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CVA Student Handbook—Code of Conduct
The intent of the Code of Conduct is to promote responsible behavior that creates a safe and orderly school environment. It is the belief of the Central Valley School District that everyone in our community must strive toward contributing to this goal. The administration reserves the right to review and interpret each case on an individual basis and administer consequences which are not limited to the specifics within the handbook.
Consequences:
Consequences for students who do not follow the code of conduct will be imposed by staff in a consistent and fair manner. Students are expected to maintain respectful behavior when a staff member is dealing with a discipline issue with them. If a student disagrees with a staff member’s discipline, they are to maintain respect and immediately comply with the instructions. A student who disagrees with a staff member’s discipline is expected to arrange a private time to discuss the matter with the staff member before they appeal to an administrator.
A staff member may assign consequences for misbehavior that are reasonable for the offence and are progressive in nature. The consequences for a 1st offence will increase if a 2nd offence occurs, and further increase each time a student chooses to break a rule.
Consequences range from a reprimand, conference with the student, parental contact, movement of a student, separation from the class, removal from class, loss of a privilege, short detention, after school or lunch detention, and referral to the office for more serious consequences of office detention, In-School Suspension, Out-of-School Suspension, notification to law enforcement, and Superintendent’s Hearing. A teacher will maintain communication with a student’s parents as an issue increases in severity or frequency.
Teacher Detention
Teachers may detain a student for misbehavior or to address academic concerns. If a teacher keeps a student after class, the teacher will provide a student a pass to his/her next class upon their release. A teacher may keep a student during lunch as long as they make sure the student has enough time to get lunch in the school cafeteria. A teacher may keep a student after school until 3:00 to make up work, provide extra instruction or support, or detain due to misbehavior. If a teacher is keeping a student, they will communicate with the student’s parent or guardian.
Office Detention
Students may be assigned lunch or after school detention by an administrator. They may also be assigned either detention by the attendance clerk or office staff due to tardiness. This is for those students with undesirable patterns of attendance, tardiness, or conduct that is repetitive and/or serious in nature.
Students assigned to detention are to report to Room # 1202 after school for the days assigned. Detention commences at 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. each day, Monday-Friday, and lunch detention at the beginning of lunch. Each student is to have sufficient materials and books to study for 60 minutes, and is to cooperate with the detention supervisor. Any student who does not abide by the regulations of the detention period may be placed in In-School Suspension or suspended from school.
A student who is assigned detention will not be eligible for extracurricular activities until the end of each day’s detention, but will be eligible after 3:30 p.m. each day even if they are assigned multiple detentions. The student is expected to tell their coach or advisor that they had detention.
Loss of privilege:
Student privileges may be suspended for misbehavior or as a progressively more severe consequence for violations of the code of conduct. This may include loss of the privilege to leave the school building at lunch.
In-School Suspension
In-School Suspension (ISS) is for students who have repeatedly and/or seriously violated the code of conduct below the level of out-of-school suspension. In-School Suspension is an effort to provide a safe and secure place for students to spend their time suspended out of class, working and behaving in strict accordance with the code of conduct. Any student who misbehaves in ISS will be immediately suspended from school and will again serve ISS properly upon return. A student assigned ISS will report to Room # 1202 until 3:30 pm. Students are expected to:
Follow all simple instructions of the teacherWork quietly, stay awake and keep their head up, and not socialize.
Work on assignments provided by the student’s teachers. If the student has no work, they may read or additional work will be assigned by the teacher.
Raise their hand if they have a question, and follow the teacher’s directions without debate.
All phones are to be turned into the ISS teacher.
Suspension from school
Suspension from school is a severe penalty, which may be imposed only upon students who are insubordinate, disorderly, violent, severely disruptive, or whose conduct otherwise endangers the safety, morals, health or welfare of others
Any staff member may recommend to the principal that a student be suspended. All staff members must immediately report and refer a violent student to the principal or the superintendent for a violation of the code of conduct. All recommendations and referrals shall be made in writing unless the conditions underlying the recommendation or referral warrant immediate attention. In such cases a written report is to be prepared as soon as possible by the staff member recommending the suspension.
The principal, upon receiving a recommendation or referral for suspension or when processing a case for suspension, shall gather the facts relevant to the matter and record them for subsequent presentation, if necessary.
A student who is suspended from school will not be academically penalized for work they missed while on suspension. It is, however, a student’s responsibility upon return to see their teacher to determine what work needs to be made up and establish a timetable with the teacher for its completion.
Restriction from school events:
Restricting a student’s privilege to participate in an extracurricular event or activity, including sports, may be imposed by an administrator as either a progressively more severe punishment or as a consequence for misbehavior at a school event.
Corporal Punishment
Corporal punishment is any act of physical force upon a student for the purpose of punishing that student. Corporal punishment of any student by any district employee is strictly forbidden. The student who believes that they have received corporal punishment is to report such a violation immediately to an administrator.
Teachers must report corporal punishment to the principal immediately following the incident. The district must file all complaints about the use of corporal punishment with the Commissioner of Education in accordance with Commissioner’s regulations.
Use of physical force by a staff member
In situations where alternative procedures and methods that do not involve the use of physical force cannot be reasonably used, reasonable physical force may be used to:
Protect oneself, another student, teacher or any person from physical injury.
Protect the property of the school or others.
Restrain or remove a student whose behavior interferes with the orderly exercise and performance of school district functions, powers and duties, if that student has refused to refrain from further disruptive acts.
Teachers must report the use of any physical force to the principal immediately following the incident.
Discipline of Students with Disabilities
Codes of Conduct will ensure that the rights of students with disabilities are protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This code of conduct affords students with disabilities subject to disciplinary action no greater or lesser rights than those expressly afforded by applicable federal and state law and regulations.
Notification of Code Violation
Parents, guardians, or the individual in parental relationship will be notified in person, phone, or letter of a violation and the consequences. A student may call with the permission from the office to notify the parent or guardian.
The principal, in consultation with teachers and staff may make appropriate referrals to Human Service Agencies.
Code violations of a criminal nature will be referred to the proper law enforcement agencies.
Repeated code violations or violations of a criminal nature may result in criminal court complaints, juvenile delinquency petitions or Person in Need of Supervision (PINS) petitions.
School Visitors
Visitors are defined as individuals not employed by the school district or not enrolled in the school district they are visiting in the buildings or attending school functions, either on or off school grounds. All rules of the district code of conduct relative to dress, language, behavior and conduct will apply to all visitors. Visitors in violation of the code will be warned, asked to leave and/or removed from the premises. If necessary, law enforcement officials will be involved. School officials retain the right to ban individuals from future school events or prohibit individuals from being on school property as circumstances warrant.
Anyone who is not a regular staff member or student of the school will be considered a visitor
All visitors to the school must report to the office upon arrival at the school. They will be required to provide their driver’s license as a form of identification. They will be required to sign the visitor’s register and will be issued a visitor’s identification badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the identification badge to the main office before leaving the building.
Visitors attending school functions that are open to the public, such as parent/teacher organization meetings or public gatherings are not required to register/sign in.
Parents or citizens who wish to observe a classroom while school is in session are required to arrange such visits in advance with the classroom teacher(s) in consultation with the high school principal, so that class disruption is kept to a minimum.
Teachers are expected not to take class time to discuss individual matters with visitors.
Dress Code:
All students are expected to give proper attention to personal appearance and to dress appropriately for the school day, as well as school-sponsored activities. Students and their parents have the primary responsibility for acceptable student dress and appearance. Teachers and other District personnel should exemplify and reinforce acceptable student dress and help students develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting. A student’s dress and appearance shall:
Be safe, appropriate and not disrupt or interfere with the educational process.
Recognize that extremely brief or revealing garments are not appropriate.
Ensure that undergarments are completely covered with outer clothing.
4. Include footwear at all times. Footwear that is a safety hazard will not be permitted.
5. Not include items that are vulgar, obscene, libelous or denigrate others on account of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientation, disability or weight.
Not promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal, violent gang activities, or depict weapons.
Not conceal a student’s identity or obscure or hide the face (e.g., sunglasses, masks, bandanas or hoods)
Not show the abdomen or chest.
Not include costumes of any sort. Dolls, stuffed animals, blankets and toys are not allowed as they have no place in a secondary setting.
If a student’s dress or appearance in school is deemed questionable, a teacher and/or administrator will hold a personal private discussion with the student to advise the student of the potential violation. Students who violate the dress code shall be required to modify their appearance by covering or removing the offending item and, if necessary or practical, replacing it with an acceptable item. Any individual who refuses to do so may be subject to discipline or removal from school grounds. Visitors are expected to abide by the school dress code; those who do not may be asked to leave the premises.
Student Misbehaviors and consequences
Alcohol: possession or sale of alcohol or use of in school or coming to school under the influence
Consequences
1st Offense: 5 Days Suspension / notify parents / notify police / meet with assigned school counselor upon return to
school / review an educational video
2nd Offense: 5 Days Suspension / notify parents / notify police / referral to outside services
3rd Offense: 5 Days Suspension / notify parents / notify police / Request a Superintendent’s Hearing
Bathroom Conduct: The number of students allowed in a bathroom at any time will be equal to the number of stalls available. No more than one person in a stall at one time will be allowed. Students found to be in violation will be subject to a search.
1st Offense: Detention
2nd Offense: Two Detentions
3rd Offense: In School Suspension
Bullying: an ongoing deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behavior that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm.
1st Offense: Meet with assigned school counselor /After School Detention (1-3 days) / notify parents
2nd Offense: Suspension (1-2 days) / notify parents
3rd Offense: Suspension (3-5 days) / notify parents / Superintendent’s Hearing
Bus Conduct: The following are examples of unacceptable bus behavior: not staying in seat, throwing things, excessive loudness, distracting the bus driver, vaping. Please remember, the bus is an extension of the school, all school rules apply to the bus.
Consequences
1st Offense: Meet with assigned school counselor
2nd Offense: Detention / notify parents
3rd Offense: Suspension / notify parents
Conduct Endangering the Safety, Morals, Health or Welfare of Others
Examples of such conduct include, but are not limited to:
Stealing the property of other students, school personnel or any other person lawfully on school property or attending a school function;
Possession of stolen property;
Defamation, which includes making false or unprivileged statements or representations about an individual or identifiable group of individuals that harm the reputation of the person or the identifiable group by demeaning them;
Discrimination, which includes the use of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability as a basis for treating another in a negative manner;
Bullying – threatening, stalking or seeking to coerce or compel a person to do something; engaging in verbal or physical conduct that threatens another with harm, including intimidation through the use of epithets or slurs involving race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, religious practices, gender, or disability;
Cyber-bullying – a course of conduct or repeated acts of abusive behavior by communicating through electronic means, with a person anonymously or otherwise over a period of time committing such acts as, but not limited to, taunting, insulting, humiliating, harassing, menacing, sending hate mail or embarrassing photographs; This can and will warrant disciplinary action.
Harassment, which includes a sufficiently severe action or a persistent, pervasive pattern of actions or statements directed at an identifiable individual or group which are intended to be or which a reasonable person would perceive as ridiculing or demeaning;
Intimidation, which includes engaging in actions or statements that put an individual in fear of bodily harm. It should be noted that K-2 students that make threats to kill or bring weapons to school will be referred to the school social worker and/or psychologist to determine the child’s cognitive ability to understand the severity of the incident.
Hazing, which includes any intentional or reckless act directed against another for the purpose of initiation into, affiliating with or maintaining membership in any school sponsored activity, organization, club or team;
Taking pictures, video taping, disseminating, selling, using or possessing obscene (sexual in nature) or inappropriate material, including, but not limited to acts of violence;
Using vulgar or abusive language, cursing or swearing toward school personnel;
Smoking a cigarette, cigar, pipe, vape, or using chewing or smokeless tobacco, and/or possession of incendiary devices including matches and lighters;
Gambling, which is playing games of chance for money;
Negligent operation of a motor vehicle on school grounds so as to endanger the property, safety, health, and/or welfare of others;
Spitting (Gleeking).
Material deemed unnecessary/inappropriate by a building administrator; i.e. bullet/bullet casing.
Consequences
1st Offense: After-School Detention (1-3 days) / notify parents
2nd Offense: Suspension (1-2 days) / notify parents
3rd Offense: Suspension (3-5 days) / notify parents/ Superintendent’s hearing
Disrespectful behavior toward a staff member: Using disrespectful words and/or tone of voice when a staff member is dealing with a student. (Severe levels of disrespect may result in an immediate suspension.)
Consequences
1st Offense: Meet with assigned school counselor / staff detention and/or parent contact
2nd Offense: After-School Detention (1-3 days).
3rd Offense: Suspension, (Up to 5 days), parent conference
Disruptive Behavior: in the classroom or on school grounds (inappropriate behavior in class, leaving class without permission, failure to follow directions, disrupting the education of others)
Consequences
1st Offense: Teacher warning and/or teacher detention and/or parent contact / Detention pending on severity
2nd Offense: Meet with assigned school counselor/Detention (1-3 days)
3rd Offense: Suspension (1-3 days), parent conference
Dress: non-compliance with dress code
Consequences
1st Offense: Warning and told to change the clothing
2nd Offense: Told to change / After-school detention 1 day / parent notified
Drugs, Illegal, Paraphernalia: possession or sale of illegal drugs or use of in school or coming to school under the influence. Drug paraphernalia can include pipes, vapes, rolling papers, etc.
Consequences
1st Offense: 5 Days Suspension / notify parents / notify police/ meet with assigned school counselor upon return to school/review & discuss an educational video.
2nd Offense: 5 Days Suspension / notify parents / notify police / referral to outside services
3rd Offense: 5 Days Suspension / notify parents / notify police / request a Superintendent’s Hearing
Drugs, prescription (prescribed to you) and over the counter
Consequences
1st Offense: After-School Detention (1-3 days) / notify parents
2nd Offense: 1 Day Suspension
3rd Offense: 3 Days Suspension
Electronic Devices and Cell Phone: Cell phones may be used throughout the school day during non-instructional periods such as in between classes, during lunch, and before/after school. Cell phone use in classrooms is not allowed. Students have access to individual Chromebooks and therefore there is no need to access personal phones. If a student violates this policy, the following consequences will be administered:
Consequences
1st Offense: Teacher will confiscate phone and return it after class.
2nd Offense: Confiscation of phone for the day/ Meet with assigned school counselor / After-School Detention (1-3 days)
3rd Offense: In-School Suspension
False Identification:
Examples of false identification include, but are not limited to:
Refusing to identify one’s self when asked by school personnel
Using another person’s identification or false identification to any school official with the intent to deceive school personnel
Using another person’s identification or false identification to obtain money or property
Claiming to be someone you are not and using their name/identity maliciously in any way
Consequences:
1st Offense: Out-of-School Suspension (1-5 days)/ notify parents / notify police depending on seriousness. Serious matters may also require a Superintendent’s Hearing
Fighting/Physical Confrontation - Minor altercation
Consequences
1st Offense: Suspension (3 days) / notify parents / meet with assigned school counselor upon return to school
2nd Offense: Suspension (5 days) / notify parents / referral to outside services
3rd Offense: Suspension (5 days) / notify parents / Superintendent’s Hearing
Forging / Altering a Note or Pass
Consequences
1st Offense: Detention / Notify parents
2nd Offense: Detention / In-School Suspension / Notify parents
Harassment: [Sexual, Racial, Physical, Verbal] The creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being; or conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their physical safety.
Consequences
1st Offense: Meet with assigned school counselor / After-School Detention (1-3 days) / notify parents
2nd Offense: Suspension (1-2 days) / notify parents
3rd Offense: Suspension (3-5 days) / notify parents / Superintendent’s Hearing
Insubordination: Not following the reasonable direction of a staff member. A repeated refusal to comply in a manner that jeopardizes the safety of a classroom.
Consequences
1st Offense: Meet with assigned school counselor / notify parents / Detention
2nd Offense: Suspension (1-3 days) / notify parents
3rd Offense: Suspension (3-5 days) / notify parents
Littering
Consequences
1st Offense: Made to clean up the mess / warning
2nd Offense: Made to clean up the mess / notify parents / 1-2 days Detention
3rd Offense: Made to clean up the mess / notify parents / 3-5 days Detention
Locker Misuse
Consequences
1st Offense: Warning
2nd Offense: 1 day After-School Detention / notify parents
3rd Offense: 1-3 days After-School Detention / notify parents
Marijuana: possession or sale of marijuana or use of in school or coming to school under the influence or a strong odor of marijuana upon arrival.
Consequences
1st Offense: 5 Days Suspension / notify parents / notify police / meet with assigned school counselor upon return to
school / review an educational video
2nd Offense: 5 Days Suspension / notify parents / notify police / referral to outside services
3rd Offense: 5 Days Suspension / notify parents / notify police / Request a Superintendent’s Hearing
Misbehavior outside of school:
The school will primarily concern itself with the enforcement of the code of conduct in school. However, issues do not always happen in the vacuum of school without moving into the wider community and the internet. Off-campus misconduct that endangers the health and safety of students or staff within the school or can reasonably be forecast to substantially disrupt the educational process is prohibited. Examples of such misconduct include, but is not limited to:
Cyber-bullying (i.e., inflicting willful and repeated harm through the use of electronic text/images)
Threatening or harassing students or school personnel over the phone or other electronic medium
Conflicts or violations that begin or continue outside of school and continue to cause conflict or violations in school will be dealt with at a higher level. Text messages, emails, and instant message conversations that bully, threaten, or intimidate will not be tolerated.
Consequences:
1st Offense: After-School Detention (1-3 days) / notify parents
2nd Offense: Suspension (1-2 days) / notify parents
3rd Offense: Suspension (3-5 days) / notify parents/ Superintendent’s hearing
Misuse of pass or leaving class without permission – Using a pass for a purpose different from what it was intended for, using another student’s pass, going somewhere without a pass when one was expected.
Consequences
1st Offense: Staff warning and/or staff detention and/or parent contact / meet with assigned school counselor
2nd Offense: Referral to the office / After-School Detention (1-3 days)
3rd Offense: In-School Suspension
Missing assigned detentions:
Consequences
1st Offense: Double assigned detentions
2nd Offense: In-School Suspension
Plagiarism: Plagiarism and/or cheating is not permitted. The definition of plagiarism is to use someone else’s work and presenting it as your own. Cheating or copying someone else’s homework / assignments or tests/quizzes is prohibited. No Credit Received until the student’s original work is submitted. (A reduced score could be imposed)
Consequences
1st Offense: Meet with assigned school counselor / In-School Suspension / parent conference
2nd Offense: In-School Suspension (1-3 days) / notify parents
3rd Offense: 5 days Suspension / notify parents / Superintendent’s Hearing
Profanity and Language misuse: All members of the school community are expected to use appropriate and acceptable language in their relationship to others. Unacceptable and inappropriate language would include, but not be limited to directing profanity, vulgar language, and obscene gestures toward other students, school personnel, or visitors to the school, use of sexually suggestive language, excessive arguing, and hate speech. In addition, engaging in verbal abuse, i.e. name calling, ethnic or racial slurs, or derogatory statements addressed publicly to others that precipitate disruptions of the school program or incite violence are also inappropriate and unacceptable. Repeated negative language directed toward another may also constitute harassment.
Consequences
1st Offense: Warning or detention by staff member, depending on degree
2nd Offense: Meet with assigned school counselor / After-School Detention (1-3 days) / notify parents
3rd Offense: In-School Suspension / notify parents
Public Displays of Affection (PDA): kissing, inappropriate touching
Consequences
1st Offense: Warning
2nd Offense: After-School Detention (1 day) / notify parents
3rd Offense: After-School Detention (2-3 days) / notify parents
Tardy to Class
Consequences
1st Offense: Warning and/or teacher detention
2nd Offense: Detention / Notify parent
Continued Offense: In-school suspension
Tardy to School
1st Offense: Warning
2nd – 4th Offense: Lunch Detention
5th Offense: Meeting w/ Principal for further consequences
Technology, Use of – See also the Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement under District Wide Policies
Use of technology/electronic devices are not allowed during the school day unless being used for educational purposes and is teacher directed for full class instruction. Devices may be used in the main entrance or outside the building only. Items should be turned off and stored in lockers, clothing or purses. A student that possesses an item does so at their own risk and the school is not responsible if they are broken, lost or stolen.
Examples of technology/electronic devices include, but are not limited to:
Cell/smart phones
Smart Watches
iPods
Mp3 player
laptops
iPads
tablets
e-readers
cameras
video devices
video games
pagers
laser pointers
cd/tape players
earbuds and headphones
fit-bits, etc.
Consequences:
1st Offense: After-school detention (1day), confiscation of phone
2nd Offense: After-school detention (1-3 days), confiscation of phone
3rd Offense: In-School Suspension
Theft:
Consequences: (Dependent upon severity)
Detention / Suspension / notify parents / notify police
Tobacco: use or possession of tobacco and/or use or possession of vapor/electronic cigarettes of all forms (JUULS) [includes chewing/powdered] in school setting
Consequences
1st Offense: 2 Day Suspension / notify parents / meet with school counselor upon return to school/review & discuss
educational video
2nd Offense: 3 Days Suspension / watch video / notify parents / referral to outside services
3rd Offense: 5 Days Suspension / watch video / notify parents / Request a Superintendent’s Hearing
Trespassing: Students are not permitted in any school building other than the one they are registered to, without permission from the administrator in charge of that building. Students should not be at school or on school grounds outside of school hours unless they are here for extra help, participation or attendance at an extracurricular event or other approved purpose. Students suspended from school are not allowed anywhere on school grounds without the express permission from an administrator, and failure to keep off of school grounds may constitute a charge of Trespassing being filed with the police.
Consequences
1st Offense: Suspension / parent contact / police contact
2nd Offense: Suspension / parent contact / police contact / Superintendent’s Hearing
Truancy: cutting class or skipping school, leaving school without permission, or not returning from lunch without a parent contacting school by the end of lunch. Consequences:
1st Offense: Student must make up lost time by being assigned to In-School Suspension. If student is a Junior or Senior and does not return from lunch, open lunch will be denied the following day as well and student will eat in cafeteria / notify parents
2nd Offense: In-School Suspension (1-2 days) / notify parents
3rd Offense: In-School Suspension (2-4 days) / notify parents
Unlawful behavior: Any behavior which is against the law, including initiating a report of fire or other catastrophe without valid cause, misuse of 911, or discharging a fire extinguisher, intentional damage to school property, unlicensed driving, etc.
Consequences
1st Offense: Out-of-School Suspension (1-5 days)/ notify parents / notify police depending on seriousness.
Serious matters may also require a Superintendent’s Hearing
Vandalism: [destruction or defacing of school property]
Consequences
1st Offense: Warning /student must pay for damages / 1 Day Suspension / notify parents / call police
2nd Offense: Parent/student must pay for damages / 2-3 Days Suspension / notify parents / call police
3rd Offense: Parent/student must pay / 3-5 Days Suspension / notify parents / call police / Superintendent’s Hearing
Violent and Disruptive Incident Report (VADIR) Data
Incident Categories
Homicide
Sexual Offenses: 2a. Forcible Sex Offenses 2b. Other Sex Offenses
Assault:
Physical Injury
Serious Physical Injury
Weapons Possession:
Routine Security Check
Other
Material Incidents of Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying
All Excluding Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying
Bomb Threat
False Alarm
Use, Possession or Sale of Drugs
Use, Possession, or Sale of Alcohol
Consequences
Out of School Suspension / notify parents / Superintendent’s Hearing / notify police