As a general rule, discipline will be progressive. Students who are found to have violated the district's Code of Conduct may be subject to one or more of the following penalties:

• Oral and/or written warning

• Oral and/or written notification to parent

• Removal from classroom

• Lunch and/or After School Detention

• Restitution for damage to property

• Suspension from transportation

• Suspension from athletic participation

• Suspension from social or extracurricular activities

• Suspension of other privileges

• In-school suspension

• Short-term (five days or less) suspension from school

• Long-term (more than five days) suspension from school

• Transfer to an Alternative Educational Setting

• Permanent suspension from school

• Police notification

Detention

Lunch or after school detention may be used as a penalty for student misconduct in situations where removal from the classroom or suspension would be inappropriate. Parents may receive notification of detentions assigned during regular school hours. If detention is outside of the day, parent permission will be sought. Students will be provided appropriate transportation home following detention.

Teacher Disciplinary Removal of Disruptive Students

A student's behavior can affect a teacher's ability to teach and can make it difficult for other students in the classroom to learn. In most instances the classroom teacher can control a student's behavior and maintain or restore control over the classroom by using good classroom management techniques.

These techniques may include practices that involve the teacher directing a student to briefly leave the classroom to give the student an opportunity to regain his or her composure and self-control in an alternative setting.

Such practices may include, but are not limited to:

1. short-term "time out"

2. sending a student to their school counselor or other district staff member for counseling

Time-honored classroom management techniques such as these do not constitute disciplinary removals for purposes of this code.

In the event that a student is so disruptive to the educational environment that he/she must be sent out of class to the Principal's Office for the remainder of the class time further disciplinary consequences will result.

Suspension from Transportation

Please refer to the Transportation Code of Conduct and the consequences outlined therein. The Transportation Code of Conduct is provided in each student’s first day paperwork.

Suspension from athletic participation, extra-curricular activities and other privileges

The student and the student's parent(s) will be provided with a reasonable opportunity for an informal conference to discuss the conduct and the penalty involved.

Suspension from School

Suspension from school (ISS or OSS) is a severe penalty, which may be imposed upon students who are insubordinate, disorderly, violent or disruptive, or whose conduct otherwise endangers the safety, morals, health or welfare of others. A student with a disability may be suspended only in accordance with the requirements of state and federal law.

When a student is removed from class by a teacher or a student of compulsory attendance age is suspended from school pursuant to Education Law §3214, the district will take immediate steps to provide alternative means of instruction for the student.

In-School Suspension

The school must balance the need of students to attend school and the need for order in the classroom to establish an environment conducive to learning. A student subjected to an in-school suspension and his/her parent(s) will be provided with a reasonable opportunity for an informal conference to discuss the conduct and the penalty involved.

A student assigned ISS will:

• Report to the ISS room directly after morning announcements.

• Turn in their cell phone and /or electronic devices.

• Comply with all instructions of the supervising staff member without debate.

• Work quietly, stay awake, keep his/her head up, and not socialize.

• Diligently complete work assigned by teachers.

• It is the responsibility of the student to be prepared with work.

• If the student completes all assigned work, the student should read silently.

• If the student has no work, he/she may read or additional work will be assigned.

• Raise his/her hand if they have a question.

If a student cannot control his/her behavior in ISS, parents will be called to remove the student from school for OSS and an additional day of OSS will be added to the disposition.

Permanent suspension

Permanent suspension is reserved for extraordinary circumstances such as where a student's conduct poses a life-threatening danger to the safety and well-being of other students, school personnel or any other person lawfully on school property or attending a school function.

Transfer to Alternative Educational Setting

In the case of repetitive behavior issues and/or incorrigible student behavior, transfers to alternative educational settings may be recommended.

Minimum Periods of Suspension

In all cases, the Superintendent has the authority to modify the minimum suspension on a case-by-case basis.

1. Students who bring a weapon to school -

   
   Any student, other than a student with a disability, found guilty of bringing a weapon onto school property will be subject to suspension from school for up to one calendar year.

2. Students who commit violent acts other than bringing a weapon to school -
   Any student, other than a student with a disability, who is found to have committed a violent act, other than bringing a weapon onto school property, shall be subject to suspension from school for at least five days.

3. Students who are repeatedly substantially disruptive of the educational process or who repeatedly substantially interfere with the teacher's authority over the classroom -
   Any student, other than a student with a disability, who repeatedly is substantially disruptive of the educational process or substantially interferes with the teacher’s authority over the classroom is subject to suspension from school for at least five days.

REFERRALS

Counseling

The School Counselors, School Social Worker, or School Psychologist shall handle all referrals of students to counseling.

SIP Referrals

The district may submit a SIP (School Intervention Partnership) Referral in the case of students who have exhibited behavior that indicates that they may benefit from preventive services. These services may include but are not limited to casework counseling, daycare, transportation, clinical services, etc.

PINS Petitions

The district may file a PINS (Person In Need of Supervision) petition in Family Court on any student under the age of 18 who demonstrates that he or she requires supervision and treatment by:

• Being habitually truant and not attending school as required by part one of Article 65 of the Education Law.

• Engaging in an ongoing or continual course of conduct which makes the student ungovernable, or habitually disobedient and beyond the lawful control of the school.

• Knowingly and unlawfully possesses marijuana or other illegal substance in violation of Penal Law § 221.05.

Juvenile Delinquents and Juvenile Offenders

The Superintendent is required to refer the following students to the County Attorney for a juvenile delinquency proceeding before the Family Court:

• Any student under the age of 16 who is found to have brought a weapon to school.

• Any student 14 or 15 years old who qualifies for juvenile offender status under the Criminal Procedure Law § 1.20 (42).

The Superintendent is required to refer students age 16 and older or any student 14 or 15 years old who qualifies for juvenile offender status to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

(return to Jarvis Middle School Code of Conduct Index)