Source: http://irondistrict.org/safe-schools-policy
Timestamp: 2017-03-29 15:04:19
Document Index: 458171745

Matched Legal Cases: ['§53', '§53', '§53', '§58', '§801', '§58', '§801', '§58', '§53', '§53', '§53', '§53']

Safe Schools Policy | Iron County School District
HomeSafe Schools Policy	Safe Schools Policy
Policy Code: JFBAdoption Date: Tuesday, June 21st, 2016SAFE SCHOOLS POLICY This policy is adopted by
the Board of Education of The Iron County School District pursuant to UCA §53A-11-901through 907. It is the intent of the Board to
provide every student in the district with the opportunity to learn in an environment,
which is safe, conducive to the learning process, and free from unnecessary
disruption. The Board has invited
and received input from district employees, parents and guardians of students,
students, and the community. The
Board now adopts this policy, based on the principle that every student is
expected to follow rules of conduct, and to show respect for others and to obey
persons in authority at the schools.
that certain behavior outlined herein and in other policies of the district, is
unacceptable and will result in disciplinary action. The superintendent and his/her designees will enforce
district policies with the aim to make students and their parents or guardians
understand that unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated and will be dealt
with in accordance with the Board’s discipline policies. UCA §53A-11-901. The Board hereby delegates its authority to expel/suspend students to
principals and vice-principals in each school in the District for up to ten
days. In addition, the Board authorizes hearing officers to conduct informal
PUBLICATION OF SAFE
A copy of this policy shall
be given to each student in school in the district once each school year. Each student transferring to a school
in the district who was not attending a school in the district just prior to
the transfer shall receive a copy of this policy. A copy of this policy shall be posted in each school in the
district. Any significant change
in this policy shall be posted in each school in the district. UCA §53A-11-903(2)(b)
CONDUCT RESULTING IN
SUSPENSION/EXPULSION A student may be
suspended/expelled from school for participation in any of the following
prohibited conduct when it occurs in a school building, in or on school
property, in conjunction with any school sponsored activity, or when it occurs
in the presence of or is directed at or against another student or a district
willful disobedience or open and persistent defiance of proper authority.Willful
destruction or defacing of school property.Behavior, or
threatened behavior, which poses an immediate and significant threat to the
welfare, safety or morals of other students or school personnel or to the
operation of the school.Willful defacement or injury to any school property.Behavior, which
unreasonably disrupts or interferes with the educational process for other
students. Sells, gives,
delivers, transfers, possesses, controls, or distributes alcoholic beverages or
tobacco products within 1000 feet of school property or any school sponsored
event.Is under the
influence of an alcoholic beverage or controlled substance within 1000 feet of
any school property or school sponsored event. MANDATORY SUSPENSION/EXPULSION
property, or within 1000 feet of school property or within 1000 feet of and in
conjunction with any school sponsored activity, or when it occurs in the
presence of or is directed at or against another student or a district
weapon, explosive, or flammable material;The sale,
control, possession, delivery, transfer or distribution of a drug or controlled substance
as defined in UCA §58-37-2
or by 21 U.S.C. §801The sale,
control, possession, distribution, delivery or transfer of imitation controlled substance
as define in UCA §58-37b-2
or 21 U.S.C. §801;The sale,
control, possesion, or distribution of drug paraphernalia as defined in UCA §58-37a-3;Commission of an
act involving the use of force or the threatened use of force which, if
committed by an adult would be a felony or class A misdemeanor;Assaults and or injures a
teacher or other individual. (See
also 53a-3-502)HABITUALLY DISRUPTIVE
A student may be
suspended/expelled if he/she is habitually disruptive and has failed or refused
to completely comply with the student’s remedial discipline plan.
An “habitually
disruptive student” is one who has caused a disruption in a classroom, on
school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at school sponsored activities or
events more than five times during a school year and whose behavior was
initiated, willful and overt and required the attention of school employees to
deal with the disruption.When a student
has caused his/her first disruption such as described in the preceding paragraph,
the student’s principal or principal’s designee shall develop a remedial
discipline plan to assist the student in altering his/her conduct and avoiding
the occurrence of another disruption. The principal or designee will review the essential elements of the plan
with the student at the time it is implemented. UCA §53A-11-904SUSPENSION/EXPULSION OF
disabled under the Individuals With Disabilities and Education Act, or under
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 must be given special
considerations. Expulsion of a
student for misbehavior that is related to a disability may constitute discrimination.
SUSPENSION/EXPULSION OF
HANDICAPPED STUDENTS1. Short-term Suspension. The school district may suspend students with handicaps from school for a period not ot exceed ten (10) official school days if it is determined that:
a. Maintaining the student
in a current placement is substantially likely to result in injury to self or
to other persons; orb. The student has
engaged in conduct, which would otherwise warrant suspension or removal for a
non-handicapped student. SPECIAL
NOTE: The maximum number of ten
(10) days suspension is considered on a cumulative basis, within one school
year. The number of days should be
only as many as are necessary in the specific case. Other options should be considered before using
out-of-school suspension with a disabled student. Any suspension should consider the least restrictive
environment.2. Long-Term
Suspension. Any
expulsion/suspension of a student with disabilities for more than 10 days
constitutes a change in placement. Prior to a change-in-placement, parents of the student must be notified
of the proposed change and the Special Education committee must first determine
whether the alleged behavior is related to a handicapping condition. If the parent contests the proposed
change, notice of due process rights must be given to the parent or guardian
and the student must “stay put” in the present educational environment unless
the parent or guardian agrees otherwise, pending resolution of the hearing.
HANDICAPPED STUDENTS A handicapped student may be
expelled for engaging in conduct that would warrant such action for a
non-handicapped student only if the Special Education Committee determines the
misconduct is not related to the handicapping condition or inappropriate
placement. In determining whether a
student’s disruptive behavior is related to a student’s handicapping condition,
the Special Education Committee shall base it’s decision on currently effective
evaluation and assessment data and on review of the current IEP documentation
rather than on established eligibility or previous committee decisions. The Committee shall consider whether
the student’s behavior indicates the need for new assessment or evaluation
Unless the parents agree
otherwise, the student must be returned to his current placement after ten days
while additional assessments are being conducted. The Special Education
Committee shall determine the instructional and related services to be provided
during the time of expulsion. The
student’s IEP shall include goals and objectives designed to assist in
returning the student to school and preventing significant regression.
When a student engages in
conduct for which mandatory suspension/expulsion is possible or required under
section III of this policy, the following procedures shall occur:1. If the conduct
described requires mandatory expulsion/suspension, the the principal or
assistant principal shall suspend the student for ten days and in addition
shall recommend that the superintendent suspend the student for up to an entire
school year, or its equivalent imposed over consecutive portions of two school
a student is suspended for a period of time less than or equal to ten days, the
principal or assistant principal shall immediately provide notice to the
student's parent or guardian. Notice shall, if possible, be given by telephone. If reasonable efforts to contact the
parent or guardian by telephone are unsuccessful, then written notice shall be
sent to the parent or guardian. The notice, whether verbal or written, shall include the following:
FOR SUSPENSION/EXPULSION:
(a) That the student
(b) The grounds for
time for which the student is suspended.
(d) The date, time
and place for the parent of guardian to meet with the principal or assistant
principal to review the suspension. This meeting shall be scheduled to occur as soon as is practicable, but
in all cases prior to the end of the tenth day of the suspension. If the principal or assistant principal
has recommended that the superintendent suspend the student for a period longer
than ten days, that fact shall be included in the notice to the parent or
guardian. The student shall also
the meeting with the student, the parent or guardian, and the principal or
assistant principal, the student shall be informed of the charges and evidence
against him/her. If the student denies
the charges he/she shall be given an opportunity to tell his/her side of the
story. If the parent or guardian
and/or the student fails or refuses to attend the meeting at the scheduled
date, time and place, and reasonable efforts to contact them are unsuccessful,
the principal or assistant principal shall mail notification to the parent or
guardian describing the charges against the student and the evidence against
him. Goss v. Lopez, 410 U.S. 565 (1975)
the conclusion of the meeting or upon a determination that the parent or
guardian has not appeared for the meeting, the principal or assistant principal
shall take one of the following actions:
If the reported conduct provides for discretionary suspension/expulsion:
Take no further disciplinary action to extend the suspension beyond the
previously stated period of suspension.
(2) Increase the time of suspension up to total of
Increase the time of suspension up to a total of ten days, with a
recommendation to the superintendent that the student be suspended for a period
of time greater than ten days up to an entire school year or its equivalent
imposed over consecutive portions of two school years.
Rescind the suspension already imposed and return the student to classes or
impose disciplinary measures not including suspension/expulsion.
B. If the reported conduct requires
Increase in the time of suspension up to a total of ten days, with a
of time equivalent to an entire school year, imposed as necessary over
consecutive portions of two school years.
Rescind the suspension already imposed and return the student to classes. If the principal or assistant principal
recommends suspension for a period greater than ten days, he/she shall notify
the superintendent of that recommendation as soon as possible. In consultation with school administrators, the superintendent shall then schedule
a hearing to be held with the student parent or guardian, the student and the
superintendent. The hearing shall
be scheduled to take place prior to the tenth day of the student suspension
where possible. (a)
The school administration shall provide written notice of the date, time and place of
the hearing to the student and his/her parent or guardian. The notice shall include a statement of
the charges against the student, that suspension has been recommended beyond
the ten-day suspension imposed by the principal or assistant principal, and the
period of time for which suspension has been recommended. (b)
The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall preside at and
conduct the hearing at the appointed time and place. The district and the student may each be represented by a
person of their choice. Each side
may present witnesses, cross-examine witnesses and make legal arguments
relevant to the issues. At the
conclusion of the hearing, the superintendent or designee shall make a final
determination of the matter, and shall state his/her determination to those
attending the hearing. The
determination shall then be placed in writing and mailed to the student and his/her
parent or guardian. If the conduct
provides for discretionary suspension/expulsion, then the determination shall
disciplinary action beyond the ten-day suspension imposed by the principal or
assistant principal.Recession of the
suspension already imposed and return the student to classes. An increase in
the time of suspension for a period up to an entire school year or its equivalent
imposed over consecutive portions of two school years. If
the conduct requires mandatory suspension/expulsion then the determination
suspension already imposed and return the student to classes.An increase in
the time of suspension for a period up to or equivalent to an entire school
year, imposed as necessary over consecutive portions of two school years.When it has been
determined that a student shall be suspended for any period of time, the parent
or guardian, upon meeting with the principal or assistant principal, shall be
given the option of attending all classes with the student in lieu of excluding
the student from school during the period of suspension. The parent or guardian must agree to
attend all of the student’s classes with the student for each day of the
suspension, if this option is accepted. If the parent or guardian wishes to accept this option, the consent of
the student’s teachers shall be requested. If granted, the student shall not be excluded from classes
for the period of suspension provided the student’s parent or guardian attends
every class with the student. If
the parent or guardian fails to attend a class period with the student, or does
not agree to attend class with the student, then the student will be excluded
from classes and school activities from that time forward for the remaining
period of suspension. UCA §53A-11-906EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
If a student is suspended
for more than ten days, the student’s parent or guardian is responsible to see
that alternative educational services are provided to the student, and that
such services satisfy the requirements of the state compulsory education
laws. The district will provide
information to the parent or guardian to determine how the parent’s or
guardian’s responsibility for educational services might be satisfied. The district will maintain a record of
all suspended students. For each
such student under the age of 16, the district will contact the student’s
parent or guardian at least once each month to determine the student’s
educational progress. If the
student’s educational progress is not satisfactory, the district may seek the
cooperation of the Division of Family Services, the state juvenile court, and
other appropriate agencies. UCA
§53A-11-907
CONTINUING EDUCATION The Board or its designee
shall provide for the continuing education of a student removed to an
alternative education program, which may include any or all of the following
In-school suspension. Students shall be instructed in the
essential elements of the courses in which they are enrolled at the time of
removal.Transfer to a
different campus.Transfer to a
community-based alternative school.Home-based
instruction as directed by the superintendent.REVIEW BY THE BOARD A student may appeal the
determination of the superintendent to the Board of Education by filing a
written notice of appeal with the Board President within ten days of the date
the decision of the superintendent is mailed to the student. Upon receiving a
request for appeal by the parent or guardian of the student, the Board
President will instruct the superintendent to schedule a Board Hearing within
10 days. At least three board
members will be required to conduct the appeals hearing. The Board will hear the evidence
submitted during the hearing and affirm or modify the superintendent’s
decision. The Board’s written
decision will be issued within thirty days of receipt of the student’s written
notice of appeal. MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS A suspended student shall
immediately leave the school building and school grounds following a
determination by the parent or guardian of the student and the school of the
best way to transfer custody of the student to the parent or guardian. A suspension may not extend beyond ten
days unless the student and his/her parent or guardian have been given reasonable
opportunity to appear before the superintendent for the hearing and respond to
the allegations and proposed disciplinary action. UCA §53A-11-905(4)(C)
EXPULSION CHECKLIST As a helpful guideline to
follow when any student is suspended/expelled, district personnel may consider
the following non-binding checklist:
1. Does the School District have a policy regarding student
discipline after consulting State Office of Education “models”?
2. Has the policy been distributed to all students at least
once each school year?
3. Are copies of and all changes to the policies posted?
4. Has the student exhibited conduct defined in the policies
and the statutes?
b. Willful destruction or defacing of
c. Behavior, which threatens safety or
d. Possession of a weapon, explosive or
e. Use or threat of force that constitutes
a felony or class A misdemeanor
5. If the conduct involves d or e, then expulsion is mandatory
6. Is the conduct habitual?a. Has the student disrupted school related activities more than 5 times in a single school year? b. Was the behavior willful, overt and required school personnel to deal with the disruption?c. Has the student
been expelled previously during the same school year?d. Has a
remediation plan been implemented and reviewed?
7. To whom has the authority to suspend been delegated?
8. Has the student parent or guardian been notified?
c. The period of time of suspension, time
and place of informal hearing
9. How long has the student been suspended? If more than ten days, has the required informal hearing taken place?
10. What alternatives to suspension have
been offered? 11. Is the student disabled under IDEA or
504? If so, provisions of those
laws must be followed. Main Menu