The board of education expects all students to conduct themselves in an appropriate and civil manner, with proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students, district personnel and other members of the school community, and for the care of school facilities and equipment. The fundamental rule is that we operate on the premise of mutual respect.

The best discipline is self-imposed, and students must learn to assume and accept responsibility for their own behavior, as well as the consequences of their misbehavior. District personnel who interact with students are expected to use disciplinary action when necessary and to place emphasis on the students' ability to grow in self-discipline.

The board recognizes the need to make its expectations for student conduct while on school property or engaged in school function specific and clear. The rules of conduct listed below are intended to do that and focus on safety and respect for the rights and property of others. Students who will not accept responsibility for their own behavior and violate these school rules will be required to accept the penalties for their conduct.

Students may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension from school when they:

A. Engage in conduct that is disorderly. Examples of disorderly conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Running in hallways.
• Making unreasonable loud, and/or disruptive noise.
• Using language or gestures that are profane, lewd, vulgar or abusive.
• Obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
• Students driving on school grounds must observe 15 mph speed limit and yield right of way to all school buses.
• Engaging in any willful act which disrupts the normal operation of the school community.
• Trespassing. Students are not permitted in any school building, other than the one they regularly attend, without permission from the administrator in charge of the building. Students on school grounds prior to or following regular school hours are expected to be under the direct supervision of authorized school personnel.
• Computer/electronic communications misuse, including any unauthorized use of computers, software, or internet/intranet account; accessing inappropriate websites; or any other violation of the district's acceptable use policy.

B. Engage in conduct that is insubordinate. Examples of insubordinate conduct include but are not limited to:

• Failing to comply with the reasonable directions of teachers, school administrators or other school employees in charge of students or otherwise demonstrating disrespect.
• Lateness for, missing or leaning school without permission.
• Skipping detention when a student is required to attend.

C. Engage in conduct that is disruptive. Examples of disruptive conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Failing to comply with the reasonable directions of teachers, school administrators or other school personnel in charge of students.

D. Engage in conduct that is violent. Examples of violent conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Committing an act of violence (such as hitting, pushing, kicking, spitting, biting, punching, and scratching) upon a teacher, administrator or other school employee or attempting to do so.
• Committing an act of violence (such as hitting, pushing, kicking, spitting, biting, punching, and scratching) upon another student or any other person lawfully on school property or attempting to do so.
• Possessing a weapon. Authorized law enforcement officials are the only persons permitted to have a weapon in their possession while on school property or at a school function.
• Displaying what appears to be a weapon.
• Threatening to use any weapon.
• Intentionally damaging or destroying the personal property of a student, teacher, administrator, other district employee or any person lawfully on school property, including graffiti or arson.
• Intentionally damaging or destroying school district property.

E. Engage in any conduct that endangers the safety, morals, health or welfare of others. Examples of such conduct include but are not limited to:

• Lying to school personnel.
• Stealing the property of other students, school personnel or any other person lawfully on school property or attending a school function.
• Defamation, which includes making false or unprivileged statements or representations about an individual or identifiable group of individuals that, harm the reputation of the person or the identifiable group by demeaning them.
• Discrimination, which includes the use of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability as a basis for treating another in a negative manner.
• Harassment, which includes a sufficiently severe action or a persistent, pervasive pattern of actions or statements directed at an identifiable individual or group which are intended to be or which a reasonable person would perceive as ridiculing or demeaning.
• Intimidation, which includes engaging in actions or statements that, put an individual in fear of bodily harm.
• Hazing, which includes any intentional or reckless act directed against another for the purpose of initiation into, affiliating with or maintaining membership in any school sponsored activity, organization, club or team.
• Selling, using or possessing obscene material.
• Using vulgar or abusive language, cursing or swearing.
• Possession or use of a cigarette, cigar, pipe, chewing or smokeless tobacco, lighters and matches.
• Possessing, consuming, selling, distributing or exchanging alcoholic beverages or illegal substances, or being under the influence of either. "Illegal substances" include, but are not limited to, inhalants, marijuana, cocaine, LSD, PCP, amphetamines, heroin, steroids, look-alike drugs, and any substances commonly referred to as "designer drugs."
• Inappropriately using or sharing prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
• Gambling and/or card/playing.
• Indecent exposure, that is, exposure to sight of the private parts of the body in a lewd or indecent manner.
• Initiating a report warning of fire or other catastrophe without valid cause, misuse of 911, or discharging a fire extinguisher.

F. Engage in misconduct while on a school bus.

It is crucial for students to behave appropriately while riding on district buses to ensure their safety and that of other passengers and to avoid distracting the bus driver. Students are required to conduct themselves on the bus in a manner consistent with established standards for classroom behavior. Excessive noise, pushing, shoving and fighting will not be tolerated.

School Bus Rules and Regulations:

• Students are expected to always obey the driver and respond promptly to the driver's instructions.
• Students should be in a seat assigned to them by the driver and remain seated until the bus arrives at their particular stop and comes to a complete stop.
• Students should keep their hands to themselves and respect other students and their property.
• Hitting and fighting on the bus will not be tolerated.
• Students should avoid using inappropriate language.
• Eating food and drinking beverages are not allowed on the bus.
• Students are expected to keep the bus clean and picked up.
• Students should not bring glass jars or bottles on the bus.
• Smoking, chewing smokeless tobacco, and consuming alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the bus.
• Students are expected to be on time and be ready when the bus comes. If you are late it affects the other students still waiting to be picked up.
• Students must enter and leave the bus only after it comes to a complete stop.
• If it is necessary that a student cross a street to board a bus the student shall wait for a signal from the driver to cross after the bus comes to a complete stop. Then cross at a point that is 10 feet in front of the bus.
• Students must not extend any part of their body out of the windows.
• Students must not open or tamper with any of the emergency exits.
• Students should not tamper with any bus equipment. Any damaged equipment, including seats, may have to be paid for by the student.
• Students who are to get off at any other stop other than their own will be required to present the driver with a bus pass signed by the office. A permission slip from the parent or guardian is required to obtain the pass.
• Any pupil who violates any school rules and regulations while riding the bus will be subject to bus suspension.

*Riding the bus is a privilege. Anyone who does not conduct himself/herself properly will be denied the privilege of riding the bus.

G. Engage in any form of academic misconduct. Examples of academic misconduct include:

• Plagiarism
• Cheating
• Copying
• Altering records
• Assisting another student in any of the above actions
• Misuse of technology (including computers and/or internet).

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