Student Conduct

Code Number: 502.1

The Board believes inappropriate student conduct causes material and substantial disruption to the school environment, interferes with the rights of others and may present a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, and visitors on school premises. Appropriate classroom behavior allows teachers to communicate more effectively with students and appropriate consequences for misconduct further the District’s goal of promoting a safe and orderly learning environment.

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 District property or on property within the jurisdiction of the District; while on District-owned and/or operated school or chartered vehicles; while attending or engaged in school activities; and while away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficient management or welfare of a school or the District. Additional information regarding consequences for misconduct is set out in the Student Code of Conduct contained in the Parent-Student Handbook.

Students may be disciplined if they fail to abide by this policy, any administrative regulations supporting it or the Student Code of Conduct, or if they otherwise engage in any conduct which: disrupts or interferes with the education program or environment; disrupt the orderly and efficient operation of a school or school activity; disrupts the rights of other students to participate in or obtain their education; or which is violent or destructive. Disciplinary measures may include, but are not limited to, restriction from school activities, removal from the classroom, detention, suspension, probation, and expulsion. Restriction from school activities means a student will attend school and classes and practice but will not participate in school activities.

Removal from the classroom means a student is sent to the building principal’s office. It is within the discretion of the person in charge of the classroom to remove the student.

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, disciplining the student.

Suspension means either an in-school suspension, an out-of-school suspension, a restriction from activities, or loss of eligibility. An 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 ten consecutive school days. An out-of-school suspension means the student is removed from the school environment, which includes school classes and activities. An out-of-school suspension may be temporary (10 days or less) or long term (in excess of 10 days). A long-term suspension is subject to additional notice and hearing procedures (See, Board Policy 502.3).

Probation means a student is given a conditional suspension of a penalty for a definite period of time in addition to being reprimanded. Failure of the student to meet the conditions and terms of the probation will result in immediate imposition 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.

Discipline of special education students, including suspensions and expulsions, will comply with the provisions of applicable federal and state laws.

It is the responsibility of the Superintendent, in conjunction with the principals, to implement this policy


First Adoption:
2016-03-14
Revision Adoption:
November 27, 2017
Reviewed Dates:
November 3, 2017
Legal Reference:
34 CFR 300.536
Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975).
Brands v. Sheldon Community School District, 671 F. Supp. 627 (N.D. Iowa 1987).
Bunger v. Iowa High School Athletic Assn., 197 N.W.2d 555 (Iowa 1972).
Board of Directors of Ind. School Dist. of Waterloo v. Green, 147 N.W.2d 854 (1967).
Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 282.4, .5; 708.1
281 I.A.C 12.3(6), 41.530

Documents

Back to all policies