Salem Central School

Code

Of

Conduct

CODE OF CONDUCT DOCUMENT

(Developed by the High School Building Leadership Team)

June 2001

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Article 1. REGULATION. 1

Article 2. INTRODUCTION. 1

Article 3. DEFINITIONS. 1

Article 4. STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. 1

Section 4.01 Student Rights. 1

Section 4.02 Student Responsibilities. 1

Article 5. ESSENTIAL PARTNERS. 2

Section 5.01 Parents. 2

Section 5.02 Teachers. 2

Section 5.03 Guidance Counselors. 3

Section 5.05 Superintendent 3

Section 5.06 Board of Education. 3

Article 6. STUDENT DRESS CODE. 3

Article 7. PROHIBITED STUDENT CONDUCT. 4

Article 8. REPORTING VIOLATIONS. 6

Section 9.01 Procedures and Referrals. 6

Section 9.02 Fighting: 7

Section 9.03 Penalties. 7

Section 9.04 Procedures. 8

Section 9.05 Suspension. 10

Section 9.06 In-School Suspension: 10

Section 9.07 Weapons Policy: 10

Article 10. ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTION. 10

Article 11. DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. 10

Section 11.02 Authorized Suspensions or Removals of Students with Disabilities. 11

Article 12. CHANGE OF PLACEMENT RULE. 12

Article 13. SUSPENSION OR REMOVAL OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. 12

Section 13.01 The district’s Committee on Special Education shall: 12

Article 14. EXPEDITED DUE PROCESS HEARINGS. 13

Article 15. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. 14

Article 16. STUDENT SEARCHES AND INTERROGATIONS. 14

Section 16.02 Student Lockers, Desks, and Other School Storage Places. 15

Section 16.03 Strip Searches. 15

Section 16.04 Documentation of Searches. 15

Section 16.05 Police Involvement in Searches and Interrogations of Students. 16

Section 16.06 Child Protective Services Investigations. 16

Article 17. VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL. 16

Article 18. PUBLIC CONDUCT ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. 17

Section 18.02 Prohibited Conduct 17

Section 18.03 Penalties. 18

Section 18.04 Enforcement 18

Article 19. DISSEMINATION AND REVIEW.. 18

Article 1. REGULATION

(A) The following policy is enacted in accordance with the flowing regulations;

(1) Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Part 100.2 (1)

(2) “Safe Schools Against Violence In Education” (SAVE) legislation.

Article 2. INTRODUCTION

(A) The Salem Central School Board of Education is committed to providing a safe and orderly school environment where students may receive and district personnel may deliver quality educational services without disruption or interference. Responsible behavior by students, teachers, other district personnel, parents and other visitors is essential to achieving this goal.

(B) The district has a long-standing set of expectations for conduct on school property and at school functions. These expectations are based on the principles of civility, mutual respect, citizen ship, character, tolerance, honesty, and integrity.

(C) The board recognizes the need to clearly define these expectations for acceptable conduct on school property, to identify the possible consequences of unacceptable conduct, and to ensure that discipline when necessary is administered promptly and fairly. To his end, the board adopts this code of conduct (“code”).

(D) Unless otherwise indicated, this code applies to all students, school personnel, parents and other visitors when on school property or attending a school function.

(E) The board may appoint an advisory committee to assist in reviewing the code and the district’s response to code of conduct violations. The committee will be made up of representatives of student, teacher, administrator, and parent organizations, school safety personnel and other school personnel.

(F) Before adopting any revision to the code, the board will hold at least one public hearing at which school personnel, parents, students and any other interested party may participate.

(G) The code of conduct and any amendments to it will be filed with the Commissioner no later than 30 days after adoption.

Article 3. DEFINITIONS

(A) For purpose of this code, the following definitions apply.

(1) “Disruptive student” means an elementary or secondary student under the age of 21 who is substantially disruptive of the educational process or substantially interferes with the teacher’s authority over the classroom.

(2) “Parent” means parent guardian or person in parental relation to a student.

Article 4. STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 4.01 Student Rights

(A) The district is committed to safeguarding the rights given to all students under state and federal law. In addition, to promote a safe, healthy, orderly, and civil school environment, all district students shall have the rights afforded to students under the provisions of the federal and state constitutions and the laws of the State of New York. It is recognized that a student’s private, non-school sponsored and non-program-related conduct cannot be regulated unless the educational community is affected by such conduct. During school activities students have the right to:

(1) Take part in all district activities on an equal basis regardless of race, color, creed, and national origin, and religion, gender of sexual orientation or disability.

(2) Present their version of the relevant events to school personnel authorized to impose a disciplinary penalty in connection with the imposition of the penalty.

(3) Access school rules and, when necessary,