The board believes inappropriate student conduct causes material and substantial disruption to the school environment, interferes with the rights of others, or presents 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.

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 school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on school 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 and welfare of the school district.  Consequences for the misconduct will be fair and developmentally appropriate in light of the circumstances.

Students who fail to abide by this policy and the administrative regulations supporting it may be disciplined for conduct which disrupts or interferes with the education program; conduct which disrupts the rights of other students to participate in or obtain their education; conduct that is violent or destructive; or conduct which interrupts the maintenance of a disciplined atmosphere.  Disciplinary measures include, but are not limited to, removal from the classroom, detention, suspension, probation, and expulsion.

A student who commits an assault against an employee on school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on school-owned or school-operated chartered vehicles; while attending or engaged in school district activities will be suspended by the principal.  Notice of the suspension is sent to the board president.  The board will review the suspension to determine whether to impose further sanctions against the student which may include expulsion.  Assault for purposes of this section of the policy defined as:

• an act which is intended to cause pain or injury to, or which is intended to result in physical contact which will be insulting or offensive to another, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act; or
• any act which is intended to place another in fear of immediate physical contact which will be painful, injurious, insulting or offensive, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act; or
• intentionally points any firearm toward another or displays in a threatening manner any dangerous weapon toward another.

The act is not an assault when the person doing any of the above and other person are voluntary participants in a sport, social or other activity, not in itself criminal, when the act is a reasonably foreseeable incident of such sport or activity, and does not create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or breach of the peace.

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 disciplining the student or the building principal.

Suspension means; either an in-school suspension, an out-of-school suspension, or a restriction from activities.  An in-school suspension means the students will attend school but will be temporarily isolated from one or more classes while under suspension.  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 will not exceed ten days.  A restriction from school activities means a student will attend school and classes and practice but will not participate in school activities.

Probation means a student is given a conditional suspension of a penalty for a definite period of time in addition to being reprimanded.  The conditional suspension will mean the student must meet the conditions and terms for the suspension 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.

Following the suspension of a special education student, an informal evaluation of the student’s placement will take place.  The Individual Education Program (IEP) is evaluated to determine whether it needs to be changed or modified in response to the behavior that led to the suspension.

If a special education student’s suspensions, either in or out of school, equal ten days on a cumulative basis, a staffing team will meet to determine whether the IEP is appropriate.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  No Child Left Behind, Title IV, Sec. 4115, P.L. 107-110 (2002)
                                       Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975)
                                       Brands v. Sheldon Community School District, 671 F. Supp. 627 (N.D. Iowa 1987)
                                       Sims v. Colfax Comm. School District, 307 F. Supp. 485 (Iowa 1970)
                                       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, 259 Iowa 1260, 147 N.W.2d 854 (1967)
                                       Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 282.4, .5; 708.1 (2001)

Cross Reference:  501             Student Attendance
                                       502      Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       504      Student Activities
                                       603.3   Special Education
                                       904.5   Distribution of Materials

Approved:  2-10-2003          
Reviewed:  12-10-18            
Revised:             

Only the board may expel a student from the school environment.  The removal for an extended period of time, of a student from the school environment, which includes, but is not limited to, classes and activities, is an expulsion from school.

It shall be within the discretion of the board to discipline a student by using an expulsion for a single offense or for a series of offenses depending on the nature of the offense and the circumstances surrounding the offense.

It shall be within the discretion of the administration to recommend to the board the expulsion of a student for disciplinary purposes.  Only the board may take action to expel a student and to readmit the student.  The principal shall keep records of expulsions in addition to the board’s records.

When a student is recommended for expulsion by the board, the student shall be provided with:

1.    Clear notice of the reasons for the proposed expulsion;

2.    The names of the witnesses and an oral or written report on the facts to which each witness testifies;

3.    An opportunity to present a defense against the charges and provide either oral testimony or written affidavits of witnesses on the student’s behalf;

4.    The right to be represented by counsel;

5.    The results and finding of the board in writing open to the student’s inspection.

In addition to these procedures, a special education student must be provided with the following procedures:

1.    Determine whether the student is actually guilty of the misconduct;

2.    A staffing team should determine whether the student’s behavior is caused by the student’s handicap and whether the conduct is the result of inappropriate placement.  Discussions and conclusions of the meeting should be recorded;

3.    If the handicapped student’s conduct is not caused by the handicap; the student may be expelled or suspended for a long-period following written notice to the parent and pursuant to the district’s expulsions hearing procedures;

4.    If the misconduct is caused by the handicap and a change in placement is recommended, the change must be made pursuant to the placement procedures used by the school district;

5.    If a change in placement is not recommended, a determination must be made as to how to cope with the student and the failure.

Legal Reference:  Goss v Lopez, 419 U.S. 565, 95 S.Ct. 729 (1975).
                                        Wood v Strickland, 95 S.Ct. 992 (1975).
                                        Southeast Warren Comm. School District v DPI, 285 N.W.2d 173 (Iowa 1979).
                                        Iowa code §§21.5, 282.3, .4, .5 (1991).
                                        281 Iowa Admin. Code 11.3(5).
                                        281 Iowa Admin. Code 41.2(1), 12.3(8).

Cross Reference:  502   Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                        503   Student Discipline

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  12-10-18            
Revised:  2-14-96

The board believes students should respect the property of the school district and assist in its preservation for future use by others.  Students may be assessed fines, charges, or fees for the materials needed in a course, for overdue school materials, for participating in activities, or for misuse of school property.

The following fees shall be paid in full by all students unless a full, partial, or temporary waiver is granted in accordance with state regulations:  Book rental, activity fees, eye protection devices, ear protection devices, summer school tuition, school supplies and P.E. towels.  Additional fees may be required of students taking certain courses or activities:  Athletics, Instrumental Music, Art, and vocational classes.  The administration shall inform the board of the dollar amount to be charged to students or others for fines, charges, or fees annually.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §279.8 (1991).
                                      1982 Op. Att’y Gen. 227.

Cross Reference:  502    Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                      503    Student Discipline

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  12-10-18            
Revised:  8-19-96, 11-08-99, 12-11-06

Participation in school activities is a privilege.  School activities provide the benefits of promoting additional interests and abilities in the students during their school years and for their lifetimes.

Students who participate in extracurricular activities serve as ambassadors of the school district throughout the calendar year, whether away from school or at school.  Students who wish to have the privilege of participating in school extracurricular activities must conduct themselves in accordance with board policy regarding student conduct.

Students will have an opportunity to participate in a school activity unless the activity is not offered, the student cannot participate for disciplinary reasons, or it is an intramural or interscholastic athletic activity.  Students will have a comparable opportunity to participate in intramural or interscholastic athletic activities and to reap the benefits of school activities.  Comparable opportunity, however, does not guarantee boys and girls will be allowed to play on each other’s teams when there are athletic activities available that will allow both boys and girls to reap the benefits of school activities.

Students who fail to abide by this policy and the administrative regulations supporting it may be subject to disciplinary measures.  The principal shall keep records of violations of the good conduct rule.

Students who wish to participate in extracurricular activities that require physical exertion including, but not limited to, cheerleading and athletics, shall be required to submit a physical examination stating that the student is able to participate.

The events must be approved by the administration, unless they involve unusual travel and expense, in which case the board will take action.  The events must not disrupt the educational program or other school district operations.

It shall be the responsibility of the administration to develop rules and regulations for each school activity.  Students wanting to participate in school activities must meet the requirements set out by the school district for participation in the activity.

A high school student who participates in school sponsored athletics may participate in a non-school sponsored sport during the same season upon approval of the head coach and administration.  Such outside participation shall not conflict with the school sponsored athletic activity.

Legal Reference:  Bunger v Iowa High School Athletic Assn., 197 N.W.2d 555 (Iowa 1972).
                                      In re Jason Clark, 1 D.P.I. App. Dec. 167 (1978).
                                      Iowa Code §§280.13, .13A (1989).
                                      281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.3 (8)

Cross Reference:  502           Students Rights and Responsibilities
                                      503           Student Discipline
                                      503.4E1   Good Conduct Rule/Explanation

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  12-10-18            
Revised:  11-10-97, 12-13-99

Corporal punishment may not be used to discipline students.  Reasonable physical force, however, may be used upon a student with or without advance notice when the use of such force is deemed essential by a reasonable person for the purposes of self-defense, to protect school district property, or for the protection of others located on the school district property.

Reasonable physical force should be commensurate with the circumstances of the situation, and it should be moderate so as not to cause permanent physical harm to the student.  The following factors should be considered in using reasonable physical force for the reasons stated in this policy:

• seriousness of the offense;
• attitude and past behavior of the child;
• nature and severity of the physical force;
• motivation of the teacher;
• age and strength of the child; and
• availability of less severe but equally effective means of dealing with the situation.

The student’s parents shall be given an explanation of the reasons for the use of physical force upon request.

It shall be the responsibility of the administration to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  Ingraham v Wright, 430 U.S. 651, 97 S.Ct. 14021, 51 L.Ed.2d 711 (1977).
                                       Goss v Lopez, 419 U.S. 565, 95 S.Ct. 729 (1975).
                                       Garcia v Miera, 817 F.2d (10^th Cir. 1987).
                                       Tinkham v Kole, 252 Iowa 1303, 110 N.W.2d 2258 (1961).
                                       Lai v Erickson, PTCP Admin. Doc. 83-12 (1983).
                                       Iowa Code §§279.8, 280.21 (1991).
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.3(8).
                                       19480 Op. Att’y Gen. 275.

Cross Reference:  502     Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                      503     Student Discipline

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  12-10-18            
Revised:  2-14-96

The board believes weapons, other dangerous objects and look-a-likes in school district facilities cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or present a threat to the health and safety of students, employees and visitors on the school district premises or property within the jurisdiction of the school district.

School district facilities are not an appropriate place for weapons, dangerous objects and look-a-likes.  Weapons and other dangerous objects and look-a-likes will be taken from students and others who bring them onto the school district property or onto property within the jurisdiction of the school district or from students who are within the control of the school district.  Dangerous weapons include, but are not limited to, any offensive weapon, pistol, revolver, or other firearm, dagger, razor, stiletto, switchblade knife, or any knife.

Parents of students found to possess weapons, dangerous objects or look-a-likes on school property are notified of the incident.  Possession or confiscation of weapons or dangerous objects will be reported to law enforcement officials, and students will be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.

Students bringing firearms to school or knowingly possessing firearms at school will be expelled of not less than one year.  The superintendent has the authority to recommend this expulsion requirement be modified for students on a case-by-case basis.  For purposes of this portion of this policy, the term “firearm” includes, but is not limited to, any weapon which is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, a muffler or silencer for such a weapon, or any explosive, incendiary or poison gas.

Weapons under the control of law enforcement officials are exempt from this policy.  The principal may allow authorized persons to display weapons, other dangerous objects or look-a-likes for educational purposes.  Such a display will also be exempt from this policy.  It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Note:  This policy meets state and federal law.  Federal law gives an exception, to the mandatory one-year expulsion for weapons possession or bringing to schools, for weapons that are lawfully stored in a locked vehicle on school property.  Boards wishing to adopt this exception should amend this policy to reflect that and direct the administration to develop the required procedures designed to ensure student safety.

Legal Reference:  No Child Left Behind, Title IV, Sec. 4141, P.L. 107-110 (2002)
                                       Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994, P.L. 103-382
                                       18 U.S.C. §921 (1994)
                                       McClain v. Lafayette County Bd. of Education, 673 F.2d 106  (5^th Cir. 1982)
                                       Iowa Code §§279.8; 280.21B; 724 (1997)
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.3(6)

Cross Reference:  502    Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       503    Student Discipline
                                       507    Student Health and Well-Being

Approved:  2-10-03              
Reviewed:  12-10-18            
Revised: