Evergreen 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.
