STUDENT
HANDBOOK
2008 – 2009
Quality to the Core….
Table of Contents
Page
5
Administrator Phone Numbers
6
Forward
Notice
of Non-Discrimination
Requesting Professional Qualifications of Teachers and Staff
Requesting Notices of Certain Student Misconduct
Parents
of Students with Disabilities
7
Notification of Rights under FERPA for Elementary & Secondary
Institutions
8
Telecommunication Disclaimer
9
Bacterial Meningitis
11 Mission Statement
District Goals
School Song
12
Preface
13 Admission
Arrival / Dismissal
Asbestos
Attendance
15 Automobile / Motorcycles
Backpacks & Book Bags
Bullying
Cafeteria Services
16
Career / Technical Education
Cell Phones
Change of Schedules
Class Functions
Classification, Promotion,
and Course Credit
17
Class Ranking – High School
18
Clubs & Organizations
College Days
Communicable Diseases
Complaints by Students / Parents
19
Conferences
Correspondence Courses
Counseling
Credit by Examination, Credit Retrieval,
Prevention & Recovery
20
Dating Violence, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
22
Distribution of Material
Dress & Grooming Code
23
Fire, Tornado and Other Emergency Drills
Emergency Medical Treatment
24
Emergency School Closing Information
Examination for Acceleration
Exemptions
Extracurricular Activities
25
Fees and Fines
Fund Raising
Graduation Expenses
Graduation Requirements
26
Head Lice
Health
Screenings
Illness
at School
Immunization
Insurance
27 Leaving
Campus for Lunch
Library
Lockers
Lost & Found
28 Make Up Work & Grades
Medicine at School
Personal Items
29 Promotions, Retention, and Placement
30 Protection
of Student Rights
Report Cards
School Buses
31 School-Related Social Events
School
Trips
Searches by Trained Dogs
Security Cameras
Sign Out Sheet for Students
Leaving School
32
Special Programs
Sportsmanship
Steroids
33
Student Records
34
Student Right to Pray
Tardy Policy
35
Telephone Use
Textbooks
Transportation
Tutorials
36 Withdrawals
37
Student Code of Conduct I
Responsibility and Authority for
Administration & Enforcement of Code of Conduct
Role & Responsibilities of Certified Personnel in Maintaining
Acceptable Conduct
38
Responsibilities of Parents
39 Placement Review Committee
Parent / Teacher Conferences
Student Records
40 Student Retrieval
Textbooks
Visitors
40
Student Code of Conduct II
Factors
41
Jurisdiction
Abiding by the Law
End of Semester / Year Offenses
42 Rights & Responsibilities of Students
Students at School or School-Related
Activities Are Prohibited From
43 Dress Code & Attendance Laws
44
Attendance Committee
45 Compulsory
Attendance Law
Vandalism / Damage to School Property
Sexual Harassment
46 Hazing
Tobacco Use
Messaging Devices, Paging Devices, Including
Cellular Telephones
47
Drug / Alcohol Use
Drug
& Alcohol Policy for Extracurricular & or Co-Curricular Activities
48 Weapons
/ Assaults
49
Disturbing School or Class
Disruption of Lawful
Assembly
50
Distribution of Material / Prior Review
51 Student Conduct on School Buses
Secret or
Self-perpetuation Societies
52
General Guidelines for Assessing
Discipline III- Definitions
Definitions
53 Listing of Offenses and Consequences by Level
Level I Offenses
Level I
Disciplinary Options
54 Level II Offenses
Level
II Disciplinary Options
Level
III Offenses
55 Level
III Disciplinary Options
Level
IV Serious Offenses
56
Level IV Disciplinary Options
Level V Mandatory Removal or Expulsion
Offenses
Mandatory
Removal
57 Mandatory Expulsion
58
Procedural Due Process
59 Expulsion / Appeal of Board’s Decision to
Expel
60 Emergency Placement or Expulsion / Teacher
Removal of a Student
62 Suspension
Placement of Students with Disabilities
63 Appeal of a Student with Disabilities
Expulsion
Corporal Punishment
65
Detention / Readmission of
Expelled Students
Interrogations and Searches
66 Physical Restraint
Cooperation
with Law Enforcement Officials
Police Questioning of Students / Arrested
Students
67 Telecommunications Network Acceptable Use
Policy
Regulations & Guidelines
System
Access
Campus-Level Coordinator Responsibilities
68
Individual User Responsibilities
On-Line Conduct
69
Vandalism and Forgery Prohibited
Information Content / Third Party Supplied
Information
Network Etiquette
Termination / Revocation of System User
Account
70 Electronic Communications System Acceptable
Use Agreement
71 Electronic Communications System Parent
Consent Form
72 Photo/Video
and Website Consent Form
72 Use of Student Work in District Publications
Consent Form
73 Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement Form
For inquiries, please
contact the following personnel:
Mr. Richard Tedder,
Superintendent of Schools 594-7642
599-3246 fax
Mr.
Scott Drillette, Assistant Superintendent / 599-7642
Athletic
Director 599-3246
fax
Mrs.
Carolyn Branch, Director of Finance 594-7642
599-3246 fax
Mr.
Burt Green, Director of Transportation/Maintenance 594-7642
599-3246 fax
Mr.
Jamie Payne, High School Principal 594-3492
594-2509 fax
Mr.
Chad Massey, Middle School Principal 6-8 594-3195
599-5117 fax
Mrs.
Dee Ann Mills, Elementary Principal EC-5 594-8017
599-5117 fax
Or write:
F O R E W O R D
The
THE
PASSAGE OF LAWS BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE ONGOING PROCESS OF INTERPRETATION BY THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION MAY NULLIFY OR ALTER ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL POLICIES.
This
document supersedes any other student handbook or folder that concerns
REQUIRED NOTICES AND INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
NOTICE
OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The
Brock Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race,
religion, color, national origin, sex or disability in providing education or
providing access to benefits or education services, activities, and programs,
including vocational programs, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972;
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
Specific
personnel have been designated to coordinate compliance with these legal
requirements. For the names of these
compliance officers, please contact the administration building: 594-7642.
Additionally,
the District will take steps to insure that the lack of English language skills
will not prohibit any student's participation in the programs available at
Brock Schools.
Requesting Professional
Qualifications of Teachers and Staff
You may request information
regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s teachers, including
whether a teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the
grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
whether the teacher has an emergency permit or other provisional status for
which state requirements have been waived; and undergraduate and graduate
degree majors, graduate certifications, and the field of study of the
certification or degree. You also have
the right to request information about the qualifications of any
paraprofessional who may provide services to your child.
Requesting Notices of Certain
Student Misconduct
A noncustodial parent may
request in writing that he or she be provided, for the remainder of the school
year, a copy of any written notice usually provided to a parent related to your
child’s misconduct that may involve placement in a Disciplinary Alternative
Education Program (DAEP) or expulsion.
[See policy FO(LEGAL) and the Student Code of Conduct.]
Parents of Students with
Disabilities
Parents of students with
learning difficulties or who may need special education services may request an
evaluation for special education at any time.
For more information, contact the campus principal.
Options and Requirements for Providing
Assistance to Students Who Have Learning Difficulties or Who Need or May Need
Special Education
If a child is experiencing
learning difficulties, the parent may contact the person listed below to learn
about the district’s overall general education referral or screening system for
support services. This system links
students to a variety of support options, including referral for a special
education evaluation. Students having
difficulty in the regular classroom should be considered for tutorial,
compensatory, and other academic or behavior support services that are
available to all students including a process based on Response to
Intervention. The implementation of
Response to Intervention has the potential to have a positive impact on the
ability of school districts to meet the needs of all struggling students.
At any time, a parent is
entitled to request an evaluation for special education services. Within a reasonable amount of time, the
district must decide if the evaluation is needed. If the evaluation is needed, the parent will
be notified and asked to provide informed written consent for the
evaluation. The district must complete
the evaluation and the report within 60 calendar days of the date the district
receives the written consent. The
district must give a copy of the report to the parent.
If the district determines
that the evaluation is not needed, the district will provide the parent with a
written notice that explains why the child will not be evaluated. This written notice will include a statement
that informs the parent of his or her rights if the parent disagrees with the
district. Additionally, the notice must
inform the parent how to obtain a copy of the Notice of Procedural
Safeguards—Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities.
If a student is receiving
special education services at a campus outside his or her attendance zone, the parent or guardian may request that any
other student residing in the household be transferred to the same campus, if
the appropriate grade level for the transferring student is offered on that
campus. [See policy FDB(LOCAL).]
Notification of Rights
under FERPA for Elementary and Secondary Institutions
The
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students
over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with
respect to the student's education records.
They are:
1) The right to inspect and review the student's education
records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for
access. Parents or eligible students
should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) a
written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for
access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where
the records may be inspected.
2) The right to request the amendment of the student's
education records that the parent or eligible student believes is inaccurate or
misleading. Parents or eligible students
may ask the
If the District decides not to amend the record as
requested by the parents or eligible student, the District will notify the
parents or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a
hearing regarding the request for amendment.
Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided
to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally
identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except
to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure
without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational
interests. A school official is a person
employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or
support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement
unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with
whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an
attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student
serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance
committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request,
4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of
Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the
requirements of FERPA. The name and
address of the office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920
TELECOMMUNICATION
DISCLAIMER
The
District's system is provided on an "as is, as available" basis. The District does not make any warranties,
whether express or implied, including, without limitation, those of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any services
provided by the system and any information or software contained therein. The District does not warrant that the
functions or services performed by, or that the information or software
contained on, the system will meet the system's user's requirements, or that
the system will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that defects will be
corrected.
Opinions,
advice, services, and all other information expressed by system users,
information providers, service providers, or other third party individuals in
the system are those of the providers and not the District.
The
District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any
investigation concerning or relating to misuse of the District's electronic
communications system.
BACTERIAL MENINGITIS
Dear Parent,
Senate Bill 31, which was
recently passed by the Texas Legislature, requires public schools to annually
provide all students and parents with information relating to bacterial
meningitis. The information enclosed is
to educate parents about the symptoms of this disease and what to do in the
event that a student is diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
The Texas Department of
Health stresses that this disease is not a widespread problem with children who
are in public schools. The regional and
county health departments do not have this vaccine available unless there is an
outbreak. If an outbreak occurs in our
area, the health department will notify and advise families and schools
regarding the necessity of the vaccinations.
The population most at risk for contacting bacterial meningitis is
college freshmen that live in dormitories.
However, the Legislature did intend that all public school students and
parents be made aware of this disease and the potential health
consequences.
Please refer to the
information sheet on bacterial meningitis.
If you have any questions, contact the school nurse on our campus, Melissa Burden, RN.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal
cord -- also called the meninges. It can be caused by viruses, parasites,
fungi, and bacteria. Viral (aseptic) meningitis is common; most people recover
fully. Medical management of viral meningitis consists of supportive treatment
and there is usually no indication for the use of antibiotics. Parasitic and
fungal meningitis are very rare. Bacterial meningitis is very serious and may involve
complicated medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, and life support management.
There are two common types of bacteria that cause meningitis:
Strep pneumonia causes
pneumococcal meningitis; there are over 80 subtypes that cause illness
Neisseria meningitides -
meningococcal meningitis; there are 5 subtypes that cause serious illness --
What are the symptoms?
Someone with meningitis will become very ill. The
illness may develop over one or two days, but it can also rapidly progress in a
matter of hours. Not everyone with meningitis will have the same symptoms.
Children (over 1 year old) and adults with meningitis may have:
Severe headache
High temperature, vomiting
Sensitivity to bright
lights, neck stiffness, joint pains, drowsiness or confusion
..* In both children and adults,
there may be a rash of tiny, red-purple spots or bruises caused by
bleeding under the skin. These can occur anywhere on the body. They are a sign
of blood poisoning (septicemia), which sometimes happens with meningitis,
particularly the meningococcal strain.
How serious is bacterial meningitis?
If it is diagnosed early and treated promptly, the majority of people
make a complete recovery. In some cases it can be fatal or a person may be left
with a permanent disability, such as deafness, blindness, amputations, or brain
damage (resulting in mental retardation or paralysis) even with prompt
treatment
How is bacterial meningitis spread?
Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as
contagious as diseases like the common cold or the flu, and they are not
spread by casual contact. The germs live naturally in the back of our noses and
throats, but they do not live for long outside the body. They are spread when
people exchange saliva (such as by kissing, sharing drinking containers,
utensils, or cigarettes). The germ does not cause meningitis in most people.
Instead, most people become carriers of the germ for days, weeks, or even
months. Being a carrier helps to stimulate your body’s natural defense system.
The bacteria rarely overcome the body's immune system and causes meningitis or
another serious illness.
What is the risk of getting bacterial meningitis?
The risk of getting bacterial meningitis in all age groups is about 2.4
cases per 100,000 population per year. However, the highest risk group for the
most serious form of the disease, meningococcal meningitis, is highest among
children 2 to 18 years old.
How is bacterial meningitis diagnosed?
The diagnosis is usually based on a combination of clinical symptoms
and laboratory results from spinal fluid and blood. Spinal fluid is obtained by
a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
How can bacterial meningitis be prevented?
Do not share food, drinks, utensils, toothbrushes, or cigarettes. Limit
the number of persons you kiss.
Vaccines against pneumococcal disease are recommended both for young
children and adults over 64. A vaccine against four meningococcal serogroups
(A, C, Y, W-135) is available. These four groups cause the majority of
meningococcal cases in the
What you should do if you think you or a friend might have bacterial
meningitis?'
Seek prompt medical attention.
For more information:
Your school nurse, family doctor, and the staff at your local or
regional health department office are excellent sources for information on all
communicable diseases. You may also call your local health department or
Regional Texas Department of Health office to ask about meningococcal vaccine.
Additional information may also be found at the web sites for the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov and the Texas Department of Health: www.tdh.state.tx.us .
MISSION STATEMENTS
The
Brock I.
·
Strive to
increase parental involvement through the personal and academic development of
all students, so that they meet of exceed state expectations for exemplary
schools.
- Provide all personnel resources for the
enhancement of effective instruction.
- Provide personnel salaries and incentives
reflective of the district’s commitment to recruit, retain, and reward the
best-qualified individuals for each staff position.
- Be responsive to the increasing technological
needs of staff and students, enabling graduates to become productive
citizens of the future.
- Regularly review, revise, and align the local
curriculum to address students’ needs commensurate with state mandates and
district philosophy.
- Demonstrate fiscal responsibility in facilities
management and improvements for provision of a safe, quality-learning
environment with improved community support.
- Encourage personnel to participate in continuing
education.
- Provide a safe educational environment and an
effective crisis management plan.
BROCK
SCHOOL SONG
To dear old
We'll always be true
We'll live by her standards
Whatever we do
Our meetings together
Our games and our fun
Our teamwork, our troubles,
too
We've lost and we've won
We love our school colors
The gold and the blue
They're part of our memories
Brock High, WE LOVE YOU!
COLORS: Blue and Gold
MASCOT: Eagles
PREFACE
To Students and Parents:
Welcome to school year
2008–2009! Education is a team effort,
and we know that students, parents, teachers, and other staff members all
working together can make this a wonderfully successful year for our students.
The Brock ISD Student
Handbook is designed to provide a resource for some of the basic information
that you and your child will need during the school year. Please be aware that the term “the student’s
parent” is used to refer to the parent, legal guardian, or any other person who
has agreed to assume school-related responsibility for a student.
Both students and parents
should become familiar with the Brock ISD Student Code of Conduct, which is a
document adopted by the board and intended to promote school safety and an
atmosphere for learning. That document
may be found as an attachment to this handbook and is also available in the principal’s
office.
The Student Handbook is
designed to be in harmony with board policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Please be aware that the handbook is updated
yearly, while policy adoption and revision may occur throughout the year. Changes in policy or other rules that affect
Student Handbook provisions will be made available to students and parents
through newsletters and other communications.
In case of conflict between
board policy or the Student Code of Conduct and any provisions of the Student
Handbook, the provisions of board policy or the Student Code of Conduct
that were most recently adopted by the board are to be followed.
After reading through the
entire handbook with your child, keep it as a reference during this school
year. If you or your child has questions
about any of the material in this handbook, please contact the campus principal.
Also, please complete and return to your child’s
campus the following required forms included at the back of this handbook:
1. Acknowledgment Form;
2. Brock ISD Electronic Communications System Acceptable Use Agreement;
3. Electronic Communications System Parent Consent Form;
4. Photo / Video and Website Consent Form;
5. Use of Student Work in District Publications Form.
The student handbook contains information needed by
both students and parents throughout the school year. It is organized alphabetically by topic. Students are addressed as "the
student," "students," "the child," or
"children." The term "the
student's parent" refers to the parent, legal guardian, or other person
who has agreed to assume school-related responsibility for the student.
ADMISSION
A
student (or the student's parent) seeking enrollment in the District for the
first time or following attendance in another Texas district, out-of-state
attendance, private school attendance, or admission through a bona fide foreign
exchange program should contact the building principal or designee.
The
Board (or designees) shall determine what is acceptable proof of residence
within the district, and may require evidence of eligibility to attend school
within the district upon admission.
ARRIVAL / DISMISSAL
Proper
supervision may not be provided to students who arrive prior to the cafeteria
opening at
ASBESTOS
As
required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of October, 1986, the
Environmental Protection Agency requires all schools to have an inspection for
asbestos-containing materials and to have a management plan identifying the
materials. The management plan is
available in each campus office for public viewing. If you have any questions, discuss them with
your school principal or call the administration office at (817) 594-7642.
ATTENDANCE
Students
must be in attendance at least 90% of the days that class is offered each
semester.
Students
not in compliance with state mandated attendance requirements will not receive
the Texas Education Agency's verification form for driver’s license renewal
(SBOE rule TAC 61.43).
A
child required to attend school may be excused for temporary absence resulting
from any cause acceptable to the teacher, principal, or Superintendent of the
school in which the child is enrolled.
BISD
shall excuse a student from attending school for the purpose of observing
religious holy days, including traveling for that purpose, if before the
absence the parent, guardian, or person having custody or control of the
student submits a written request for the excused absence. A school district shall excuse a student for
temporary absence resulting from health care professionals if that student
commences classes or returns to school on the same day of the appointment.
- A student whose absence
is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and
shall be counted as if the student attended school for purposes of
calculating the average daily attendance of students in the school
district.
- A student whose absence
is excused under this subsection shall still count as an absence when
determining exam exemptions.
- A student whose absence
is excused under this subsection shall be allowed a reasonable time to
make up schoolwork missed on those days.
If the student satisfactorily completes the schoolwork, the day of
absence shall be counted as a day of compulsory attendance.
If
the attendance committee finds that there are no extenuating circumstances for
the absence or if conditions established by the committee for earning or
regaining credit are not met, the committee shall deny credit for the
class. A student whose petition for
credit is denied may appeal the attendance committee's decision to the Board of
Trustees.
When
returning to school after an absence, a student must bring a note that
describes the reason for the absence.
The student’s parent or guardian must sign this note. Notes signed by the student, even with the
parent's consent, are unacceptable, and the student will be disciplined.
IMPORTANT: Any student who misses school time to go to
the doctor and returns to school that day bringing a note from the doctor's
office stating will NOT be
counted absent for the school time missed for
A
student who has been absent for any reason is encouraged to make up specific
assignments missed and/or to complete additional in-depth study assigned by the
teacher to meet subject or course requirements.
Failure to make up assigned work within the time allotted by the teacher
will result in a grade of zero for the assignment.
IMPORTANT – STATE LAW
The
(1) The parent
is subject to prosecution under Section 25.093 (b)
of the Education Code for failure to
require the child to attend
school as required by law and
(2) The student
is subject to prosecution under Section 25.094 of
the Education Code.
Section 25.095 further states that it is
the parent’s duty to monitor the student’s school attendance and require the
student to attend school. Parents should
request a conference with school officials to discuss the student’s absences.
Attendance 6-8th grade-
Attendance will be counted
each period for grades 6-8th.
Perfect attendance-To receive
a perfect attendance award, a student must not have an absence for any class
during the school day.
AUTOMOBILE/MOTORCYCLES
Students
who are licensed drivers may bring a vehicle on school property. Students who misuse motor vehicles may lose
their motor vehicle privileges.
BACKPACKS AND BOOKBAGS
Students
may bring backpacks or book bags on campus provided there is no disruption of
the educational process. K-5 grades may
have rolling back packs. 6-12 grades may not have rolling back
packs. The building principal, or his or her designee, may search
backpacks or book bags, may require see-through mesh or clear material, may
require identification tags on backpacks, and may prohibit students from
bringing unsuitable bags on campus.
BULLYING
Bullying occurs when a
student or group of students directs written or verbal expressions or physical
conduct against another student and the behavior results in harm to the student
or the student’s property, places a student in fear of harm to himself or his
property, or is so severe that it creates an intimidating, threatening or
abusive educational environment.
The board has established
policies and procedures to prohibit bullying and to respond to reports of
bullying. [See FFI(LOCAL).]
CAFETERIA SERVICES
The
District participates in the National School Lunch Program and offers free and
reduced-price meals based on a student's financial need. Information can be obtained from the
administration office.
All
students, including those who bring a lunch from home, may eat in the
cafeteria.
Cafeteria
regulations:
1) Enter orderly and walk in a line.
2) Keep your place in line, but do not
"save places." No cutting in
line.
3) The student who used them must remove trays, paper cups,
glasses, and other utensils from the table.
4) Students should follow proper table
manners.
5) Do not take food or drink of any kind
outside the cafeteria.
6) Place all garbage in receptacles
provided for such.
7) Feel free to talk or visit with
friends, but avoid shouting or "horseplay" of any kind.
However, to maintain schedules and a pleasant environment
in which to eat lunch, campus principals may require students to remain silent
as they proceed through the serving line.
The
function of the food service program is to provide nutritionally sound and
appetizing meals at the lowest possible cost to our students. The student prices are as follows:
Breakfast Grades K -
12 1.50
Lunch Grades
K - 12 2.00
Employee and adult prices are:
Breakfast 1.50
Lunch 2.75
Students
may not charge for the 2008-2009 school year until all money owed from
2007-2008 has been paid. ** All
charges must be brought up to date every two weeks.
CAREER / TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Brock
I.S.D. offers career and technology programs in Agricultural Science and
Technology and MOCT, (Multi-Occupational Career Training). Admission to these programs is based on
student interest and need.
CELL PHONES
Cell
phones are not to be used in the classroom for any reason. Building principals may allow cell phones at
school under certain conditions. Cell
phones used inappropriately will be taken up by school officials.
1)
First
offense – cell phone will be returned to the student at the end of the day on
Friday, the week of the infraction.
2)
Second
offense – cell phone will be returned to a parent with a $10.00 storage charge
at the end of the day on Friday, the week of the infraction.
3)
Third
offense – cell phone will be returned to a parent with a $15.00 storage charge
at the end of the day on Friday, the week of the infraction.
CHANGE OF SCHEDULES
Schedule
changes are difficult to make once the schedule has been established. If you feel you have a legitimate need for a
schedule change, check with the building principal and counselor. No schedule changes are allowed after the
third day of class.
CLASS FUNCTIONS
Class
sponsors, with consent of the building principal, must approve all class
functions.
All
class meetings will be coordinated with the building principal.
CLASSIFICATION, PROMOTION,
AND COURSE CREDIT
After the ninth grade,
students are classified according to the number of credits earned toward
graduation.
Credits Earned Classification
5
Grade 10 (Sophomore)
10 Grade
11 (Junior)
15 Grade
12 (Senior)
To
earn credit, a grade of 70 must be earned besides any required projects,
reports, etc.
To
receive credit for a course, a student must maintain an average of 70 or
above. The district may award credit
semester by semester for a full (one unit) course.
Special
grading situations may be available and will be detailed by the building
principal as the need arises.
CLASS RANKING - HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian
and Salutatorian must be enrolled at Brock High School for a minimum of two years.
The Valedictorian will receive the
highest-ranking student scholarship.
Class
rank for senior students shall be calculated by averaging grades earned in
grades 9 – 12. Courses that will not be
used for computing GPA are listed below.
GPA will be computed factoring in weighted grade values, excluding the
last grading period of the senior year.
The
following courses shall not be used in computing the GPA:
- Local credit courses –
except for Dual Biology
- All correspondence
grades
- Credit by examination
- Courses in band,
physical education, athletics, or any other course that substitutes for
physical education.
For students
graduating through the Class of 2010 - ¼ point will be added to the final GPA for
the following courses:
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Spanish III
- All Dual Credit Classes
- Classes designated by
the District
For
students graduating after 2010 – 10% will be added to the final grade in that
particular class, for the purpose of calculating GPA, for each of the courses
below:
- All Pre-AP Classes
- All AP Classes
- All Dual Credit Classes
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Spanish III
- Classes designated by the District
Students
who are ranked in the top ten percent of their graduation class are eligible
for a period of two school years following their graduation for automatic
admission into Texas general academic universities and colleges. Students and parents should contact the
building principal for further information about how to apply and the deadline
for application.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Student
clubs and performing groups such as the band, choir, cheerleaders, and athletic
teams may establish rules of conduct--and consequences for misbehavior--that
are stricter than those for students in general. If a violation is also a violation of school
rules, the consequences specified by the school may apply in addition to or in
place of any consequences specified by the organization.
COLLEGE DAYS
Students
are allowed one college day each semester (a total of two college days for the
school year). Request forms must be
filled out completely and presented to the counselor 48 hours in advance of the
day to be missed. The counselor, with
approval from the building principal, must approve all college days.
Because
of the large interest of our students in
Students
who have already been accepted to a college or university, may not be allowed
to take unnecessary college days.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Parents
of a student with a communicable or contagious disease are asked to phone the
school nurse/principal so that other students who have been exposed to the
disease can be alerted. Such students
diagnosed by a physician shall provide a doctors release to the school
nurse/principal upon returning to school. A student with certain diseases is
not allowed to come to school while the disease is contagious. These diseases include campylobacteriosis,
chickenpox, diphtheria, fever (100 or greater, and must
be fever free for 24 hours prior to returning to school), viral gastroenteritis, viral type A hepatitis,
impetigo, influenza, measles, meningitis, mumps, pink eye/eye discharge (child
can be readmitted after medical diagnosis to rule out bacterial infection or 24
hours on antibiotic treatment), polio, parasitic disease, ringworm (scalp),
rubella, salmonella, scabies, shigellosis, strep throat, scarlet fever, tuberculosis,
or whooping cough.
COMPLAINTS BY
STUDENTS/PARENTS
Usually student or parent
complaints or concerns can be addressed by a phone call or a conference with
the teacher or principal. For those
complaints and concerns that cannot be handled so easily, the district has
adopted a standard complaint policy at FNG(LOCAL) in the district’s policy
manual. A copy of this policy may be obtained in the principal’s or
superintendent’s office.
In general, the student or
parent should submit a written complaint and request a conference with the
campus principal. If the concern is not
resolved, a request for a conference should be sent to the superintendent. If still unresolved, the district provides
for the complaint to be presented to the board of trustees.
CONFERENCES
Students
and parents may expect teachers to request a conference 1) if the student is
not maintaining passing grades or achieving the expected level of performance
(see REPORT CARDS below); 2) if the student presents any other problem to the
teacher; or 3) in any other case the teacher considers necessary.
The
District encourages a student or parent who wants information or wants to raise
a question or concern to confer with the appropriate teacher, counselor, or
principal. A parent who wishes to confer
with a teacher shall call the office for an appointment during the teacher's
conference period or request that the teacher call the parent during a
conference period or at another mutually convenient time.
CORRESPONDENCE COURSES
Some
universities allow high school students to take correspondence courses--courses
by mail--for credit. Students in grades
9 - 12 may earn credits toward high school graduation by these means. Students may be enrolled in only one
correspondence course at a time. Grades
earned in correspondence courses shall not be used in computing class rankings.
Seniors
who enroll in correspondence courses to earn units required for graduation
shall complete the course and submit the grade for recording at least thirty
days prior to the graduation date in order to be eligible for graduation at the
end of the term. For further information and specific District policy in this
regard, contact the high school counselor.
COUNSELING
Students
are encouraged to talk with school counselors, teachers, and principals to
learn about the curriculum, course offerings, graduation requirements, and
differences between graduation requirements for the regular high school program
and the advanced program. All students
in grades 7 - 12 and their parents shall be notified annually about the
recommended courses for students preparing to attend college. Students who are interested in attending a
college, university, or training school or pursuing another advanced education
should work closely with their counselor so that they may take the high school
courses that will best prepare them for further work. The counselor can also provide information
about entrance examinations required by many colleges and universities and also
information about financial aid and housing.
The
school counselor is available to assist students with a wide range of personal
concerns, including such areas as social, family, emotional, academic, or
chemical dependency needs. The counselor
may also make available information about community resources to address
personal concerns. Students in grades 9
– 12 who desire such assistance should see Mrs. Kathy Barakis. Students in grades K – 8 should see Mrs. Mary
Kay Davis.
CREDIT
BY EXAMINATION, CREDIT RETRIEVAL, PREVENTION AND RECOVERY
In
accordance with state law,
DATING VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION,
HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION
The district believes that all
students learn best in an environment free from dating violence,
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and that their welfare is best
served when they are free from this prohibited conduct while attending
school. Students are expected to treat
other students and district employees with courtesy and respect; to avoid
behaviors known to be offensive; and to stop those behaviors when asked or told
to stop. District employees are expected
to treat students with courtesy and respect.
The board has established
policies and procedures to prohibit and promptly respond to inappropriate and
offensive behaviors that are based on a person’s race, color, religion, ,
gender, national origin, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. [See policy FFH]
Dating Violence
Dating violence occurs when a
person in a current or past dating relationship uses physical, sexual, verbal,
or emotional abuse to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control the other person
in the relationship. This type of
conduct is considered harassment if the conduct is so severe, persistent, or
pervasive that it affects the student’s ability to participate in or benefit
from an educational program or activity; creates an intimidating, threatening,
hostile, or offensive educational environment; or substantially interferes with
the student’s academic performance.
Examples of dating violence
against a student may include, but are not limited to, physical or sexual
assaults, name-calling, put-downs, threats to hurt the student or the student’s
family members or members of the student’s household, destroying property
belonging to the student, threats to commit suicide or homicide if the student
ends the relationship, attempts to isolate the student from friends and family,
stalking, or encouraging others to engage in these behaviors.
Discrimination
Discrimination is defined as
any conduct directed at a student on the basis of race, color, religion,
gender, national origin, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law, that
it negatively affects the student.
Harassment
Harassment, in general terms,
is conduct so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects the student’s
ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity;
creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive educational
environment; or substantially interferes with the student’s academic
performance. A copy of the district’s
policy is available in the principal’s office and in the superintendent’s
office.
Examples of harassment may
include, but are not limited to, offensive or derogatory language directed at a
person’s religious beliefs or practices, accent, skin color, or need for
accommodation; threatening or intimidating conduct; offensive jokes,
name-calling, slurs, or rumors; physical aggression or assault; graffiti or
printed material promoting racial, ethnic, or other negative stereotypes; or
other kinds of aggressive conduct such as theft or damage to property.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment of a
student by an employee or volunteer does not include necessary or permissible
physical contact not reasonably construed as sexual in nature. However, romantic and other inappropriate
social relationships, as well as all sexual relationships, between students and
district employees are prohibited, even if consensual.
Examples of prohibited sexual
harassment may include, but not be limited to, touching private body parts or
coercing physical contact that is sexual in nature; sexual advances; jokes or
conversations of a sexual nature; and other sexually motivated conduct,
communications, or contact.
Retaliation
Retaliation of a student
occurs when a student receives threats from another student or an employee or
when an employee imposes an unjustified punishment or unwarranted grade
reduction. Retaliation does not include
petty slights and annoyances from other students or negative comments from a
teacher that are justified by a student’s poor academic performance in the
classroom.
Retaliation against a person
who makes a good faith report of discrimination or harassment, including dating
violence, is prohibited. A person who
makes a false claim or offers false statements or refuses to cooperate with a
district investigation, however, may be subject to appropriate discipline. Retaliation against a person who is
participating in an investigation of alleged discrimination or harassment is
also prohibited.
Reporting Procedures
Any student who believes that
he or she has experienced dating violence, discrimination, harassment, or
retaliation should immediately report the problem to a teacher, counselor,
principal, or other district employee.
The report may be made by the student’s parent. See policy FFH(LOCAL)
for the appropriate districts officials to whom to make a report.
Investigation of Report
To the extent possible, the
district will respect the privacy of the student; however, limited disclosures
may be necessary to conduct a thorough investigation and to comply with
law. Allegations of prohibited conduct,
which includes dating violence, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation,
will be promptly investigated. The
district will notify the parents of any student alleged to have experienced
prohibited conduct by an adult associated with the district.
In the event prohibited
conduct involves another student, the district will notify the parents of the
student alleged to have experienced the prohibited conduct when the
allegations, if proven, would constitute a violation as defined by policy.
If the district’s investigation
indicates that prohibited conduct occurred, appropriate disciplinary or
corrective action will be taken to address the conduct. The district may take disciplinary action
even if the conduct that is the subject of the complaint was not unlawful.
A student or parent who is
dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation may appeal in accordance
with policy FNG(LOCAL).
DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIAL
All
aspects of school-sponsored newspapers and/or yearbooks are completely under
the supervision of the teacher and campus principal.
Written
materials, handbills, photographs, pictures, petitions, films, tapes, or other
visual or auditory materials may not be sold, circulated, or distributed on any
school campus by a student or a nonstudent without the approval of the building
principal and according to campus regulations.
All
such material over which the District does not exercise editorial control and
that is intended for distribution to students shall be submitted to the
building principal for review and approval.
If the material is not approved within 24 hours of the time that it was
submitted, it must be considered disapproved.
Disapproval may be appealed by submitting the disapproved material to
the Superintendent; material not approved by the Superintendent within three
days is considered disapproved. This
disapproval may be appealed to the Board at its next regular meeting when the
student shall have a reasonable period to present his or her viewpoint.
DRESS AND GROOMING
The
District's dress code is established to teach grooming and hygiene, instill
discipline, prevents disruption, avoid safety hazards, and teach respect for
authority.
Students
shall be dressed and groomed in a way that is clean and neat and that will not
be a health or safety hazard to themselves or others. The District prohibits any clothing or
grooming that in the building principal's (or his designee's) judgment may
reasonably be expected to cause a disruption of or interfere with normal school
operations.
The
District prohibits the following types of clothing and/or accessories:
1) Items that are lewd, offensive, vulgar,
obscene, or depict sexual innuendo.
2) Items that advertise or depict tobacco
products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other substance prohibited under FNCF (L).
3) Biking shorts, unless worn under
clothing.
4) Any inappropriate clothing or
adornment.
5) Caps, headscarves, sunglasses and
headbands inside the building.
6) Chains.
7) Clothing that exposes the midriff or
halters without a jacket.
8) Boys shall not wear:
a) any visible body piercing
b) hair that is not neatly groomed, that
extends below the eyebrow, or that extends below the bottom of the
shirt collar or earlobe.
c) ponytails.
9) Facial hair.
10) Pants not worn in the proper position or
that are the incorrect waist size.
11) Unnatural hair color shades.
12) Girls shall not wear any visible body
piercing other than the ears.
13) Students participating in graduation ceremonies shall be
expected to meet dress code requirements.
If
the building principal decides that a student's grooming violates the dress
code or is not appropriate, the student shall be given an opportunity to
correct the problem at school. If not
corrected, the student may be assigned to in-school suspension for the
remainder of the day or until the problem is corrected.
Repeated
offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action. Appropriate discipline procedures shall be
followed in all cases.
The
building principal, in cooperation with the sponsor, coach, or other person in
charge of an extracurricular activity, will regulate the dress and grooming of
students who participate in the activity.
Students who violate those standards will be removed or excluded from
the activity for a period determined by the building principal or sponsor and
may be subject to other disciplinary action.
FIRE, TORNADO, AND OTHER
EMERGENCY DRILLS
Brock
I.S.D. attempts to meet the standards set forth by the State Fire Insurance
Underwriters for the study of prevention of fires in the Texas Public
Schools. Fire drills and tornado drills
are serious matters. Fire drills are for
practicing behavior in case of emergency.
Students should be instructed to leave the building quickly and quietly
but not hurriedly.
Fire drills do not end until
the students have returned to the classroom.
a) If it is fast and safe to do so, all windows and doors
should be closed, and the lights and air conditioning should be turned off.
b) Students will be expected to exit the building silently and
in orderly fashion. Once outside, they
should remain with their classes and stand quietly until they are summoned to
return.
Students,
teachers, and other District employees shall participate in frequent drills of
emergency procedures. When the alarm is
sounded, students must follow the direction of teachers or marshals quickly,
quietly, and in an orderly manner.
Emergency
bells: Continuous...........................fire;
leave the building
Tornado
drill: 60
bursts per minute - continuous
Fire
Drill: Continuous
alarm
Elementary
School Campus:
Fire
Drill/Evacuation: Continuous
alarm
All persons exit the building safely-without running
or crowding-to designated areas
Tornado/Evacuation: Continuous alarm
Halt: By
PA announcement
Return
to building/classrooms: By PA
announcement
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT
Parents
are asked to complete an emergency care form each year that includes a place
for parental consent for school officials to obtain medical treatment for the
student, as permitted by law. Other
information that may be required in case of an emergency should be provided and
updated by the parents as necessary.
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING
INFORMATION
Information
concerning emergency closing will be available from Channels 4, 5, 8 or 11 or
QXFM, 89.5, KRLD 1080, or WBAP 820.
School closing information may also be posted on the school’s website: www.brockisd.net .
EXAMINATION FOR ACCELERATION
A
student in any grade may take an examination for acceleration to be advanced
one grade level or to gain credit for a course he or she has not formally taken
for credit. For additional information
contact the building counselor.
EXEMPTIONS
Students
in grades 9 – 12 may be exempt from semester exams if they meet the following
guidelines:
- Student has paid all
fines and returned all equipment and textbooks
- Student has not been
placed in ISS, AEP or suspended or expelled at anytime during the semester
in which he or she is taking a semester exam
- Student must have 3 or
fewer absences in each class and meet the following guidelines
- Student with 3 absences
must have at least a 90 average in the teacher’s class
- Student with 2 absences
must have at least an 80 average in the teacher’s class
- Student with 1 absence
must have at least a 70 average in the teacher’s class
- Students that do not
meet these guidelines must take the semester exam
- 3 tardies in a class
will count as one absence when determining exemption status
Definition of an Absence
when determining exemption status:
A student is absent if they are not
physically present for the entire class period.
The only exception to the policy is
if the student is on a school-sponsored activity.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
A
student may be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities subject
to the following provisions:
1. During the first grading period, a
student is eligible if he/she was promoted at the end of the previous year or has accumulated the
required number of units toward graduation.
2. A student who receives, at the end of any grade evaluation
period, a grade below 70 in any academic class, other than an identified honors
or advanced class, or a student with disabilities who fails to meet the
standards in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) may not participate in
extracurricular activities for at least three school weeks. An ineligible student may practice or
rehearse, however. The student regains
eligibility when the principal and teachers determine that he or she has: (1)
earned a passing grade (70 or above) in all academic classes, other than those
that are honors or advanced, and (2) completed the three weeks of
ineligibility. (FM (LEGAL))
3. Students must receive written permission from their teacher
to miss a class for extracurricular activities.
4. Students that miss a class for extracurricular activities
must get all assignments in advance and the student will be held accountable
for all work missed while they are out of class to participate in any
extracurricular activity.
A
student who misses class because of participation in an activity sponsored by a
non-approved organization may receive an unexcused absence.
All
students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. The following is a list of extracurricular
activities that are available to students:
Baseball,
Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Softball, Tennis, Track, Volleyball,
F.F.A.,
Cheerleading, Beta Club, UIL Literary Contests, Yearbook Staff, Student Council,
P.A.L.,
One Act Play, Band/Choir, Gifted/Talented Program
FEES AND FINES
All
fees and fines must be paid; library books, textbooks, and other school-owned
property must be returned. The District
may suspend privileges in extra-curricular or other activities to students who
owe the District money.
A
fee not to exceed $50 may be charged if
FUND RAISING
- The building principal must approve any type of
fund raising activity.
- All fund raising activities must be limited to
times before school, at lunch, and after school.
- All fund raising must not interfere with the
educational process.
- All funds that are raised must have a definite
purpose – we cannot have a fundraiser just to raise money.
GRADUATION EXPENSES
The
school pays for diplomas and covers. The individual graduating student shall pay
for all other graduation expenses.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To
graduate from high school in the District, a student must successfully complete
the requirements as set forth by the
state board of education, as reviewed by fall orientation meetings.
Upon
the recommendation of the ARD committee after parental involvement, a student
receiving special education services may be permitted to graduate under the
provisions of his or her IEP.
Students
shall meet all state and local graduation requirements, including all
applicable exit-level testing, to participate in commencement activities and
ceremonies. (See EI, EIF)
HEAD LICE
When
necessary your child’s hair will be checked by the nurse for signs of head
lice. If your child comes home with a
letter informing you that she/he has head lice, please follow the guidelines
that will be provided. Please take a few
minutes to review with your child ways to prevent the spread of head lice. Discourage sharing combs, brushes, caps,
helmets or hair bows.
HEALTH SCREENINGS
Vision
and Hearing screenings will be preformed on K thru 8th Grade and
upon request from parents or teachers.
Acanthosis screenings will be given on all 1st, 3rd,
5th and 7th graders and Spinal screenings on all 5th
and 8th graders. If your
child fails a screening, a referral will be mailed to you requesting further
examination by a professional.
ILLNESS AT SCHOOL
If
a student becomes ill at school, the teacher should safely send the student to
the nurse’s office at the Elementary/Middle school, and the principal’s office
at the High School. As per district
policy, a parent will automatically be asked to pick their child up if they
have a temperature over 100 degrees, and or has vomiting or diarrhea. If first aid is needed, it will be properly
administered.
IMMUNIZATION
A
student must be fully immunized against certain diseases or must present a
medical or religious affidavit for exemption. Since many types of personal
immunization records are in use, any document will be acceptable provided a
physician or public health personnel have validated it. The month, day, and year that the vaccination
was received must be recorded on all school immunization records. For further information on immunization
requirements, please contact your school nurse or the
INSURANCE
At
the beginning of the school year, the District may make available to students
and parents a low-cost student accident insurance program. Parents are responsible for paying premiums
(if coverage is desired). The District
shall not be responsible for costs of treating injuries or assume liability for
any other costs associated with an injury.
The
district may provide catastrophic accidental insurance for all students in
extra-curricular activities.
LEAVING CAMPUS FOR LUNCH
Brock
students K - 10 do not have off-campus lunch privileges.
Students
in grades 11 - 12, who are in good academic and disciplinary standing, may
leave campus for lunch provided they have permission on file in the office from
their parents.
LIBRARY
The
following regulations should allow the library to contribute to your enjoyment
and education:
1) All general reference books are to remain in the library
unless special permission is given by a teacher/librarian to bring such books
to class (encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc.)
2) Reserve books, current and back issues of periodicals, and
vertical file materials may be used only in the library. These may be taken overnight if properly
checked out and returned the next morning before classes resume.
3) All
books may be checked out for two weeks and may be renewed once.
4)
Fines for lost or damaged books must be paid. Students are responsible for all
books checked out in their name and may be charged a
fine of $.05 for each day a book is overdue.
5) Magazines are to be read in the library. The school buys them for your enjoyment--take
care of them and return them to the shelves so everyone can read them.
6) Study
rooms may only be used with teacher/librarian consent.
7) The
media lab may be used by individuals if available and upon request to the librarian. All
activities in the media lab shall be academic.
8) Compact Disks for CD - ROM's and videos may be borrowed from
the circulation desk for one period only.
These may not be borrowed overnight for research.
9) All
materials should be treated with care and returned in good condition.
LOCKERS
Lockers
are school property and remain under the school’s jurisdiction even when
assigned to an individual student. The
school reserves the right to inspect all lockers. A student has full responsibility for the
security of the locker and is responsible for making certain it is locked and
that the combination/key is not available to others. Locker searches may be conducted at any time
there is reasonable cause to do so whether or not a student is present. Lockers may not be provided to elementary
students.
LOST AND FOUND
Students
should check for lost textbooks and items in the building principal's office.
MAKE UP WORK AND GRADES
If
a student is absent or tardy, he/she has that number of days plus one (1) day
to arrange for and complete make up work.
This time should not extend beyond the end of the six-week period unless
the building principal approves such an extension. Teachers are required to provide an
opportunity for make up work. THE COMPLETION OF THE MAKEUP WORK IS THE
STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY. With our
no-fail philosophy, the completion of the make-up work is a cooperative effort
between students and teachers.
MEDICINE AT SCHOOL
Administration of Medication
All
prescribed and nonprescription medication must be sent in the original
container. Prescription medicines must
be properly labeled by the pharmacist.
Nonprescription medications must be supplied by the parent in a
currently labeled pharmacy container or drug manufacturer’s original
container. No baggies please. Written
parental or legal guardian’s permission is required for each medication
supplied. The school will not supply any
medication taken by mouth.
The
medications listed below are available for use in the Health Clinic. Unless a parent specifically states in
writing to the principal such preparations are not to be used on his / her
child, they may be used according to label directions.
1.
Alcohol 6.
Saline Solution 11. Anbosol 16. Tums
2.
Antibiotic Ointment 7.
Tinactine Spray 12. Orajel 17. Carmex
3.
Calamine Ointment/Spray 8. Lanacain
Spray 13. Clear Eyes
4.
First Aid Cream 9.
Petroleum Jelly 14. Soothe-a-sting
swabs
5.
Hydrogen Peroxide 10. Hand
Lotion 15. Cough drops
PERSONAL ITEMS
Personal
items such as cameras, camcorders, tape decks, CD players, electronic games,
cell phones, beepers, message devices and toys should not be brought to school
or school-related events unless approved in advance by the building
principal. Any device (including those
not listed) that disrupts the educational process may be confiscated.
The
District periodically applies pesticides.
Information regarding the application of pesticides is available from
Administration Office @ 594 - 7642.
Notification
of pest control treatment will be posted at least 48 hours in advance. The purpose of the notice is to inform
employees and faculty that a pest control treatment will be done. Also, a consumer information sheet will be
provided to any employee upon request.
Students will not be allowed to re-enter a treated area for at least 12
hours following application. Outside
application areas will not be used by students for 12 hours following
treatment. These re-entry restrictions
apply to normal academic and extracurricular activities.
If
you have further questions or concerns, please contact the Structural Pest
Control Board: 512 305-8250 or write
PROMOTION, RETENTION, AND PLACEMENT
A student will be promoted
only on the basis of academic achievement or demonstrated proficiency in the
subject matter of the course or grade level.
To earn credit in a course, a student must receive a grade of at least
70 based on course-level or grade-level standards.
|
In grades 1-6, promotion to
the next grade level shall be based on an overall average of 70 on a scale of
100 based on course-level, grade-level standards (essential knowledge and
skills) for all subject areas and a grade of 70 or above in language arts and
mathematics. |
|
|
In grades 7-8, promotion to
the next grade level shall be based on an overall average of 70 on a scale of
100 based on course-level, grade-level standards (essential knowledge and
skills) for all subject areas and a grade of 70 or above in three of the
following areas: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. |
|
|
Grade-level advancement for
students in grades 9-12 shall be earned by course credits. [See EI] |
In addition, at certain grade
levels a student—with limited exceptions—will be required to pass the Texas
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), if the student is enrolled in a
public Texas school on any day between January 1 and April 15 and is a Texas
resident during the week that the TAKS is administered the first time.
· In order to be promoted to grade 4, students must perform satisfactorily on the reading section of the grade 3 assessment in English or Spanish.
· In order to be promoted to grade 6, students enrolled in grade 5 must perform satisfactorily on the mathematics and reading sections of the grade 5 assessment in English or Spanish.
· In order to be promoted to grade 9, students enrolled in grade 8 must perform satisfactorily on the mathematics and reading sections of the grade 8 assessment in English.
Parents of a student in grade
3, 5, or 8 who does not perform satisfactorily on his or her exams will be
notified that their child will participate in special instructional programs
designed to improve performance. Such
students will have two additional opportunities to take the test. If a student fails a second time, a grade
placement committee, consisting of the principal or designee, the teacher, and
the student’s parent, will determine the additional special instruction the
student will receive. After a third
failed attempt, the student will be retained; however, the parent can appeal
this decision to the committee. In order
for the student to be promoted, based on standards previously established by
the district, the decision of the committee must be unanimous. Whether the
student is retained or promoted, an educational plan for the student will be
designed to enable the student to perform at grade level by the end of the next
school year. [See policies at EIE.]
Certain students—some with
disabilities and some with limited English proficiency—may be eligible for
exemptions, accommodations, or deferred testing. For more information, see the principal,
counselor, or special education director.
A Personal Graduation Plan
(PGP) will be prepared for any student in a middle school or beyond who did not
perform satisfactorily on a state-mandated assessment or is determined by the
district as not likely to earn a high school diploma before the fifth school
year following enrollment in grade 9.
The PGP will be designed and implemented by a guidance counselor,
teacher, or other staff member designated by the principal. The plan will, among other items, identify
the student’s educational goals, address the parent’s educational expectations
for the student, and outline an intensive instruction program for the
student. [For additional information,
see the campus counselor and policy EIF(LEGAL).]
PROTECTION OF STUDENT RIGHTS
The
school will notify parents of the right to inspect all instructional materials
to be used in connection with a survey, analysis, or evaluation as part of a
federally funded program. Notice will be
sent home before such a survey, analysis, or evaluation is administered, and parent
consent (or student consent if 18 or older) will be requested if information
regarding any of the following is part of the survey, analysis, or evaluation:
Political
affiliation.
Mental
and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student or family.
Sex
behavior and attitudes.
Illegal,
anti-social, self-incriminating, and demeaning behavior.
Critical
appraisals of other individuals with whom the student or the student's family
has close family relationships.
Legally
recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as lawyers, physicians
and ministers.
Income,
other than as required by law, to determine eligibility for participation in a
program or for receiving financial assistance under such program.
REPORT CARDS
Written
reports of students’ grades and absences shall be issued to parents at the end
of the grading period. At the end of the
first three weeks of a grading period, the parent will be notified in writing
if the student's grade average is near or below 70 or below the expected level
of performance. If a student receives a
70 in any class or subject at the end of a grading period, the parent will be
requested to schedule a conference with the teacher of that class or subject. The report card shall state whether tutorials
are required or only recommended for a student who receives a grade below 70 in
a class or subject.
REPORTING SYSTEM
Grading Code
Grades 1 – 12
A -- 90
- 100
B -- 80 - 89
C -- 70 - 79
F -- 69 and below
SCHOOL BUSES
The
district operates school buses for students who need a ride to or from school
and who meet the district's policies for school bus riders. Students are not allowed to ride a bus unless
they meet the district's policies and are qualified to be on that bus. For security reasons, video cameras may be
used on buses. The videotape is the
property of
Misbehavior
on school buses will not be tolerated.
The following steps will be taken when students misbehave on the bus:
- First Offense – A
conference with the principal, the student, the driver and the parent(s)
may be required.
- Second Offense – Five
day suspension from bus riding privileges.
- Third Offense – 10 day
suspension from bus riding privileges.
- Forth Offense – Bus
riding privileges suspended for the remainder of the semester.
SCHOOL-RELATED SOCIAL EVENTS
The
rules of good conduct and grooming will be observed at school social events
held outside the regular school day.
Guests are expected to observe the same rules as students attending the
event, and the person inviting the guest will share responsibility for the
conduct of the guest. A student
attending a school-related social event may be asked to sign out when leaving
before the end of the social event; anyone leaving before the official end of
the social event may not be readmitted.
SCHOOL TRIPS
Students
making school-sponsored trips will be expected to conduct themselves in a way
that benefits Brock I.S.D. On
extracurricular activity trips, students are required to ride the bus to and
from that activity, unless the parent of the student has prior approval from
the sponsor or building principal.
SEARCHES BY TRAINED DOGS
Searches
may be periodically conducted for safety precautions at the discretion of the
Superintendent or his designee.
SECURITY CAMERAS
Security
cameras will be used in the high school building. The cameras may record activities 24 hours
per day, 7 days per week. The videotapes
are the property of
SIGN OUT SHEET FOR STUDENTS
LEAVING SCHOOL
A
sign out sheet will be provided for students needing to leave school during the
school day. This sheet will provide a
space for the student's name, destination, the time of departure and return,
the date, and the person giving permission to sign out. Any student needing to sign out of school
must adhere to the following procedures:
1) Students
needing to sign out must have the building principal's or designee's permission prior to signing out and leaving campus.
2)
3) Signing
in or signing out of school should not interrupt class. Ideal sign out times are during lunch, during the 5 - minute class
change time or as common sense dictates
(Examples: student illness during class, serious family emergencies, and
administrative discretion).
4) Students
in grades K - 10, who have administrative approval, may leave with a parent or other authorized person (this person must be
designated on the student information
form that is returned to the office).
Students in grades 11 - 12, who have
administrative approval, may leave by themselves (with parental approval), with a
parent, or with an authorized person.
5) Parent
or guardian may be contacted prior to student being allowed to sign out.
6) Students
18 years and older may sign themselves out; however, the school will attempt to notify parents that their child has signed
out.
7) Students
K - 10 may not be allowed to leave campus with anyone other than their parents or other authorized adult.
8) Sign
out may be denied if principal or designee cannot identify the person who calls on the phone.
Principals
may exercise professional judgment when enforcing sign out procedures.
Students will not be allowed
to leave school to get paper, homework, money, gym clothes, etc., but only for
matters that could not be arranged before or after school hours. Students leaving school without proper
permission will face school truancy policies, and the absence may be considered
unexcused.
Once students have arrived
on campus in the morning, they may not leave without permission from proper
authorities.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The
District provides varied special programs for students. A student or parent with questions about
these programs should contact the building principal.
Friendly relations with
neighboring schools are an important aspect of friendly competition. Therefore, booing; harassment of opposing
players, coaches, or fans; and any other unsportmanship-like conduct will not
be tolerated.
STEROIDS
State law prohibits students
from possessing, dispensing, delivering, or administering an anabolic
steroid. Anabolic steroids are for
medical use only, and only a physician can prescribe use.
Body building, muscle
enhancement, or the increase of muscle bulk or strength through the use of an
anabolic steroid or human growth hormone by a healthy student is not a valid
medical use and is a criminal offense.
Students participating in UIL
athletic competition may be subject to random steroid testing. More information on the UIL testing program
may by found on the UIL Web site at http://www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/health/steroid_information.html
.
STUDENT RECORDS
A
student's school records are confidential and are protected from unauthorized
inspection or use. A cumulative record
is maintained for each student from the time the student enters the District
until the student withdraws or graduates.
This record moves with the student from school to school.
By
law, both parents- whether married, separated, or divorced- has access to the
records of a student who is under 18 or a dependent for tax purposes. A parent whose rights have been legally
terminated will be denied access to the records if the school is given a copy
of the court order terminating these rights.
The
building principal is custodian of all records for currently enrolled students
at the assigned school. The
Superintendent is the custodian of all records for students who have withdrawn
or graduated. Records may be reviewed during regular school hours upon
completion of the written request form.
The records custodian or designee will respond to reasonable requests
for explanation and interpretation of the records.
Parents
of a minor or of a student who is a dependent for tax purposes, the student (if
18 or older), and school officials with legitimate educational interests are
the only persons who have general access to a student's records. "School officials with legitimate
educational interests" include any employees, agents, or Trustees of the
District, of cooperatives of which the District is a member or facilities with
which the District contracts for the placement of students with disabilities,
as well as their attorneys and consultants, who are:
1.
Working with the student;
2.
Considering disciplinary or academic actions, the student's case, an
Individual Education Plan (IEP) for a
student with disabilities under IDEA or an individually designed program for a
student with disabilities under Section 504;
3.
Compiling statistical data; or,
4.
Investigating or evaluating programs.
Certain
officials from various governmental agencies may have limited access to the
records. The District forwards a
student's records on request and without prior parental consent to a school in
which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
Parental consent is required to release the records to anyone else. When the student reaches 18 years of age,
only the student has the right to consent to release of records.
The
parent's or student's right of access to, and copies of, student records does
not extend to all records. Materials
that are not considered educational records, such as teachers' personal notes
on a student that are shared only with a substitute teacher, records pertaining
to former students after they are no longer students in the District, and
records maintained by school law enforcement officials for purposes other than
school discipline do not have to be made available to the parents or student.
A
student over 18 and parents of minor students may inspect the student's records
and request a correction if the records are inaccurate, misleading, or
otherwise in violation of the student's privacy or other rights. If the District refuses the request to amend
the records, the requestor has the right to a hearing. If the records are not amended as a result of
the hearing, the requestor has 30 school days to exercise the right to place a
statement commenting on the information in the student's record. Although improperly recorded grades may be
challenged, parents and the student are not allowed to contest a student's
grade in a course through this process.
Parents or the student have the right to file a complaint with the U.S.
Department of Education if they believe the District is not in compliance with
the law regarding student records.
Copies
of student records are available at a cost of $.25 per page, payable in
advance. Parents may be denied copies of
a student's records (1) after the student reaches age 18 and is no longer a
dependent for tax purposes; (2) when the
student is attending an institution of post‑secondary
education;
or(3) when the District is given a copy of a court order terminating the
parental rights.
Certain
information about District students is considered directory information and
will be released to anyone who follows procedures for requesting it, unless the
parent objects to the release of any or all directory information about the
child. This objection must be made in writing
to the building principal within ten school days of the student’s first day of
instruction for this school year.
Directory information includes: a student's name, address, telephone
listing, email address, date and place of birth, participation in officially
recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic
teams, dates of attendance, degrees, honors and awards received, major field of
study, photograph, grade level and most recent previous school attended.
Special Education Records
Parents
of a student with disabilities who has been provided special education services
by the District will be notified when any information that specifically
identifies the student is no longer needed.
If the parent requests destruction of the information and the time
established by law for retention has expired, the records will be
destroyed. However, if the retention
period established by law has not expired, the material will be deleted from
the records but the records will be maintained until the time has expired.
STUDENT RIGHT TO PRAY
The
school recognizes a student's right to individually, voluntarily, and silently
pray or meditate in school in a manner that does not disrupt the instructional
process or other activities of the school.
The school will not require, encourage, or coerce a student to engage in
or to refrain from such prayer or meditation during any school activity.
TARDY POLICY; GRADES 9
- 12
Tardies are accumulated and
counted for the entire semester. All
tardies are computed for each class period.
1st Tardy Warning by teacher
2nd Tardy One day of Lunch Detention
3rd Tardy Two days of Lunch Detention
4th Tardy Three days of Lunch Detention
5th Tardy One day of ISS
6th Tardy Two days of ISS
7th Tardy Three days of ISS
After the 7th
tardy – the school will file a complaint with the Justice of the Peace for
every tardy on the basis of truancy.
TARDY POLICY; GRADES K - 8
1st Tardy Warning by teacher
2nd Tardy Warning by teacher
3rd Tardy One day of Lunch Detention
4th Tardy Two days of Lunch Detention
5th Tardy Three days of Lunch Detention
6th Tardy One day of ISS
7th Tardy Two days of ISS
After the 7th
tardy – the school will file a complaint with the Justice of the Peace for
every tardy on the basis of truancy.
TEACHER REQUEST
Brock
I.S.D. does not accept teacher requests by parents for classroom instruction.
TELEPHONE USE
A phone has been provided in
the commons area of the high school building for 9 - 12 students. Calls are limited to 3 minutes. The office phone is not a student phone. NO PERSONAL CALLS ARE TO BE CHARGED TO THE
SCHOOL TELEPHONE. False 911
calls will be treated as serious disciplinary infractions, and legal
authorities may be involved.
TEXTBOOKS
State‑approved
textbooks are provided free of charge for each subject or class. Books must be covered by the student, as
directed by the teacher, and treated with care.
A student who is issued a damaged book should report that fact to the
teacher. Any student failing to return a
book issued by the school loses the right to free textbooks until the book is
returned or paid for by the parent or guardian.
However, a student will be provided textbooks for use at school during
the school day. Teachers are responsible
for the student's name being written neatly and in ink in the space provided in
the front of the book. The student is to
keep the books covered always. Students
and/or parents are required to pay for lost or damaged books, including
supplemental classroom books (paperbacks, etc.).
TRANSPORTATION
The
TRUANCY
See ATTENDANCE.
TUTORIALS
Tutorial services are
mandatory to all students (grades 6 - 12) whose grade is lower than a 75 in any
class. A student must attend tutorial
sessions as required by the District unless he or she is exempt under the compulsory
attendance law. After the first
reporting period, students making a grade lower than a 75 in any subject must
attend the tutorial class until they demonstrate a 75. A teacher will supervise class.
WITHDRAWALS
Grades 6 – 12:
When a student withdraws from
school, he or she should go to the building principal's office and get a copy of
the regular withdrawal form, complete all required information and report to
all teachers, the librarian, and the lunchroom secretary. The teacher will post grades and inform the
building principal of any unclear records.
The building principal will sign the form when all records are
clear. The student's permanent records
will be copied and sent to the receiving school on request from that school and
with a permission form signed by the student's parent, or the parent may sign
the form before the student moves.
Grades K – 5:
The student’s parent or
guardian through the elementary principal’s office must conduct an elementary
student withdrawal from school. The
student will be officially withdrawn when all records are clear. The student's records will be sent to the
student’s receiving school on request from that school with a permission form
signed by the student's parent or guardian.
STUDENT CODE
OF CONDUCT
Preamble
Administrators,
teachers, parents, students, and community members of this district have
developed the Student Code of Conduct for the
I. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT
A. Responsibility and Authority for Administration and
Enforcement of the Code of Conduct.
1. The building principal and/or designee
shall have the responsibility of implementing the code of conduct.
2. The principal or designee may make assignment of a student
to an alternative education program, in accordance with the code.
3. Suspension of a student from school, not to exceed three
days, who engages in conduct for which one may be placed in the alternative
education program, may be imposed by the principal or designee.
4. The Superintendent shall have the
authority to expel a student for disciplinary infractions and/or violations of the law in accordance with
this code and state and federal law.
5.
The Superintendent, principal, or appropriate designee may order the
immediate
suspension, expulsion (principal may recommend
expulsion), or placement in an alternative education program of a student whose
behavior is so unruly, disruptive, or abusive, that it seriously interferes
with school operations or activities, and/or the administrator reasonably
believes that such action is necessary to protect persons or property from
imminent harm.
6. The school administration shall provide each certified
employee a copy of subchapter A of Chapter 37 on alternative settings for
behavior management, and a copy of the local discipline policies.
7. Inform each teacher of a student who
has committed an expellable offense.
B. Role and Responsibilities of Certified Personnel in
Maintaining Acceptable Conduct
1. Administrators have the responsibility
to:
a. Assure
a safe and orderly climate for teaching and learning.
b. Enforce
the Student Code of Conduct.
c. Provide
appropriate support for teachers who seek help in discipline management.
d. Notify
parents within 24 hours of a Student Code of Conduct violation.
e. Provide
campus in-service related to the code of conduct.
f. Communicate
with parents when their child becomes a discipline problem.
g. Secure
a signed statement from parents acknowledging receipt of a copy of the code of conduct and knowledge of the code.
h. Report
firearm offenses to TEA in accordance with 37.001(e).
i. Schedule
hearings within 3 days after a formal teacher removal of a student.
j. Provide
parents with notice of and an opportunity to participate in a proceeding before
the board or board designee when student placement in an alternative education
program (AEP) extends beyond the end of the next grading period.
k. Provide
minimal due process for suspensions and AEP placements.
l. Provide
120 day reviews of a student placed in an AEP.
m. Make
appropriate reports to law enforcement.
2. Teachers and other certified personnel
have the responsibility to:
a. Be
knowledgeable of the code of conduct and sign a statement to that effect.
b. Develop,
maintain, and communicate classroom rules and discipline management procedures.
c. Remove
from class a student who commits certain offenses.
d. Maintain
an orderly classroom and atmosphere.
e. Establish
rapport and an effective working relationship with parents.
f. Report
in writing, up to one page, to the principal or other appropriate administrator any known violation of
the Student Code of Conduct.
g. Maintain
confidentiality upon receipt of information that a student has committed an expellable offense.
C. Responsibility of Parents
Parents,
which includes single parent, legal guardian, or person(s) having lawful
control of the student, have the responsibility to:
1. Make every effort to provide for the
physical needs of the student.
2. Control their child by teaching the
child to pay attention and obey rules.
3. Encourage his or her child to put a high priority on
education. Assure his or her child
attends school regularly and report and explain absences and tardiness to
school personnel.
4. Be sure the child is appropriately
dressed at school and school-related activities.
5. Support school personnel in the enforcement of discipline
and campus management imposed in accordance with school policy and the Student
Code of Conduct.
6. Participate in meaningful parent,
student, or school-generated conferences with school personnel regarding the child's progress, behavior or general
welfare.
7. Discuss report cards and school
assignments with the child.
8. Bring to the attention of school personnel
any problem or condition that may relate to
the child's education or well-being.
9. Supply all records required for
enrollment.
10. Review the information in the student handbook and the code of
conduct with your child and sign and return the acknowledgment and directory
information form.
11. Become familiar with all of the child's
school activities and with the academic programs, including special programs offered by the District.
12. Exercise your right to review teaching material, textbooks, and
other aids and to examine tests that have been administered to your child.
13. Review your child's records as needed.
14. Temporarily remove your child from the classroom, if an
instructional activity in which the child is scheduled to participate conflicts
with the parent's religious or moral beliefs.
The removal may not be for the purpose of avoiding a test and may not
extend for an entire semester.
15. Participate in campus parent organizations, become a school
volunteer, or offer to serve as a parent representative on the District-level
or campus-level planning committees.
16. Attend Board of Trustee meetings.
D. Placement Review Committee
Each
school shall establish a 3-member committee.
The committee shall have the responsibility to:
1. Determine, in accordance with law and
policy, the placement of a student, when a teacher refuses to readmit a student whom the teacher has removed
from class.
2. Make recommendations regarding readmission of expelled
students prior to completion of a court imposed disposition.
3. May review any placement of a student
in AEP.
E. Parent/Teacher Conferences
It
is recognized that a close and cordial relationship between parents and school
personnel will enhance student achievement.
District personnel will communicate and work closely with parents in an
effort to improve academic performance and/or establish workable solutions to
student behavior problems.
All
schools will schedule at least one general conference for parents to provide an
overview of district and classroom behavior expectations. This conference may be accomplished through
open house, meeting of the parent/teacher organization or through a general
meeting of parents and district or campus personnel.
Other
conferences may be held at the request of the parent or school personnel when:
1. Problem areas relating to a student's
academic achievement arise.
2. The student behavior results in
assignment to in-school suspension or an alternative education program.
3. The student accumulates excessive absences
or tardies.
F. Student Records
Certain
information about District students is considered directory information and
will be released to anyone, who follows procedures for requesting it, unless
the parent objects to the release of any or all directory information about the
child. This objection must be made in
writing to the building principal within ten school days of the student’s first
day of instruction for this school year. Directory information includes: a student's
name, address, telephone listing, email address, date and place of birth,
participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height
of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees, honors and awards
received, major field of study, photograph, grade level and most recent
previous school attended.
By
law, both parents, whether married, separated, or divorced, have access to the
records of a student who is under 18 or a dependent for tax purposes. A parent whose rights have been legally
terminated will be denied access to the records if the school is given a copy
of the court order terminating these rights.
The
District's complete policy regarding student records is available from the
principal's or Superintendent's office.
G. Student Retrieval
Parents
and/or guardians must check in at the principal's office to request that their
child be allowed to leave with them. A
sign out sheet entry must be completed.
To ensure safety and preserve instructional time, school personnel will
retrieve the child.
H. Textbooks
State-approved
textbooks are provided free of charge for each subject or class; a student is
required to use these books carefully.
The student, as directed by the teacher, must cover books; a student who
is issued a damaged book should report that fact to the teacher. Any student failing to return a book issued
by the school shall lose the right to have free textbooks assigned until the
book is returned or paid for by the parent or guardian. A student shall be provided textbooks for use
at school during the school day.
I. Visitors
Parents
and other visitors are welcome to visit the school. All
visitors to
II. Student Code of Conduct
A. Factors
It
is the purpose and mission of the
Student
discipline shall be administered in a fair and equitable manner, and based on a
careful assessment of the circumstances of each case. Factors
to be considered shall include:
1. The seriousness of the offense.
2. The student's age.
3. The frequency of misconduct.
4. The student's attitude.
5. The potential effect of the misconduct
on the school environment.
6. Handicapping conditions.
B. Jurisdiction
School
rules and the authority of the District to administer discipline apply whenever
the interest of the District is involved, on or off school grounds, in
conjunction with or independent of classes and school-sponsored
activities. The District has
disciplinary authority over a student during the regular school day or while
the student is going to and from school on District transportation; during
lunch periods in which a student is allowed to leave campus; within 300 feet of
school property; while the student is in attendance at any school-related
activity, regardless of time or location; for any school-related misconduct,
regardless of time or location; when retaliation against a school employee or
volunteer occurs or is threatened, regardless of time or location; when the
student commits a felony, as provided by Texas Education Code 37.006; and when
criminal mischief is committed on or off school property or at a school-related
event.
The
District has the right to search a vehicle driven to school by a student and
parked on school property whenever there is reasonable cause to believe it
contains articles or materials prohibited by the District.
The
District has the right to search a student's locker whenever there is
reasonable cause to believe that it contains articles or materials prohibited
by the District.
The
District has the right to revoke the transfer of a transfer student for
violating the District's Student Code of Conduct.
C. Abiding by the Law
Every
student is expected to abide by federal laws and the laws of the State of
D. End of Semester/Year Offenses
Certain
student offenses may result in long-term assignment to an alternative education
program (AEP) for the remainder of the semester or year. Such placement may extend beyond the school
year in accordance with TEC 37.009(c).
E. Rights and Responsibilities of Students
All
students are entitled to enjoy the basic rights of citizenship recognized and
protected by law for persons of their age and maturity. The school will foster a climate of mutual
respect for others’ rights. Students are
expected to respect the rights and privileges of other students, teachers, and
District staff. The District's rules of
conduct and discipline are established to achieve and maintain order in the
school. Students who violate the rights
of others or who violate District or school rules will be subject to
disciplinary measures designed to correct the misconduct and to promote
adherence by all students to their responsibilities as citizens in the school
community.
Student
responsibilities for achieving a positive learning environment at school or
school-related activities include:
1. Attending all classes regularly and on
time.
2. Being prepared for each class with
appropriate materials and assignments.
3. Meet district and campus dress and
grooming standards.
4. Demonstrate courtesy even when others do
not.
5. Behaving in a responsible manner, always
exercising self-discipline.
6. Paying required fees and fines, unless
these are waived.
7. Avoiding violations of the Code of Student
Conduct.
8. Obeying all school rules, including safety
rules.
9. Seeking change in school policies and
regulations in an orderly and responsible manner,
through appropriate channels.
10. Cooperating
with District staff in investigation of disciplinary cases and volunteering known information relating to
a serious offense.
11. Exhibiting responsible conduct at school,
on school buses and at all school functions on or
off campus.
F. Students at school or school‑related activities are
prohibited from:
1. Cheating
or copying the work of another.
2. Throwing
objects, outside supervised school activities, which may cause bodily injury or damage property.
3. Leaving
school grounds or school‑sponsored events without permission.
4. Directing
profanity, vulgar language, or obscene gestures toward other students.
5. Insubordination,
such as disobeying directives from school personnel or school policies, rules, and regulations.
6. Being
disrespectful or directing profanity, vulgar language, or obscene gestures
toward teachers, other school
employees, or visitors.
7. Playing
with matches, lighters, or fire, or committing arson.
8. Stealing
from students, staff, or the school.
9. Damaging
or vandalizing property owned by the District, other students, or District employees.
10. Disobeying
school rules about conduct on school buses.
11. Fighting,
committing physical abuse, or threatening physical abuse.
12. Committing
extortion, coercion, or blackmail; that is, obtaining money or other objects of
value from an unwilling person, or
forcing an individual to act through the use of force or threat of force.
13. Name‑calling,
ethnic or racial slurs or derogatory statements that school officials have
reasonable cause to believe will substantially disrupt the school program or
incite violence.
14. Engaging
in inappropriate physical or sexual conduct disruptive to other students or the
school environment.
15. Assaulting
a teacher or other individual.
16. Selling,
giving, or delivering to another person, possessing, using, or being under the
influence of: marijuana or a controlled substance; a dangerous drug; abusable
glue, aerosol paint, or other volatile chemical; or an alcoholic beverage. Such conduct is wrong and harmful.
17. Possessing
or selling any weapon or "look-alike" weapon prohibited by law or by
school policy. A complete list of prohibited weapons can be
obtained from the principal.
18. Smoking
or using tobacco products.
19.
Hazing.
20. Behaving in any way that disrupts the
school environment or educational process.
21. Engaging in any conduct constituting
felony criminal mischief as defined by law.
22. Membership or participation in any secret
society, fraternity, sorority, or gang.
23. Possessing or using articles not
generally considered to be weapons, including school supplies, when the principal or designee
determines that a danger exists.
24. Defacing or damaging school
property-including textbooks, furniture, and other equipment-with graffiti or by other means.
25. Inappropriately pulling a fire alarm or
discharging a fire extinguisher.
26. Possessing fireworks of any kind, smoke
or stink bombs, or any other pyrotechnic device.
27. Possessing air guns, BB guns, pellet
guns, mace, or pepper spray.
28. Possessing a laser pointer.
29. Gambling.
30. Making bomb threats, false threats,
hoaxes, or accusations regarding school safety.
31. Possessing or selling seeds or pieces of
marijuana in less than a usable amount.
32. Possessing, using, giving, or selling
paraphernalia related to any prohibited substance.
33. Using the Internet to threaten students,
employees, or cause disruption to the educational program.
34. Sending or posting messages that are
abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damaging to another's reputation, or
illegal.
35. Engaging in verbal or written exchanges
that threaten the safety of another student, a school
employee, or school property.
36. Possessing published or electronic
material that is designed to promote or encourage illegal behavior or could threaten school
safety.
37. Possessing material that is pornographic.
38. Violating extracurricular standards of
behavior.
39. Engaging in any other conduct that disrupts the school
environment or educational process.
G. Dress Code
Please refer to student handbook.
H. Attendance
In
To
receive credit in a class, a student must attend at least 90 percent of the
days the class is offered. The actual
number of days a student must attend in order to receive credit will vary,
depending on whether the class is for a semester or a full year. A student who attends fewer than 90 percent
of the days the class is offered cannot receive credit for the class unless the
attendance committee finds that the absences are the result of extenuating
circumstances.
When
returning to school after an absence, a student must bring a note, signed by
the parent, which describes the reason for the absence; notes signed by the
student, even with the parent's permission, will be considered forgery and the
student will be disciplined.
The
District accepts the following as extenuating circumstances for the purpose of
granting credit for a class:
1. An
excused absence based on personal sickness (subject to attendance committee's
review and approval), sickness or death in the family, quarantine, weather or
road conditions making travel dangerous, or any other unusual cause acceptable
to the Superintendent, teacher, or principal.
2. Days
of suspension.
3. Participation
in court proceedings or a child abuse/neglect investigation.
4. A
migrant student's late enrollment or early withdrawal.
5. Days
missed as a runaway.
6. Completion
of a competency‑based program for at‑risk students.
7. Late
enrollment or early withdrawal of a student under Texas Youth Commission.
8. Teen
parent absences to care for his or her child.
9. Participation
in a substance abuse rehabilitation program.
10.
Homelessness, as defined in federal
law.
ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE
An
attendance committee will be appointed by each school to hear appeals from
students who are in attendance less than 90% of the days the class is
offered. The attendance committee will
have the authority to:
1. Grant credit with excessive absences.
2. Offer alternative ways for students to
make up time and schoolwork missed.
3. Defer to state law that denies credit.
If
the attendance committee finds there are no extenuating circumstances for the
absence or if the student does not meet the conditions set by the committee to
earn or regain credit, the student will not receive credit for the class. If a petition for credit is denied, the
student or parent may appeal the decision to the Board of Trustees by
completing a written request to the Superintendent.
I.
Compulsory Attendance
Students
will be required to attend school if they are 6 years old on or before
September 1, and until the student has completed the school year in which their
18th birthday occurs. Upon enrollment in
school, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students will be required to attend
school.
J. Vandalism/Damage to School Property
Students
shall not vandalize or otherwise damage or deface any property, including
furniture and other equipment, belonging to or used by the District or District
schools. Parents or guardians of
students
guilty of damaging school property shall be liable for damages in accordance
with law. Students shall be responsible
for the care and return of state-owned textbooks and may be charged for
replacement of lost/stolen or damaged textbooks, calculators, or other items
issued to the student.
K. Sexual Harassment
Students
shall not engage in unwanted and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual
nature directed toward another student or a District employee. This prohibition applies whether the conduct
is by word, gesture, or any other sexual conduct, including requests for sexual
favors. All students are expected to
treat other students and District employees with courtesy and respect; to avoid
any behavior known to be offensive; and to stop these behaviors when asked or
told to stop.
A
substantiated complaint against a student will result in appropriate
disciplinary action, according to the nature of the offense. Continuation of substantiated sexual
harassment will result in contacting of legal authorities.
The
District will notify the parents of all students involved in sexual harassment
by student(s) when the allegations are not minor, and will notify parents of
all incidents of sexual harassment or sexual abuse by an employee. The District encourages parental and student
support in its efforts to address and prevent sexual harassment and sexual abuse
in the public schools. To the greatest
extent possible, complaints will be treated as confidential. Limited disclosure may be necessary to
complete a thorough investigation.
Students
and/or parents are encouraged to discuss their questions or concerns about the
expectations in this area with the teacher, the counselor, the principal or
designee, or the District's Title IX coordinator for students.
A
complaint alleging sexual harassment by another student or sexual harassment or
sexual abuse by a staff member may be presented by a student and/or parent in a
conference with the principal or designee or with the Title IX
coordinator. A person who is the same
gender as the student ordinarily will hold the first conference with the
student. The conference will be
scheduled and held as soon as possible within five days of the request. The principal or Title IX coordinator will
coordinate an appropriate investigation, which ordinarily will be completed
within 10 days. The student or parent
will be informed if extenuating circumstances delay completion of the
investigation.
The
student will not be required to present a complaint to a person who is the
subject of the complaint.
If
the resolution of the complaint is not satisfactory to the student or parent,
the student or parent within 10 days may request a conference with the
Superintendent or designee by following the procedure set out in Board policy
FNCJ (LOCAL). If the resolution by the
Superintendent or designee is not satisfactory, the student or parent may
present the complaint to the Board as provided by policy.
L. Hazing
Hazing
includes any willful act done by a student, either individually or with others,
to another student for the purpose of subjecting the other student to
indignity, humiliation, intimidation, physical abuse or threats of abuse,
social or other ostracism, shame, or disgrace.
M. Tobacco Use
The
use or possession (possession defined as actual care, custody, control or
management) of tobacco products by students is prohibited on all campuses. Students may not smoke or use tobacco
products on school property or at any school‑related or school‑sanctioned
activity, on or off school property.
N. Messaging Devices, Paging Devices, Including Cellular
Telephones
Change to as requested by the
Board last year (2002) Texas Education Code, Section TEC 37.082, Possession of
Paging Devices.
Unless approved in advance
by the building principal, students
shall not possess a paging device, including cellular telephones, while on
school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related
activity on or off school property.
Unless the student is in attendance in the capacity of an active member
of a volunteer fire fighting organization or a volunteer emergency medical
service organization. Personal items
such as cameras, camcorders, tape decks, CD players, electronic games, cell
phones ore beepers shall not be brought on school property without prior
approval of the building principal. A
“paging device” is a telecommunication device that emits an audible signal,
vibrates, displays a message, or otherwise summons or delivers a communication
to the possessor. Any device (including
those not listed) that disrupts the educational process may be confiscated.
(1) This policy authorizes
(2) Charge the owner of the device or the
student’s parent an administrative fee not to exceed $15.00 before it releases the device.
O. Drug-alcohol Use
No
student shall possess, (possession defined as actual care, custody, control or
management) use, transmit, or attempt to possess, use, or transmit, or be under
the influence of any of the following substances on school premises during any
school term or off school premises at a school-related activity, function, or
event:
1. Any controlled substance or dangerous
drug as defined by law, without regard to amount, including but not limited to marijuana, any narcotic drug,
hallucinogen, stimulant, depressant,
amphetamine, or barbiturate.
2. Alcohol or any alcoholic beverage.
3.
Any abusable glue, aerosol paint, or any other chemical substance for
inhalation.
4.
Any other intoxicant, or mood changing, mind-altering, or behavior
altering drugs prohibited under the Texas Controlled Substance Act or Federal
Abuse Prevention Control Act.
"Use"
means a student has smoked, ingested, injected, imbibed, inhaled, drunk, or
otherwise taken internally a prohibited substance recently enough that it is
detectable by the student's physical appearance, actions, breath, or speech.
"Under
the influence" means a student's faculties are noticeably impaired, but
the student need not be legally intoxicated.
The
transmittal, sale, or attempted sale of what is represented to be any of the
above-listed substances is also prohibited under this rule.
The
District may decide on a case-by-case basis whether to place a student in a
disciplinary Alternative Education Program or to expel a student who sells,
gives, delivers, possesses, uses, or is under the influence of prohibited
drugs, alcohol, or an inhalant, if the conduct is not punishable as a felony.
DRUG AND
ALCOHOL POLICY FOR
EXTRACURRICULAR AND /
OR CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
BISD
is making a concerted effort to be a drug-free district and to model
appropriate responses to substance abuse.
To accomplish this, students, parents, teachers, and administrators must
take a strong stand to see that drug and alcohol use by our students is not
tolerated. Since participation is a
privilege and not a right, students desiring to participate in extracurricular
and/or co-curricular activities must lead in taking this stand among their
peers with support from parents, teachers, and administrators. With this effort in mind, the following
policy applies to all students participating in extracurricular and/or
co-curricular activities:
Any
student who violates law or school rules either by
1.
possessing,
delivering, or offering to deliver, or
2.
requesting
the delivery of, or
3.
using
or being under the influence of
an
alcoholic beverage, anabolic steroid, or any illegal drug or substance as
defined by law, whether the action occurs at a school event or a non – school
event, at any location on or off campus, or at any time during the school year
will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the BISD Student Code of
Conduct. Also, any student who breaks
the law or school rules, regarding drugs and alcohol, will be subject to the
following consequences:
First
violation: Mandatory drug/alcohol counseling as provided by a certified
counselor provided by the school and any other action deemed necessary
including but not limited to suspension from all extracurricular and/or
co-curricular activities.
Subsequent
violations will result in harsher penalties that may include suspension from
the extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities for a period to be
determined.
P. Weapons
A
student shall not be in possession of any prohibited weapon at school, on
school premises, or at any school-related activity, unless pursuant to written
regulations or written authorization of the District. A student shall not possess or use articles
not generally considered to be weapons when the principal or designee
determines that a danger exists for any student, school employee, or school
property by virtue of possession or use.
Weapons
include, but are not limited to:
1. Firearms of any kind
2. Fireworks or concussion devices of any
kind
3. Knives
4. Razors
5. Clubs or nightsticks
6. Metallic or hard surfaced knuckles
7. Chains
8. Pellet guns, BB guns or slingshots
9. Any other object used in a way that
threatens to inflict harm to another person
School
personnel may inspect lockers and cars parked on school premises if there is a
reasonable suspicion to believe they contain weapons.
Q. Assaults
Students
are prohibited from assaulting anyone at school, on school property, or at any
school-related event. An assault is
defined as:
1. Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
causing bodily injury to another.
2. Intentionally or knowingly threatening
another with imminent bodily injury.
3. Intentionally or knowingly causing
physical contact with another when the student knows or reasonably believes that the other will regard the
contact as offensive or provocative.
R. Disturbing School or Classes
For
purpose of this rule, "school property" includes the public school
campuses or school grounds upon which any public school is located, and any
grounds or buildings used by District schools for assemblies or other
school-related activities, and "public property" includes any street,
highway, alley, public park, or sidewalk.
No
student shall be permitted, on school property or on public property within 500
feet of school property, to willfully disrupt, alone or in concert with others,
the instructional program and/or other school activities. Conduct that disrupts the school’s
educational activities include:
1. Emitting noise of an intensity that
prevents or hinders classroom instruction.
2. Enticement or attempted enticement of
students away from classes or other school activities
that students are required to attend.
3. Prevention or attempted prevention of
students from attending classes or other school activities those students are required to attend.
4. Entrance into a classroom without
consent of either the principal or teacher and either through acts of misconduct and/or use of loud or
profane language causing disruption of class
activities.
S. Disruption of Lawful Assembly
No
student or group of students acting in concert may willfully engage in
disruptive activity or disrupt a lawful assembly on the campus or property of
any school in the District. Disruptive
activity means:
1. Obstructing or restraining the passage
of persons in an exit, entrance, or hallway of any building without the school’s administration authorization.
2. Seizing control of any building or
portion of a building for the purpose of interfering with any administrative, educational,
research, or other authorized activity.
3. Preventing or attempting to prevent by
force or violence or the threat of violence any lawful, school-approved assembly.
4. Disrupting by force or violence or the
threat of force or violence a lawful assembly in progress.
5. Obstructing or restraining the passage
of any person at an exit or entrance to said campus or property; or preventing or attempting to prevent by force or
violence or by threats thereof
the entrance or exit of any person to or from said property or campus without
the authorization of the school’s
administration.
A
lawful assembly is disrupted when any person in attendance is rendered
incapable of participating in the assembly due to the use of force or violence
or due to a reasonable fear that force or violence is likely to occur.
Conduct
by students, either in or out of class, which for any reason - whether because
of time, place, or manner or behavior - materially disrupts class work or
involves substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of other students or
employees at school or school-related activities is prohibited.
Student
demonstrations and similar activities shall be prohibited when there is
evidence that may reasonably lead school authorities to forecast substantial
disruption of, or material interference with, normal school operations or
approved school activities.
T. Distribution of Material
Distribution
of written materials may be restricted, subject to the following guidelines:
1. Distribution may be limited in order to
prevent material and substantial interference with normal school operations in circumstances where there is evidence
that reasonably supports
forecast that disruption will likely result directly from the distribution.
2. Reasonable administrative regulations
as to the time, place, and manner of distribution may be prescribed to promote orderly administration
of school activities by preventing disruption,
but shall not be designed to stifle expression.
3. Content of the materials to be
distributed shall conform to the following standards:
a. Materials
that are sexually inappropriate for the age and maturity of the audience or that endorse actions endangering the health and
safety of students shall not be distributed.
b. Material may not be forbidden if the portions or specific
language objected to may also be found in material that is made available to
students through school facilities, i.e., the school library or reading
assigned by teachers.
c. Libelous
material may be prohibited from distribution.
d. Publications
that criticize board members or school officials or advocate violation of school rules may be prohibited
when there is evidence that reasonably supports a forecast that material and substantial disruption
of normal school operations will result
from the publication. Advocacy directed
toward inciting or producing imminent
lawless or disruptive action and that is likely to incite or produce such action shall be
restricted.
e. Hate
literature that scrupulously attacks ethnic, religious, or racial groups, and similar irresponsible
publications aimed at creating hostility and violence may be banned. Only material that could reasonably support a
forecast of material and substantial
disruption of normal school operations is affected by this restriction.
U. Prior Review
All
student publications and other written material intended for distribution to
students shall be submitted for prior review according to the following
procedures:
1. Material shall be submitted to the
building principal or designee for review.
2. All material intended for distribution to students that is
not under the District's editorial control must be submitted to the principal
for review and approval. If the material
is not approved within 24 hours of the time it was submitted, it must be
considered disapproved.
3. Disapprovals may be appealed by submitting the disapproved
material to the Superintendent; material not approved by the Superintendent
within three days is considered disapproved.
4. A disapproval by the Superintendent may be appealed to the
Board. The Superintendent shall be
notified of the request and the matter will be placed on the agenda of the next
regular meeting where the student will have a reasonable period of time to
present his or her viewpoint.
V. Student Conduct on School Buses
Students
are under the Code of Student Conduct when they are on school
transportation. Any student who violates
that code or the established rules of conduct while on school transportation
may be denied transportation services and will be disciplined.
The
following rules will apply to student conduct on school transportation:
1. Follow the driver's directions at all
times.
2. Board and leave the bus in an orderly
manner at the designated bus stop nearest home.
3. Do not stand unless a seat is not available. If a student
must ride standing, the student should face
the front and hold on to the seat rails.
4. Keep books, band instrument cases,
feet, and other objects out of the aisle.
5. Do not deface the bus and/or its equipment.
6. Do not put head, hands, arms, or legs
out of the window or hold any object out of the window or throw objects within or out of the bus.
7. Do not smoke or use any form of
tobacco.
8. Upon leaving the bus, wait for the
driver's signal before crossing in front of the bus.
9. No loud, abusive, or profane language.
When
a student violates the rules of conduct on school transportation:
1. A conference with the principal, the student, the driver,
and the parent(s) may be required.
2. The principal may suspend the student's
bus‑riding privileges. If so, the
parents will be notified prior to the
time the suspension takes effect.
3. For serious misconduct that endangers the safety of others
the driver has the authority to put the student off the bus or to call for law
enforcement assistance; the principal and parents will be notified of the
situation as soon as possible. The
student will not be allowed to ride the bus until a conference involving all persons
listed above has been held.
Disciplinary
sanctions and changes in transportation for a student with a disability will be
made in accordance with the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) or other
individually designed program.
W. Secret or Self-perpetuating Societies
Students
shall not become members or promise to become members of any organization
composed wholly or in part of students in public schools that seeks to
perpetuate itself by taking in additional members from the students enrolled in
such school on the basis of the decision of its members, rather than upon the
free choice of any student in the school, who is qualified under the rules of
the school, to fill the special aims of the organization.
III. General Guidelines for Assessing Discipline
A. Definitions
The
following words and terms, when used in this code, shall have the stated
meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Expulsion: Suspension of a student from school for more
than three consecutive days. Expulsion
for periods up to one year is required by law for certain student offenses and
may contain a provision that prohibits attendance to school activities.
Parents: Includes single parent, legal guardian, or
person in lawful control.
School Premises: Any property owned by the
school district or over which the school district or its personnel exert lawful
control, including property visited by students in connection with a
school-operated activity, such as a field trip or an extracurricular activity.
Reassignment of Classes: A student may be removed
from the assigned classroom and placed in another class on the same
campus. To the extent possible the
student should continue to receive instruction in the course from which
removed. The purpose of this type of
removal is to remove the student from a potentially dangerous or explosive
situation. The administrator shall
determine length of removal or stay.
Class Disruption: Any behavior that violates
the rules of a particular classroom and interferes with an opportunity to
present or other student's opportunity to concentrate on the presentation or
assignment.
Discipline Management: Any actions that are
intended to promote proper behavior and/or discourage misconduct.
In-School Suspension: (ISS) An on-campus setting, apart from the
regular classroom, where the student continues to receive instruction in each
course to the extent possible, for students who commit disciplinary
infractions.
Suspension: (
Alternate Education Program
(AEP):
An instructional setting other than the regular classroom, completely apart
from students who are not assigned to the program, located on or off the
regular campus, with instruction that focuses on English language arts,
mathematics, science, history, (and to the extent possible provides students
with other subjects enrolled in prior to the placement), and self discipline,
and provides for behavioral needs through supervision and counseling. The District in cooperation with other school
districts, juvenile agencies, or other entities may operate an AEP. The building principal or designee will
determine the length of student placement in an AEP.
B. Listing
of Offenses and Consequences by Level
Level I Offenses
Level
I acts of misconduct include repeated infractions of classroom management
procedures or rules, or other conduct that disrupts the educational process to
the extent that the teacher needs administrative support to correct the
problem. The following is a
nonconclusive list of behavior infractions:
1. Being tardy to class.
2. Refusing to follow classroom rules.
3. Refusing to participate in classroom
activities or fulfill assignments.
4. Failure to bring appropriate materials
to class.
5. Possessing and/or using nuisance items.
6. Eating, drinking, or gum chewing in an
undesignated area.
7. Disruption of the orderly classroom
process.
8. Running, making excessive noise, or
other disruptions in halls, buildings, classrooms, or other supervised settings.
9. Littering.
10. Neglecting to return required forms.
11. Non-defiant failure to complete assignments, carry out teacher
direction, or adequately prepare for class.
12. Abuse hall, locker, or lavatory
privileges (running, horseplay, disruption).
13. Disruptive behavior in school, on campus,
or on the school bus.
14. Public displays of affection or emotion.
15. Violation of the dress code.
16.
Possession of matches or lighters.
Level I Disciplinary Options
Any
one or any combination of consequences may be used:
1. Teacher/student or
administrator/student conference.
2. Parent conference or call.
3. In-class disciplinary actions or
assignment.
4. Withdrawal of student privileges and
activities.
5. Detention/supervised study.
6. Counselor/student conference.
7. Confiscation of nuisance items or
materials.
8. Supervised campus service assignment.
9. Corporal punishment.
10. Behavioral contract.
11. Isolation of student.
12. Restriction.
13. Verbal correction.
14. Cooling off period or "time
out."
15. Seating changes within the classroom.
16. Sending the student to the office.
17. Techniques or penalties used in individual student
organizations or extracurricular activity standards of behavior.
18. School assessed and school administered
probation.
C. Level II Offenses
When
a student's behavior does not change as a result of action taken on Level I,
and the student is being seen for a second
time in the principal's office for repeated Level I infractions, the
student is moved to Level II for discipline purposes.
Level II Disciplinary
Options
Any
one or any combination may be applied:
1. Any combination of teacher, principal
or administrator, parent and student conference.
2. Any discipline technique outlined in
Level I.
3. Corporal punishment.
4. In-school suspension for one to three
days.
5. Withdrawal of student privileges.
D. Level III Offenses
Level
III acts of misconduct include those student infractions that are somewhat more
serious than those in Levels I and II in their effect on the orderly process of
the school program. Examples of
misconduct include but are not limited to the following:
1. Cheating or copying the work of another
student.
2. Leaving the classroom, building,
grounds, or assigned activity without permission.
3. Cutting class or other scheduled
activity.
4. Flagrant or defiant violation of the
dress code.
5. Using profane, obscene, indecent, or
racially or ethnically offensive language and/or physical gestures to others.
6. Failure to comply with lawful
directives issued by school personnel.
7. Cutting detention and truancy.
8. Altering school records or documents,
or forgery of a name on school documents.
9. Vandalism to or defacing school property, or careless or
unauthorized use of school property.
10. Excessive absences or tardies.
11. Inappropriately engaging in acts of
familiarity or affection with other students.
12. Possession of electronic paging device(s), cellular
telephones, laser pointers, or electronic games.
13. Throwing or irresponsible use of objects that can cause bodily
injury or damage to property.
14. Possession or use of tobacco products.
15. Exhibiting any unacceptable or unwanted
physical contact that could, but does not, result in injury.
16. Recklessness in an automobile or
violation of a vehicle code.
17. Chronic misbehavior on bus.
18. Petty theft or gambling.
19. Possession or distribution of
pornographic material.
20.
21. Physically or verbally threatening
others.
22. Harassment of other students.
Level III Disciplinary
Options
Any
one or any combination of the following or Level I & II options may be
applied:
1. Any combination of teacher, principal
or administrator, student and parent conference.
2. Grade penalty for copying or cheating.
3. Detention.
4. Exclusion from extracurricular
activities.
5. In-school suspension, Off campus
suspension.
6. Corporal punishment.
7. Restoration and/or restitution as
applicable.
8. Withdrawal of selected student
privileges.
9. Supervised campus service assignment.
10. Referral to outside agency and/or legal
authority for criminal prosecution in addition to disciplinary measures imposed by the District.
11. Full withdrawal of attendance and participation
in school activities.
E. Level IV Serious Offenses
Level
IV offenses include those acts of misconduct that seriously disrupt the
educational process, endanger or seriously affect other students, and perhaps
violate the law. Examples include but are
not limited to the following:
1. Any repeated offense of Level III, or a
new violation while being disciplined for a Level III offense.
2. Repeated acts of disobedience or
disorderly behavior that may prove to be detrimental to the school, harmful to health and safety, or inhibiting
to the rights of others.
3. Being disrespectful toward school personnel or refusing to
comply with lawful requests or directions of school personnel.
4. Threats, oral or written, to do bodily
harm to another, or to the property of another.
5. Interfering with school authorities or school programs
through boycotts, sit-ins, or trespassing.
6. Fighting, which is defined as physical conflict between two
or more individuals. A fight has
occurred if a student who is attacked strikes back. To avoid penalty, a student under attack
should seek to detach himself/herself from the situation and get school
personnel or adult help.
7. Stealing, robbery, extortion, gambling, or arson; or possession and/or sale of stolen property.
8. Using profane, obscene, indecent, immoral, or offensive
language and/or gestures directed toward school personnel.
9. Failure to comply with assigned
disciplinary consequences.
10. Possessing a device, object, or substance that could cause
bodily harm to individuals in any school setting.
11. Failure to report to school personnel the knowledge of an
event, device, object, or substance that could cause bodily harm to individuals
in any school setting.
12. Possession, use, delivery, or distribution of any substance
represented to be a drug or alcohol.
13. Indecent exposure, sexual misconduct,
and/or sexual harassment.
14. Hazing.
15. Gang-related behavior or activity, or
gang membership.
16. Possession of drug paraphernalia.
17. Burglary of a school facility or major
vandalism to District property.
18. Posting or distributing unauthorized
communicative materials on school premises.
19. Assault.
20. Placing or discharging fireworks,
explosives, or harmful chemicals.
21. Pledges to join, solicit membership in a public school
fraternity, sorority, secret society, or gang as defined in TEC 37.121.
Level IV Disciplinary
Options
Any
one or any combination of the following may be applied:
1. Any discipline technique outlined in
Level III.
2.
Suspension from school not to exceed three days at a time.
3.
Law enforcement personnel may be involved.
4. Referral to outside agency and/or legal
authority for criminal prosecution in addition to disciplinary measures imposed by the District.
5. Alternative education placement.
6. Reassignment of classes.
7. A student may be expelled if the
student:
a. Continues
to engage in serious or persistent misbehavior that violates the code of conduct
or AEP classroom rules after being placed in an alternative education program for disciplinary
reasons.
b. Engages in criminal mischief under Penal Code 28.03, if the
conduct is punishable as a felony, whether committed on or off school property
or at a school-related activity,
(intentionally or knowingly damaging school property resulting in a loss of
$1,500.00 or more).
F. Level V Mandatory Removal or Expulsion Offenses
Mandatory Removal
If
a student commits any of the following acts while on school property, or while
attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off the property,
he or she must be removed to
an alternative education program:
1. Commits assault as defined by Penal
Code 22.01(a)(1).
2. Makes a terroristic threat as defined
by Penal Code 22.07.
3. Sells, gives, delivers, uses, or possesses marijuana, a controlled
substance as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or by 21 U.S.C.
801 et seq., a dangerous drug as defined by Chapter 483, Health and Safety
Code, or an alcoholic beverage as defined by 1.04 of the Alcoholic Beverage
Code.
4. Commits a serious offense under the
influence of alcohol.
5. Commits an offense relating to abusable glue or aerosol
paint under 485.031 through 483.035, Health and Safety Code, or other volatile
chemicals under Chapter 484, Health and Safety code.
6. Engages in public lewdness under Penal
Code 21.07.
7. Engages in indecent exposure under
Penal code 21.08
8. Engages in retaliation against a school employee under Penal
Code 36.06 except, if the student commits a mandatory expellable offense
against any employee in retaliation for or as a result of the employee's
employment with the school district, the student must be expelled under
37.007(c).
9. Engages in expellable conduct, if the
student is between six and ten years of age.
A
student shall also be removed from
the regular classroom and placed in an alternative education program if the
student engages in any conduct that would be punishable as a felony if
prosecuted, regardless of the time or place of the conduct.
The
terms of removal will prohibit the
student from attending or participating in school-sponsored or school-related
activities.
Mandatory Expulsion
A
student shall be expelled from
school for a period of time determined by the Superintendent and may be
appealed to the Board if, the student, on school property or while attending a
school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property uses,
exhibits, or possesses:
1. A firearm.
2. An illegal knife, as defined in Penal Code 46.01(6). A pocketknife shall not be considered a
bladed instrument if not opened or exhibited in a threatening manner, and not
otherwise illegal under the penal code.
3. A club as defined by Penal Code
46.01(1).
4. A weapon listed as a prohibited weapon
under Penal Code 46.05, including:
a. explosive
weapons
b. a
machine gun
c. a short-barreled firearm
d. a
switchblade knife
e. knuckles
f. armor-piercing
ammunition
g. a
chemical dispensing device
h. a
zip gun
A
student shall be expelled from school for a period of time determined by the
Superintendent and appealable to the Board, if the student, on school property
or while attending a school-related activity on or off school property commits:
1. Aggravated assault under Penal Code
22.02.
2. Sexual assault under Penal Code 22.011.
3. Aggravated sexual assault under Penal
Code 22.021.
4. Arson under Penal Code 28.02.
5. Murder under Penal Code 19.02.
6. Capital murder under Penal Code 19.03.
7. Criminal attempt to commit murder or
capital murder under Penal Code 15.01.
8. Indecency with a child under Penal Code
21.11
9. Aggravated kidnapping under Penal Code
20.04.
10. The offense of selling, giving, or delivering, using, or
possessing marijuana, and/or a controlled substance as defined by Chapter 481,
Health and Safety Code, or by 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq., a dangerous drug as
defined by Chapter 483, Health and Safety Code, or an alcoholic beverage as
defined by 1.04 of the Alcoholic Beverage if the conduct is punishable as a
felony.
11. An offense relating to abusable glue, aerosol paint under
485.031 through 485.035, Health and
Safety Code, or other volatile chemicals under Chapter 484, Health and Safety
Code if the conduct is punishable as a felony.
12. Engaging in conduct that contains the
elements of assault under Section 22.01(a)(1) against an employee or a volunteer
on school property.
13. Engaging in conduct that contains the
elements of assault and retaliation against a school employee or volunteer, regardless of where or when the conduct
occurs.
14. Any of the above offenses against any
school employee in retaliation for or as a result of the employee's employment with a school district.
Terms
of expulsion shall deny the student access to all District activities and
school property.
Federal
law requires that a student expelled for a firearm's violation must be expelled
from the student's regular campus for a period of at least one year, subject to
individual modifications made by the Superintendent.
G. Procedural Due Process
Alternative
Education Program (AEP)
Before
placing a student in an alternative education program, the principal or
appropriate school administrator shall conduct an informal hearing at which the
student shall be advised of the conduct with which he or she is charged and
shall be given the opportunity to explain his or her version of the
incident. The District shall make
reasonable efforts to contact the parent prior to placing a student in an
alternative education program. If the
parent cannot be notified prior to placement, the parent shall be notified as
soon as possible of the placement and the reason for the placement.
The
campus principal or designee will determine the duration of student placement
in a disciplinary AEP. If the placement
extends beyond the end of the next grading period, the student or student's
parents have a right to notice and participation in a hearing before the Board
or designee. Decisions to place a
student in an AEP beyond the end of a grading period may not be appealed beyond
the Board. After hearing the appeal the
Board or its designee shall set the terms for the student's placement in AEP
and deliver a copy of the order placing the student in the AEP to the student
and the student's parent. The
Superintendent must review the student’s status at intervals of not more than
120 days. For placement in an AEP to
extend beyond the end of the school year, the Board or designee must determine
that:
1. The student's presence in the regular
classroom or campus presents a danger of physical harm to students or others: or
2. The student has engaged in serious or persistent misbehavior
that violates the student code of conduct: or
3. School action on the offense for which
the student is placed in an AEP takes place during the final grading period of the year.
Note: Subject to the above considerations, seniors
who are eligible to graduate and are placed in a
disciplinary Alternative Education Program at the time of graduation, the last
day of placement may
be the last instructional day and the student may be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony and related
graduation activities.
Expulsion
Before
a student is expelled he or she shall have the right to a hearing before the
Board or its designee that meets the standards for due process under the
federal constitution, which includes the following:
1. Prior written notice of the charges and
the proposed sanctions so as to afford a reasonable opportunity for preparation.
2. Right to a full and fair hearing before
the Superintendent and may appeal to the Board or its designee.
3. Right to representation by legal
counsel, by a parent or guardian, or by any other adult who is not an employee of the school district.
4.
5.
A
notice of the hearing and an invitation to attend shall be sent to the
student's parent or guardian. The
written notice shall advise of the nature of evidence and the names of any
witnesses whose testimony may be used against the student. The Board decision shall be based exclusively
on evidence presented at the hearing.
The
final decision of the Board shall be communicated promptly to the student and
parent. If the decision to expel is
made, the Superintendent shall provide a written order outlining terms of and
length of the expulsion. The expulsion
may not extend beyond the end of the school year unless the conduct leading to
the expulsion occurred during the final grading period. If the unacceptable conduct occurs during the
final grading period of the year, the expulsion may extend into the next school
year, but not beyond the end of the first semester.
Not
later than the second business day after the date of a hearing, a copy of the
expulsion order will be delivered to the authorized officer of the juvenile
court of the county in which the student resides. Parents are responsible for supervision of
the student during the expulsion term.
H. Appeal of Board's Decision to Expel
If
a student appeals a Board's decision to expel, the student shall remain expelled
pending further appeal. No educational
service will be provided, except as determined by the ARD (Admission, Review,
and Dismissal) or 504 committee for disabled students. The Board's decision may be appealed to the
district court of the county in which the school administration office is
located.
I. Emergency Placement or Expulsion
Emergency
Placement
The
principal or appropriate administrator may order a student to be immediately
placed in an alternative education program if it is reasonably believed that
the student's behavior is so unruly, disruptive, or abusive that it interferes
with:
1. A teacher's ability to communicate
effectively with students in a class.
2. The ability of the student's classmates
to learn.
3. The operation of the school or
school-sponsored activity; or
4. If the appropriated administrator
reasonably believes that imminent harm is likely.
At
the time of the emergency placement the student shall be given oral notice of
the reasons for emergency placement in an AEP.
Within a reasonable time the student will be afforded procedural due
process as outlined in this code. The
principal or appropriate administrator shall not be liable for civil damages
for an emergency placement.
Emergency
Expulsion
The
principal or appropriate administrator has the right to order the immediate
expulsion of a student if the administrator reasonably believes that the action
is necessary to protect persons or property from imminent harm.
At
the time of the emergency expulsion the student shall be given a notice of the
reason for the emergency expulsion. A
due process hearing for expulsion will be provided within 10 days, unless the
parent or guardian agrees in writing to an extension of time. The principal or appropriate administrator is
not liable for civil damages for an emergency expulsion.
The
conditions of an emergency placement or emergency expulsion may restrict the
student's extracurricular activities according to the Student Code of Conduct.
J. Teacher Removal of a Student
Informal
Discretionary Removal
A
teacher may seek the principal’s assistance to maintain effective
discipline. When a student is sent to
the principal's office under this provision, the principal shall employ
appropriate discipline management techniques consistent with Levels I, II, or
III of this Student Code of Conduct.
If
the behavior is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the teacher before
leaving school that day must file a written report, not to exceed one page in
length, with the principal or appropriate administrator, and a copy will be
sent to the parent or guardian within 24 hours.
Formal
Discretionary Removal
A
teacher may remove a student from class:
1. If a student behaves in a way that is
documented by the teacher to repeatedly interfere with classroom learning; or
2. The teacher determines the student to be so unruly,
disruptive, or abusive that the student’s behavior seriously interferes with
the teacher's ability to communicate effectively with the students in the class
or with the ability of the student's classmates to learn.
If
the behavior is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct the teacher must
file a written report that day, not to exceed one page in length, with the
principal, and a copy will be sent to the parent or guardian within 24 hours.
When
a teacher, under this provision, removes a student from class, the principal
shall schedule a hearing within three class days. The hearing shall include the principal,
parent/guardian, student, and the teacher who removed the student, when
appropriate. Even if all persons are not
present, the principal may still order the appropriate placement and the
duration of that placement. At the
hearing, the student shall be advised of the conduct with which he or she is
charged and given an opportunity to explain his or her version of the incident.
When
a teacher removes a student from class under this provision, the principal may:
1. Place the student into another
appropriate classroom, or
2. Place the student into in-school suspension,
or
3. Place the student into an alternative
education program (AEP).
If
the principal decides that the student should be returned to that teacher's
classroom and the teacher withholds his or her consent for that return, the
placement review committee shall determine the student's placement. The committee shall not return the student to
that teacher's classroom unless it determines that placement is the best or
only alternative available.
Placement
Review Committee
Each
school shall establish a 3-member committee.
The campus faculty shall select two teachers to serve as members of the
committee, and one additional teacher shall serve as alternate. The principal shall serve or select one
member from the professional staff. The
committee shall have the responsibility to:
1. Determine, in accordance with law and
policy, the placement of a student, when a teacher refuses to readmit a student whom the teacher has removed
from class.
2. Make recommendations regarding readmission of expelled
students prior to completion of a court imposed disposition.
3. May review any placement of a student
in AEP.
Terms
of removal may prohibit the student from attending or participating in school
sponsored or school-related activities.
Mandatory
Removal by a Teacher
A
teacher shall remove from the
classroom a student who engages in conduct described under Level V of the
Student Code of Conduct. The principal
shall either place a student removed under this provision into an alternative
education program or recommend expelling the student, as appropriate. When a teacher, under this provision, removes
a student from class, the principal shall schedule a hearing within three
days. The hearing shall include the
principal, parent/guardian, student, and the teacher who removed the student,
when appropriate. Even if all persons
are not present, the principal may still order the appropriate placement and
the duration of that placement.
If
the principal decides that the student should be recommended for expulsion, the
student shall be provided a due process hearing for expulsion consistent with
this Code of Student Conduct.
If
the principal decides is that the student should be returned to that teacher's
classroom following completion of the assignment to an alternative education
program and the teacher withholds his or her consent for that return, the
placement review committee shall determine the student's placement. The committee shall not return the student to
that teacher's classroom unless it determines that placement is the best or
only alternative available.
Terms
of removal shall prohibit the
student from attending or participating in school-sponsored or school-related
activities.
K. Suspension
The
principal or other appropriate administrator may suspend a student who commits
a Level II offense. A suspension may not
exceed three school days, and the student shall be responsible for all class
work missed during the period of suspension.
Multiple suspensions for subsequent offenses are permissible.
Before
suspending the student, the principal shall conduct an informal hearing at
which:
1. The student is advised of the conduct
of which he or she is charged; and,
2. The student is given the opportunity to
explain his or her version of the incident.
District
personnel shall make every effort to notify the parent prior to suspending a
student from school. If the parent
cannot be contacted prior to removal, the parent shall be notified as soon as
possible and shall be informed of the reasons for suspension.
It
is the parent’s responsibility to provide adequate student supervision during
the suspension period.
L. Placement of Students with Disabilities
Placement
of Students with Disabilities in an AEP.