Safety & Student Discipline

Core Beliefs About Behavior

Staff creates the climate of the school, and a positive, welcoming, and inviting climate should be intentionally created and continuously maintained.

All student behaviors necessary for success need to be overtly and directly articulated and taught to mastery.

All students should have equal access to good instruction and behavior support, regardless of their skills and backgrounds.

Clarity of expectations and consistency of enforcement are essential for all common areas and school-wide policies.

Punitive and corrective techniques are necessary, but they have significant limitations. Misbehavior represents a teaching opportunity.

Everyone (even students who make poor choices) should be treated with respect.

From Safe and Civil Schools Foundations (Sprick, Booher, & Rich, 2014)

What do we expect to see?  Hela Behavior Expectations

How do we respond to UNEXPECTED behavior?

• DEI conference, away from peers

• Avoid the hooks (eye contact, too much talking)

• Proximity

• Phone call home

• Use influence instead of power

• Increase positive interactions (4-1)

• Wait time

• Seating chart/change

• ….and other preventive responses

If lower level responses are not working, then please respond with a referral:

Responding to Unexpected Behavior at HeLa 

Safety Reporting for Staff and Students   

*Can be anonymous

*for concerns that COULD potentially turn into a big issue

            *QR code located around the building. Link on school website.

Evergreen Public Schools Student Conduct Expectations and Reasonable Sanctions

Student Rights and Responsibilities: Students of Evergreen Public Schools  are entitled to all civil and legal rights and responsibilities, conduct, due process, and sanctions in accordance with the laws of the state of Washington, the Washington Administrative Code, the Washington State Constitution, and the United States Constitution.

The behavior expectations for students are the same from the beginning of the year, until the end.  For Seniors, the end of the year is after the commencement ceremony.  If a soon-to-be graduating senior acts in violation of our school board policies, they will be disciplined in accordance with our discipline policies and procedures.  Depending on the behavior, the consequences could be suspension, or expulsion, even if the student has finished attending regular classes.  Such behavior may also result in the student not participating in the commencement ceremony.  

Because we recognize that families put much preparation and planning into attending this public celebration, we encourage parents and guardians to have a word with your student(s) about their decisions that could jeopardize their privilege of participating in this ceremony.  

Student Conduct Rules 

Evergreen School District #114 Policy No. 3241 Student Discipline The following is a summary of misconduct for which a student may be disciplined, suspended or expelled. This is a summary. Comprehensive information is included in Policy and Procedure 3241.  The number of the Evergreen Public School policy or procedure follows the heading for each. You may view the full text of the policies and regulations on the district’s website here, in the Policy Section.

During the year, the District may revise or repeal existing policies and procedures, or adopt new policies and procedures. These changes and the current version of the policies and procedures will be on the district’s website.

• Alcohol or Illegal Drugs (Policy 3241) See Procedure 3241P

  • Section: Drugs/Alcohol and other prohibited chemical substances.

  • Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, all secondary schools have been issued a (BACtrack S80 Breathalyzer).  Use of this device qualifies as a search. Searches are covered by Evergreen School Board Policy 3230 and Procedure 3230P. The U.S. Supreme Court has concluded that breathalyzer tests are minimally intrusive.

• Attendance (Policy 3110 and 3122)

  • Compulsory school attendance Law and board requirements are outlined in Policy 3110 and 3122.

  • The parent/guardian/custodian must provide an excuse for a student's absence within three (3) days of the student's return to school. A student who is truant (absent without an excuse) will confer with the principal. The principal will contact the parent/guardian/custodian with regard to preventing future truancies. Habitual truancy will be dealt with per state law and school board policy/procedure. See Procedure 3122P.

• Bomb threat consequences (Policy 3143 and 3241)

  • See Policy 3143 and Procedure 3241P.

• Bullying – Policy 3207

  • See Policy and Procedure 3207P

  • Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying.

  • Bullying is strictly prohibited.

• Cell phones and other personal communication devices (Policy 3245)

  • See Policy Students and Telecommunications Devices. 

• Closed Campus

  • All Evergreen Public Schools have closed campuses. Any student who leaves the school grounds without authorization shall be considered truant and subject to discipline, suspension and expulsion. 

• Cooperation with school personnel (Policy 3241)

  • Students are expected to cooperate with school personnel. If the child refuses to comply, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken by the principal.

• Criminal Acts (Policy 3241)

  • Any act, which would constitute a felony or misdemeanor under Washington law, is prohibited in schools, on school district property or at school-sponsored events. 

• Damage and destruction of District property

  • If a student loses, damages or destroys district property or causes the interruption of electronic services, the school administrator will investigate, notify the parents and seek appropriate restitution for the loss or damage. A student's grades, transcripts, and diploma may be withheld until restitution is made, or the student satisfactorily completes approved volunteer work. In cases of willful destruction, vandalism or theft, authorities will be notified and the student may be subject to disciplinary action and payment or restitution. When amounts are beyond the earning capacity of the student, the parent/guardian/custodian will be asked to assume the student's obligation. 

• Discipline, Suspension, and Expulsion (Policy 3241)

  • See Policy 3241 and Procedure 3241P 

• Disruptive Conduct (Policy 3241)

  • Conduct, which interferes with the educational process, is prohibited. Students who disrupt the educational process will be subject to discipline, suspension, or expulsion.

• Dress and Appearance

  • The dress and appearance of students is the direct responsibility of their parents/guardians/custodians. Dress or appearance, however, cannot disrupt the educational process, or present health or safety problems. Certain classes, activities, or athletics may require certain dress and grooming. Shoes must be worn always.

• Possession of Firearms and/or Weapons

  • See Policy 4210 and Procedure 3241P

•  Medication in the schools (Policy 3416)

  • See Procedure 3416P

  • Student Medication in the School following this section.

• Off Campus Events

  • Students at school-sponsored off-campus events shall be governed by school district rules and regulations and are subject to the authority of school district officials.

• Profanity and Vulgarity (Policy 3241)

  • Profane, lewd or obscene speech, or vulgar behavior is not allowed in school or on school grounds. Students using such language or gestures will confer with the principal and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. 

• Refusal to Identify Self  ( Policy 3200 and 3241)

  • All persons must, upon request, identify themselves to proper school authorities in the school building, on school grounds or at school-sponsored events.

• Sexual Harassment (Policy 3205)

  • See Sexual Harassment. 

• Smoking, Sale or Use on Campus (Policy 3241 and 2121)

  • Possession, sale or use of tobacco or tobacco look-alikes on school grounds or in the school building or at any school-sponsored activity is prohibited.

  • For the health and safety of all students, matches, lighters, cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, vape, drugs, drug paraphernalia, tobacco or look-alikes are prohibited.

• Stolen Property

  • The school is not responsible for the student’s or parent’s personal property that has been stolen from school district property. This includes musical instruments that have been left overnight or weekend at the school. The school will do what it can to protect students' personal property, but it cannot purchase insurance to cover stolen items. The only way stolen instruments/property can be covered is through parents' homeowners' insurance policies.

• Student Searches 

  • See Policy 3230 and Procedure 3230P

  • A school principal, vice principal, or principal's designee may search a student, the student's possessions, and the student's locker, if the principal, vice principal, or principal's designee has reasonable grounds to suspect that the search will yield evidence of the student's violation of the law or school rules. 

•  Technology use, ethics, and internet safety (Policy 3241, 2022, and 2020)

  • See Policy 2022 and Procedure 2022P

  • Electronic Resources and Internet Safety. 

• Threats of Violence and Reporting of Threats (Policy 3241)

  • Staff, students, volunteers, and others involved in school activities have the responsibility to report to the administrator or designee any threats of violence or harm. Depending on the significance and credibility of the threat, it shall be reported to law enforcement. Persons found to have made threats of violence or harm against district property, students, employees or others will be subject to relevant district discipline policies and, if necessary and appropriate, will be referred to relevant community agencies including law enforcement and mental health services.

District Safety Website: https://www.evergreenps.org/safety-and-security