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Student Conduct

DISCIPLINE

The rules by which students are governed are made for their best interests. Disciplinary actions are generally of a minor type and are dealt with by the teacher. More serious disciplinary actions or habitual misbehavior will be referred to the principal. Discipline actions may include:

IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION

In-school suspension is a structured disciplinary action in which a student is isolated or removed from the regular classroom and extracurricular activities but is not dismissed from the school nor counted absent during the period of in-school suspension. The principal or designee has the authority to assign students to the in-school suspension program for a reasonable and specified period of time not to exceed ten (10) consecutive days per assignment. Extended ISS assignments require approval of the Superintendent or designee. Students assigned to the in- school suspension program will be counted present to school and will be allowed to continue or make up their academic work in accordance with board policy. Students assigned to ISS may be required to perform written work assignments as directed by the ISS supervisor.

The principal and their staff should determine the scope of in-school suspension in their respective schools. The parent or guardian must be notified by the same procedure outlined in the out-of-school suspension policy.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION OR ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT

The Board recognizes its authority to maintain good order and discipline within the schools of the school system. Therefore, the Board gives school principals the authority to suspend a student from school for just cause, and /or to place a student into an alternative school setting. However, the principal shall be required to advise the Superintendent or designee of all student out-of-school suspensions and alternative school placements.

Authority

The school principal or designee has the authority to suspend regular education students from school, or to place the student in an alternative school setting, for up to ten (10) school days per incident/disciplinary infraction. Prior to suspending or placing students in this manner, the student will be afforded minimal due process with the school principal or designee as set forth in Policy JCAA. However, where a student’s presence poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process, such student may be immediately removed from school, and in such cases, the minimal due process set forth in Policy JCAA should follow as soon as practicable.

 

LONG-TERM SUSPENSION, LONG-TERM ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PLACEMENT, AND EXPULSION

In more serious situations, a student may face more serious disciplinary consequences, including long-term suspension (more than 10 and less than 90 days per incidence), long-term alternative school placement (more than 15 and less than 90 days per incidence), or expulsion (more than 90 days per incidence). In these cases, the following procedures will be followed:

  1. The student is afforded an opportunity for a disciplinary hearing.
  2. The student and parent/guardian receive written notice of the disciplinary hearing. (If the notice is not responded to by a parent/guardian, the hearing shall be waived). The student has the right to waive the hearing and accept the discipline. 
  3. If parent/guardian responds to the notice, a disciplinary hearing shall occur within 10 school days after the initial suspension from school unless good cause is otherwise shown or agreed upon by parties.
  4. The student may be represented at the hearing by legal counsel or another advocate of the student’s choice at the student’s expense.
  5. At least five (5) days before the hearing, the student, parent/guardian, and/or legal counsel/advocate, may review information that may be presented as evidence at the hearing in accordance with federal and state student record laws and regulations.
  6. At the hearing, school officials shall offer evidence that the student violated the code of student conduct or state law.
  7. The student may present a defense.
  8. Each party to the hearing, upon request, shall receive an electronic or written record of the hearing from the Board of Education.
  9. Within five (5) school days after the hearing, a written decision will be sent to the student and parent/guardian.
  10. A student has the right to appeal the decision by filing an action in juvenile court pursuant to Ala. Code §12-15-115. Students wishing to appeal must file a notice with the local juvenile court within 14 days of the Board’s decision. 

More information and detail can be found about these procedures in school board Policy JDE.

 

Waiver Of Student Disciplinary Hearing

A parent/guardian and student may choose to waive the student disciplinary hearing and accept the school’s recommended disciplinary response for the violation of the code of conduct by reviewing and signing a disciplinary hearing waiver prior to the scheduled disciplinary hearing date. 

Any efforts to negotiate the school’s disciplinary recommendation relative to the incident should be concluded prior to the signing of the waiver in which the stated rule violation(s) and disciplinary recommendations are noted. By signing and submitting a hearing waiver to the school, the parent/guardian and student agree to and accept the disciplinary recommendation of the school and waive their rights to challenge and/or appeal the waiver at a later date.

 

A disciplinary waiver is not final until reviewed and approved by the Superintendent or designee.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

In order to establish and maintain an educational climate conducive to learning, the Board permits reasonable corporal punishment of students in the schools. In all cases, corporal punishment shall be administered in accordance with Board Policy JDA.

DETENTION

The principal or designee has the authority to assign students to detention on campus before or after the regular school day for a specified period of time. After School Detention (ASD) will not exceed 60 minutes as a disciplinary action. Students will be given a one-day notice of their detention hall assignment. The parents or guardians are responsible for providing transportation in these cases. Work or lack of transportation will not excuse a student from detention

FIREARMS AND WEAPONS

A student is prohibited from having in his/her possession firearms of any kind, at any time, and at any place in a school building, on school grounds, on Board property, on school buses, or while attending any Board sponsored or sanctioned event, program, activity, or function. For purposes of this policy, the term “firearm” has the same definition as is found in 18 U.S.C §921. Refer to Board Policy JDEAB for more information.

DRESS CODE

All students are required to comply with the following guidelines:

  • Shoes must be worn and properly laced or fastened. Tennis shoes are required for participation in P.E. classes. 
  • Shoes determined to be dangerous or a safety hazard will not be worn.
  • Clothing will be worn as the manufacturers designed them.
  • Students will not wear clothing that reveals the body in an inappropriate manner.
  • Hats, caps, and other head attire will not be worn in school.
  • Any clothing, ornaments or accessories that distract from the educational process will not be worn.
  • With the approval of the principal or designee, student participants of school-sponsored activities, e.g. dress up day, may dress in a manner that does not conform to the dress code.
  • The principal or designee is authorized to determine inappropriate dress and to declare violations of these requirements.

 

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