Chambers
Primary Handbook
Student Conduct and consequences for inappropriate
behavior
Severe Misbehavior and Office Referral
Corrective Action
Suspension
School Rules/School
District Policies
School rules are established and enforced
to protect the rights of all. School rules and procedures come
form the University Place School District's policies which are
based on Washington State law. School rules/school district policies
and authority apply:
1. On all school premises, before and after
school, and at all times on any school district property.
2. On district owned and operated or charted
vehicles.
3. During any school sponsored activity.
4. At school bus stops.
5. Away from school grounds if negative
behaviors would directly affect the good order, efficiency, management,
and/or welfare of the school.
STUDENT CONDUCT AND CONSEQUENCES FOR
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR:
I. TEACHER AND STAFF
RESPONSIBILITIES
Each teacher and staff member is responsible
to set and teach his or her students specific expectations for
responsible and productive behavior in their classroom and the
common areas of the school as well as take the appropriate steps
or corrective actions to resolve problems when they occur. Actions
which may be taken include, but are not restricted to, verbal
reprimand, redirection (have the child do it the right way), classroom
time out, classroom detention, loss of classroom privileges, school
service work, and parent contact.
REMOVAL FROM CLASS:
If a student refuses to do work or is a
disruption to the learning process, the teacher may send the student
to the school office for a short time out period (five to ten
minute). The teacher will notify the office why the child is being
removed from the class and how long he or she is to remain in
the office.
II. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
While most student behavior problems are
expected to be resolved at an early stage, when a problem persists
or is of a serious nature (disrespect or defiance of adults, chronic
defiance of school rule or procedure, dangerous violation of a
school rule or procedure, classroom disruption, physically dangerous
behavior; fighting and assault, verbal abuse or intimidation,
truancy, tobacco, alcohol, and other substance use or possession,
threatening the safety or well being of others, stealing, or damaging
personal or school property, computer trespass, possession or
use of a firearm) the student will be referred to the principal
for disciplinary action.
The teacher or other staff member is to
submit a written referral to the principal indicating the student
behavior and a summary of any previous corrective steps taken
if the Principal's assistance is requested.
The Principal will review the student's
discipline problem and previous corrective actions to determine
the appropriate level of disciplinary action to be taken. Each
step may be repeated as many times as deemed appropriate. Each
time a student is referred to the principal his or her parents
will be notified by a phone call and/or in writing.
SEVERE MISBEHAVIOR AND OFFICE REFERRAL
Most student behavior problems are effectively
resolved by the school staff directly responsible for supervising
a group of students. However, twelve categories of severe misbehavior
will result in the student being referred to the principal for
corrective action.
1. Disrespect or Defiance
of Adults
Disrespectful or defiant behavior is defined
as the direct and immediate refusal to comply with a reasonable
adult instruction within a specified period of time. It also includes
verbally abusive and/or threatening language. Examples include:
walking away while being corrected, sassing or back talking, name
calling, and threatening physical harm.
2. Chronic Defiance
of a School Rule or Procedure
Chronic defiance of a school rule or procedure
is when a student continues to defy minor classroom and/or school
expectation after a number of corrective actions have been taken
by a staff member. Examples include: running in the hall, talking
out in class, and disturbing others. Parents need to be contacted
regarding the specific behavior problem prior to an office referral.
3. Dangerous Violation
of a School Rule or Procedure
When a student does an act that has the
potential to cause harm or injury to themselves or another it
is considered a severe misbehavior. Examples include: jumping
off the top of the "Big Toy," or pulling the chair out from under
another student.
4. Classroom Disruption
A classroom disruption is willful behavior
that significantly disrupts the order in a classroom. Examples
include: emotional outburst and persistent interruptions of the
learning process.
5. Physically Dangerous
Behavior: Fighting and Assault
Fighting and physical acts such as hitting,
kicking, slamming, chocking, tripping and throwing object that
cause injury to another student are considered physically dangerous
behaviors.
6.Verbal Abuse or Intimidation
Language that is intended to harass, humiliate,
and intimidate another student is considered severe misconduct.
This includes racial slurs, threats of physical harm, and derogatory
sexual language.
7. Truancy
Truancy is an unexcused absence from school,
If you suspect that a child is not at school without his/her parents
knowledge or permission, notify the office as soon as possible.
8. Tobacco, Alcohol,
and Other Illegal Substance Use or Possession
Students who use or possess at school these
items are to be immediately referred to the office.
9.Threatening the
Safety or Well Being of Others
Acts by students which have the potential
to cause significant injury to others. Examples include pulling
the fire alarm, use or possession of explosive devices such as
caps and fire crackers, use or threatening the use of sharp objects
and clubs, hitting another student with a fist in the head area,
and gang membership activities.
10. Stealing
Students who purposely take items that
do not belong to them are to be referred to the office for corrective
action. Only the principal has the authority to conduct student
searches. Staff may search a student's clothing and other personal
property only if there is reasonable cause to believe that something
is concealed that may be of immediate danger to the student or
to other students, in violation of school rules or in violation
to the law.
11. Damaging Personal
or School Property
Acts of arson, vandalism, and willful destruction
of property is considered severe misconduct. Students are required
to pay for the repair or replacement of the item(s) damaged and
are also subject to suspension or expulsion.
12. Computer Trespass:
Illegal or unauthorized access, alteration or deletion of computer
programs or applications is known as trespass.
Computer trespass, depending upon the circumstances, is
a punishable offense that may receive sanctions for Classroom
Disruption, Stealing, or Damaging Personal or School Property.
13. Possession or Use
of a Firearm
Possessing or using any firearm on school
district property will result in expulsion. If you suspect that
a student may have a firearm, contact the office immediately.
The sheriff's department will be called.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
The methods employed in enforcing the rules
of the school involve professional judgment. Such judgment should
be:
1. Consistent from day to day and student
to student,
2. Balanced against the severity of the
misconduct,
3. Appropriate to the student's nature
and prior behavior,
4. Fair to the student, parent, and others,
and,
5. Effective.
Depending upon the age of the student and
the nature of the misconduct, the following actions may be taken
by school officials.
Warning/Student Conference
Staff or principal will discuss the incident
with the student. The circumstances leading up to the misbehavior
will be discussed and the behavior expectation will be clarified.
Recess Detention
The student will be detained either in
the classroom by the teacher or in the office by the principal
for recess.
Before/After School
Detention
The student will be detained either in
the classroom by the teacher, or in the office by the principal
before or after school. Parents will be notified by school staff
prior to a before/after school detention. Parents are responsible
to provide transportation for their child to or from the detention.
School Service Work
The student may be required to do simple
tasks such as cleaning walls or sweeping sidewalks as a service
to the school for misbehavior that causes damage to school property.
Denial of Privilege
The student may loose a classroom or school
privilege, such as using a hall or library pass and special equipment
for a specific period of time.
Restriction
The student will be restricted from certain
areas of the classroom, school building, or playground for a specific
period of time.
Parent Conference
School staff will conference with the parent
or guardian of a student either via the telephone, at the school,
or through a home visit.
Staffing
School staff meets to review a child's
behavior problem(s) and to develop a plan to improve the child's
behavior.
Exceptional Misconduct
The following acts are considered very
serious and may result in short or long term suspension or expulsion
from school:
1. Illegal possession, trading, selling,
or using of alcohol, narcotics, stimulant drugs or controlled
substances.
2. Arson, vandalism, theft or damage to
property.
3. Possession or use of explosive devices
including caps and fireworks.
4. Threatening or causing serious physical
injury to another student or staff member.
5. Verbal abuse or intimidation.
6. Gang membership activity.
7. Possession or use of any dangerous weapons
(example: knives, throwing stars).
8. Possessing or using any firearm will
result in expulsion.
Short-Term Suspension
Short-term suspensions
may be imposed by a building administrator. Prior to the suspension
a conference with the student will be held to provide the student
with an oral or written notice of the charges, of the evidence
in support of the charges, and of the suspension which may be
imposed. This student shall be provided the opportunity to present
his/her explanation. The parent will be notified of the suspension
by United States mail and by telephone, if possible. A parent
conference may be requested.
In-School: The student
is isolated out of the classroom, supervised , and given school
work to complete (a portion of a day, up to ten days). During
the suspension, the child will also complete a student problem
solving form.
Out of School: The
student is not allowed to attend school or be on school district
property (a portion of a day, up to ten days).
Long Term Suspension
or Expulsion
A long term suspension or expulsion may
be imposed by the building administrator only after a fair hearing
is made available to the affected student and parent. Written
notice of such hearing shall be delivered to the parent and student
by certified United States mail or in person. The notice shall
be in the parent's primary language and shall supply (1) the alleged
misconduct and the school rules alleged to have been violated;
(2) the recommended corrective action or punishment, (3) the right
to a hearing, (4) the notice that if a written request for a hearing
is not received, the hearing shall be waived and the recommended
corrective action or punishment shall take effect, and (5) the
date by which the request for a hearing must be received.
Emergency Expulsion
A student may be excluded from school prior
to a hearing without other forms of corrective action if the building
administrator reasonably believes the student is an immediate
and continuing danger to himself/herself, other students, staff,
or administrators, or is a substantial disruption to the educational
process of the district. Such emergency expulsion shall continue
until the student is reinstated by the building administrator
or until a fair hearing is held and final determination is reached.
The parent and student shall have ten (10) school business days,
after receipt of the notice, to request a hearing. The hearing
officer shall render the decision within one school business day
after the conclusion of the hearing.
