suspension, mediation, and/or restorative justice consequences. Students and their parents/guardians are held liable for any damages. Repeated or severe offenses may warrant an expulsion hearing before the School Board.