EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT AND ATTENDANCE
The primary purpose of discipline in the educational environment must be
education and not punishment. Each person administering discipline must make
discipline a part of the educational process. Good discipline originates in the
home because the parent is the first teacher of the child, and it is the
parents’ obligation, by teaching and by example, to develop in their children
good habits of behavior as well as proper attitudes toward school. The home and
school must work together toward the ultimate goal of educating a child to
become a mature person capable of self-control. The South Sioux City Community
School District expects parents and guardians of students to recognize their
responsibilities and to cooperate with the school in implementing effective
discipline.
Areas where Discipline Control is to be exercised:
1. While on school property.
2. While on or in school owned, leased or chartered vehicles.
3. While engaged in or attending a school related, sponsored or approved activity.
4. While away from the school grounds if the conduct of pupils directly affects the good order, efficiency, management or welfare of the school.
Students who are disciplined under this policy and are involved in extracurricular activities will have additional penalties under the extracurricular policy.
I. Students who sell or distribute alcohol, counterfeit drugs, controlled substances or other illegal drugs on school property, including school buildings, grounds, athletic fields, school transportation vehicles, or at any school activity, home or away, shall be subject to disciplinary action as follows:
First offense and all subsequent offenses:
A. Student shall be reported to the local police authorities.
B. Student shall receive a chemical use assessment by an approved agency.
C. Student shall be excluded and referred to the Hearing Panel for review and disciplinary action. Disciplinary action shall include a recommendation for expulsion or, if a need is identified, completion of a treatment program as a condition of reinstatement.
II. Students who use or have possession of alcohol, counterfeit drugs, controlled substances or other illegal drugs, or students who show evidence of having consumed alcohol, controlled substances or other illegal drugs prior to school or a school activity or on school property, including school buildings, grounds, athletic fields, school transportation vehicles, or at any school activity, home or away, shall be subject to disciplinary action as follows:
First Offense:
A. The school administrator will notify by telephone and/or in written form the following persons:
1. Parents/guardians. 2. Police Liaison Officer
3. Superintendent of Schools.
B. There must be a conference between the student, a parent/guardian, and a school administrator before the student is readmitted to classes.
C. The student shall be suspended (in-school or out-of-school as determined by schools officials) for five days.
D. The student must successfully complete a school insight class. Failure to complete the insight class will result in the student being referred to the Hearing Panel for review and disciplinary action.
Second Offense:
A. The school administrator will notify by telephone and/or in written form the following persons:
1. Parents/guardians. 2. Police Liaison Officer.
3. Superintendent of Schools.
B. There will be a conference between the student, parent/guardian, and a school administrator.
C. The student will be informed that he/she is required to receive a chemical use assessment by an approved agency within five school days and, upon receipt of the report of assessment, that he/she will be referred to a hearing panel for determination of punishment.
D. If the assessment indicates no need for treatment, the student will be assigned a minimum of five days suspension (in-school or out-of-school as determined by school officials) and complete 20 hours of school/community service within a specified time (as determined by school officials). If the assessment indicates a need for treatment, the student will be assigned a minimum of five days suspension (in-school or out-of-school as determined by school officials), along with the condition that he/she must be enrolled and regularly attend a treatment program to be eligible to return to school. The suspension may be served concurrently with the treatment program at the discretion of the hearing panel.
E. Failure to comply with any of the above provisions will result in a recommendation for expulsion.
Third Offense:
A. The school administrator will notify by telephone and/or in written form, the following persons.
1. Parents/guardians. 2. Police liaison officer.
3. Superintendent of Schools.
B. Expulsion will be recommended.
Any recommendation for expulsion will be handled by the policy for expulsion, including all due process provisions.
Federal, state and local law requires that a student be expelled for a period of one calendar year for possession of a gun on school property subject only to due process and any other existing law.
Any student who makes threats of violence toward another student, group of students, or the school in general will be subject to Level III intervention.
Smoking or possession of tobacco on school property, including school buildings, grounds and athletic fields, on school transportation vehicles, or at any school activity, home or away, is subject to appropriate action as outlined in the Student Support Policy. The situation will determine the degree of action taken.
Truancy is defined as a student’s absence for two or more periods without justifiable cause as determined by school officials. Any student who leaves the building without permission from the office will be considered truant and will be assigned to Saturday School or Night School. Repeated truancy will result in an appropriate intervention as indicated by the Student Support Policy.
The use of violence, force, coercion, threat or similar conduct will be dealt with in the same manner as fighting. In the case of physical assault, legal action may be taken. Fighting and/or similar behavior will result in appropriate action as outlined by the Student Support Policy.
Possessing a weapon, dangerous instrument, or imitation thereof, will result in an intervention at the most serious level of the Student Support Policy.
Any or all electronic devices, including but not limited to : cell phones, pagers and text messaging devices are not to be used within the school building during normal school hours. Violation of this will result in consequences at the appropriate intervention as indicated in the student support policy.
No person shall annoy, torment, or use derogatory words or statements offensive to one’s self-esteem, pertaining to or as a result of one’s race, sex, national origin, religion, creed or disability. Violation of this will result in an appropriate intervention as indicated by the Student Support Policy.
No person shall be involved with gang activity including but not limited to the following:
1. Dress as identified by the South Sioux City Community Schools as gang-related apparel is not allowed.
2. Writing gang graffiti, possessing items containing gang graffiti, possessing pagers, beepers or the display of gang hand signs are an indication of gang involvement and are not allowed.
Any violation of these rules will result in an appropriate intervention as indicated by the Student Support Policy.
Insubordination is defined as a refusal to obey a school rule, regulation or request of a teacher or school official. The situation will dictate the degree of action as outlined by the Student Support Policy.
Vulgar and/or obscene language by any student may be subject to appropriate action as per the Student Support Policy.
The school has the legal right and obligation to search student property and person when there is reasonable cause to believe a student is in possession of an object or substance in violation of school policy. Such material will be seized.
The purpose of the South Sioux City Community Schools is to aid the students of this community in becoming educated persons. Any behavior which disrupts that purpose will be dealt with as a matter of discipline and will result in appropriate action as outlined in the Student
Support Policy.
A student who enters the building after the start of his/her regular school day is to report to the office before going to class. Tardies between classes will be handled by the individual teacher. Tardies may result in an appropriate intervention as per the Student Support Policy.
Regular attendance is essential in order to benefit from our educational program. Merely making up homework does not adequately compensate for what has been missed during the class presentation. The give and take between teacher and student, as well as student discussion, are essential parts of the class.
Therefore, student attendance will be reviewed periodically and students whose attendance appears to be causing them academic problems may be subject to intervention as outlined in the Student Support Policy.
When a student must be absent, the school is to be informed by 10:30 a.m. If the school has not been informed by the parent within three days of the absence, the student will be assigned to Saturday School or Night School Students who know in advance that they are going to be absent should have their parents call the school or send written notification at least two (2) days in advance for a pre-excused make-up slip.
Regular attendance is valued and will be rewarded. Rewards will be determined and communicated to students at the beginning of the school year.
GET IT DONE 101
Get It Done 101 is an after school program provided to students who are failing courses and need additional help to be academically successful. Students and parents will be informed when this program is available to them and the rules related to the program.
MAKE-UP WORK
Students will make up class work missed due to absences according to the following procedures:
1. Pre-excused absences – when possible all assigned work shall be completed and submitted to the appropriate teacher(s) or arrangements made for its completion prior to the impending absences.
2. Regular absences (not prearranged) – unless special arrangements are made with the teacher(s), students will have one day for make-up work for each day absent plus one additional day (e.g. two days absent-three school days for make-up work).
3. Unexcused absences (truancy or suspension)-students will be required to complete make-up work for unexcused absences. Credit will be awarded at teacher’s discretion.
The South Sioux City Community School District does not authorize any skip day for any student or group of students. Should it become evident that such a day is being taken, the administration will call each student suspected and will have to speak to that student personally both in the morning and in the afternoon. Should the student claim to be out-of-town, he/she will be excused only if prearranged and if the student personally calls the school from the out-of-town location. The administrator will then replace the call and must speak directly to the student. Any absence declared to be unexcused by the administration
will result in the following:
1. The student will be required to return for a period of time not less than one full school day after classmates have been dismissed.
2. During such time the student will be required to make up all work missed and/or complete special assignments or examinations.
3. The make-up work, special assignments, and/or examinations must be satisfactorily completed and will be graded by the teacher in charge.
4. The student’s semester grade will be considered “incomplete” until all work has been satisfactorily completed.
It is the intent of the South Sioux City Schools to provide all students with the necessary instructional and/or behavioral support to successfully complete their educational goals. For the educational process to function as efficiently as possible and for individual students to achieve their maximum potential, students must be in class regularly and should contribute to a positive classroom environment. Students are expected to attend school everyday that school is in session unless ill or specific arrangements have been made with the principal in advance. Students are also expected to abide by school rules and regulations and not create disturbances which will detract from the learning environment or overall school climate, in the classroom, building or at school sponsored activities.
Building principals and assistant principals will be charged with the responsibility of determining appropriate interventions for students not meeting the expectations of the school in terms of attendance, academic performance and/or behavior. Students must understand that the consequence for behavior will be based on their previous disciplinary record. Students demonstrating poor academic performance (below ability level), excessive school absences, or involvement in minor behavioral incidents beyond those that can be handled or corrected by the classroom teacher, will be assigned a Level 1 Intervention.
Level 1 Intervention will be selected from the following (may be more than one or combination thereof):
Academic detention After/before school study
Student support programs Loss of in-school privileges
Parent conference Limitation of curricular and/or
Detention extracurricular activities
Contract with teacher Teacher advisor
Guidance Intervention Other
A student whose attendance or classroom performance does not improve after Level 1 Intervention and students who are involved in minor behavioral problems on a continuing basis or are involved in more serious behaviors will be assigned a Level II Intervention.
Level II Intervention, if at all possible, will include parent notification and/or involvement and will be selected from the following (may be more than one or combinations thereof):
Probationary contract Assignment monitoring
Night School/ Saturday School Daily homework schedule
Special classes (study skills) After/before school study
Alternate Classroom Out-of-school suspension
In-School Suspension Other
Student behavior that continually disrupts the educational program and/or is of a dangerous nature to the student himself/herself or others cannot and will not be tolerated. Students exhibiting these behaviors will be assigned a Level III Intervention.
Level III Intervention will be selected from the following (may be more than one or combination thereof):
Expulsion Out-of-school treatment program
Alternative school program Special work for credit program
Long term suspension Teacher advisor
Out-of-school assessment/ Other
counseling
A student who is making little or no progress toward completion of his/her academic program may be considered a candidate for an alternative program.
When a student is placed on detention, he/she will have up to one additional school day to make arrangements to stay. All detentions will be then served consecutively. Detention will always be held immediately after classes end. Students who are involved in activities, work release or senior release will also be required to serve detention at the end of the regular school day. Failure to serve detention as scheduled will result in further disciplinary action. Teachers may require students to report to their room that night for academic purposes.
Saturday School will be scheduled each Saturday, if necessary, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Night school will be scheduled Friday night from 3:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Students are to report where assigned. Failure to report will result in further disciplinary action. (Complete description and rules for Saturday School and Night School are available.)
In-school suspension will be available and students may be placed in the In-school suspension classroom as a result of inappropriate behavior or as a condition of the Student Support Policy. Successful completion of the In-school suspension assignment is required before being readmitted to the regular classroom.
Due Process can be simply defined as observing all regulations as prescribed by law to insure that the student’s rights and privileges are protected when disciplinary action is deemed necessary. Listed below is the procedure to be followed in matters of short term and long term suspension as well as expulsion.
I. Short Term Suspension:
Informal hearing between administrator and student.
A. Student must be informed of charges.
B. Student must be given opportunity to tell his/her version of the situation.
C. Administrator makes determination.
II. Long Term Suspension or Expulsion:
A. (Same as sort term suspension)
B. If long term suspension or expulsion is recommended,
1. Superintendent will be informed of action in writing,
2. Superintendent will inform parent/guardian of suspension or expulsion,
3. Parent/guardian has five (5) school days to request a formal hearing if so desired,
4. After five (5) school days, if no request is
received in the superintendent’s office, the punishment goes into effect. A student may be excluded from school prior to the five (5) days if deemed necessary.
5. If a hearing is requested, arrangements will be made by the Superintendent, and the student remains in school pending the decision of the hearing examiner.
6. If a hearing is not requested, the student is removed from school after five (5) days though he/she may still request a formal hearing within thirty (30) days of the formal notification of the parents. The student must remain out of school, however, until the hearing and notification of the hearing examiner.
Parents are encouraged to take a keen interest in the appearance of their students. The school reserves the right to restrict the activity of students around shop machinery or in other situations where the student’s health or safety are directly related to the manner of dress. Clothing judged by the school to be inappropriate is not allowed. Shorts will be allowed on a limited basis. The dates and appropriate styles will be set by the building administrators.
All students who take part in activities will be subject to the rules given them by the activity program director.
The following rules pertain to all Middle School and High School students.
1. No student may park between the Middle School and High School buildings.
2. Student parking for Middle School students is restricted to the area south of the Middle School building.
3. Student parking for High School students is restricted to the area between the High School building and the public swimming pool.
4. Consequences may occur for improperly parked cars and inappropriate driving.
5. Students may be requested to register their vehicles.
On matters other than school attendance, problems should be resolved by following proper channels of authority, i.e., building administrator, superintendent, and ultimately the Board of Education.
Except for contact sports and/or any other area as set forth by law, the SSCCS will make its educational program available to all students without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or marital status.
Revised July, 2005
The South Sioux City Community School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. If you feel you have been discriminated against, or have inquiries regarding grievance procedures, or compliance with Title IX, Title VI or Section 504, please contact Dave Hawkins, Assistant Superintendent, South Sioux City Community Schools, 820 East 29th St., South Sioux City, NE. 68776