Embedded Files
The Board expects students to conduct themselves in an orderly, courteous, dignified and respectful manner. This requirement refers to their actions toward other students and teachers, their language, their dress and their manners. The Board believes self-discipline is an interpersonal goal of public education.
Students have a responsibility to know and respect the policies, rules and regulations of the school and District. Violations of such policies, rules and regulations will result in disciplinary actions. The Board directs students to the District's Behavior Code set forth in this policy and the student handbook for their individual school. The Board authorizes its schools to incorporate the use of electronic devices, including cell phones, tablets and other similar devices, into the school environment when appropriate to enhance learning and student achievement. Schools will establish rules and expectations for student use of electronic devices, and students will be disciplined in accordance with this policy for any inappropriate or unauthorized use of a device. The Board authorizes its school authorities to employ probation and suspension and to recommend expulsion, if necessary, to enforce this policy.
It is the philosophy of the District to handle all student disciplinary matters at the lowest supervisory level possible and in the most reasonable manner possible. Disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with appropriate procedural rights being afforded to students and their parents/guardians as provided by State law, State Board of Education regulation, and/or the policies of this District.
The Board and the administration offer the following listing of offenses and the required or recommended dispositions for the information of students, parents/legal guardians and school personnel.
Application of this policy
The following rules regarding student conduct are in effect during the following times and in the following places.
· on the school grounds during, and immediately before or immediately after, school hours
· on the school grounds at any other time when the school is being used by a school group
· off the school grounds at a school activity, function or event
· en route to and from school or a school activity on a school bus or other school vehicle
· at any time or in any place that impacts the school's ability to maintain order and discipline in the Greenville County School District
Student conduct away from school grounds or school activities
The Board expects administrators to take appropriate action when information becomes available about student misconduct away from school grounds or school activities that may have a direct and detrimental effect on or seriously threaten the discipline, educational environment, safety or general welfare of students, faculty, staff and/or administrators of the District. When assessing the impact of out-of-school behavior on a District school, the administrator should take into consideration the seriousness of the alleged out-of-school offense and the protection of students, faculty, staff and administrators from the effects of violence, drugs and/or disruptions.
Administrators are directed to evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis. At a minimum, administrators or their designees should meet with the student upon his/her arrival at school, give the student notice of the concerns based on the reported out-of-school behavior and allow the student an opportunity to present his/her side of the story. Based upon all of the circumstances, including a finding that the alleged conduct will have a direct and immediate effect on the school or threatens the discipline, educational environment, safety or general welfare of students, faculty, staff and/or administrators of the school, the administration may either permit the student to attend classes as usual or may take appropriate disciplinary action including, but not limited to, in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension in order to conduct an investigation into the matter. The parents/legal guardians of students will be notified of any action taken by the administration and offered the opportunity for a conference with the administration.
In the event the student is incarcerated based on his/her out-of-school conduct, the principal or his/her designee will notify the student that he/she is to meet with the administration prior to returning to school.
At the conclusion of the inquiries to obtain more information on the matter, the administrator or his/her designee should take appropriate action which may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following.
· returning the student to his/her normal class schedule and removing all evidence of suspension
· placing the student on probation and allowing the student to resume his/her normal class schedule
· placing the student on probation, allowing the student to continue class work, but restricting the student's participation in extracurricular activities and/or designated school activities, for example, clubs, study halls, pep rallies, student government activities and so forth
· suspending the student
· recommending placement in the District's alternative school
· recommending expulsion of the student for the remainder of the year
The disciplinary action taken must be supported by the evidence and take into full consideration the impact of the student's presence at school on the discipline, educational environment and safety or general welfare of other students, faculty, staff and/or administrators of the school.
Levels of offenses
Students who engage in an ongoing pattern of behavior that is disruptive to the orderly operations of the school shall be recommended for expulsion. The following is a general listing of offenses and the required or recommended disciplinary actions which should be taken as a result of such offenses being committed.
Disorderly conduct - Level I
Disorderly conduct is defined as any activity in which a student engages that tends to impede orderly classroom procedures or instructional activities, orderly operation of the school or the frequency or seriousness of which disturbs the classroom or school.
Acts of disorderly conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following:
· classroom tardiness
· cheating on examinations or classroom assignments
· lying
· blackmail of other students or school personnel
· acting in a manner so as to interfere with the instructional process
· abusive language between or among students, to include profane language
· failure to complete assignments or carry out directions
· use of forged notes or excuses
· violation of school bus regulations
· cutting class
· school tardiness
· truancy
· use of obscene or profane language or gestures
· other disorderly acts as determined at the school level, which are not inconsistent with Board policy
The administration may apply sanctions in cases of disorderly conduct which may include, but are not limited to, the following.
· verbal reprimand
· withdrawal of privileges (a privilege, as defined by the Greenville County School Board, is a student's opportunity to participate in any function of the school beyond attending class, riding buses and participating in the school District's food service program)
· demerits
· detention
· in-school/out of school suspension
· other sanctions approved by the Board or administration
Disruptive conduct - Level II
Disruptive conduct is defined as those activities engaged in by student(s) which are directed against persons or property and the consequences of which tend to endanger the health or safety of themselves or others in the school. Some instances of disruptive conduct may overlap certain criminal offenses, justifying both administrative sanctions and court proceedings.
The administration may reclassify disorderly conduct (Level I) as disruptive conduct (Level II) if the student engages in the activity three or more times.
Acts of disruptive conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following:
· fighting
· vandalism (minor)
· stealing
· use or possession of laser pointers, fireworks, smoke bombs, pepper-style sprays, and other similar devices or materials
· threats against others
· trespass
· abusive language to staff, to include profane language
· other disruptive acts which interfere with the educational process
· refusal to obey school personnel or agents (such as volunteer aids or chaperones) whose responsibilities include supervision of students
· possession or use of unauthorized substances, including tobacco and tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, non-prescription drugs, "look-a-like" drugs, and drug paraphernalia, including rolling papers
· illegally occupying or blocking in any way school property with the intent to deprive others of its use
· inappropriate verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
· misuse of District technology resources
· gambling on school property
· unlawful assembly
· disrupting lawful assembly
· harassment, intimidation or bullying
· intimidating, threatening, or physically abusing another student
· any other acts as determined at the school level that are not inconsistent with Board policy
The administration may apply sanctions in cases of disruptive conduct which may include, but are not limited to, the following.
· in-school suspension
· withdrawal of privileges (a privilege, as defined by the Greenville County School Board, is a student's opportunity to participate in any function of the school beyond attending class, riding buses and participating in the school District's food service program)
· temporary removal from class
· out-of-school suspension
· referral to outside agency
· assignment to alternative school
· expulsion
· restitution of property and damages, where appropriate, should be sought by local school authorities
· other sanctions as approved by the Board or administration
Criminal conduct - Level III
Criminal conduct is defined as those activities engaged in by students (whether or not they result in criminal charges) that result in violence to themselves or to another's person or property or which pose a direct and serious threat to the safety of themselves or others in the school or to the security of District resources. These activities usually require administrative actions which result in the immediate removal of the student from the school, the intervention of law enforcement authorities and/or action by the Board.
Whenever a student is engaging or has engaged in activities including, but not limited to, one of the acts specified below, while on school property or at a school sanctioned or sponsored activity which a principal or his/her designee has reason to believe may result, or has resulted, in injury or serious threat of injury to a person or to his/her property, the principal or his/her designee is required to notify law enforcement officials.
Acts for which principals must recommend students for expulsion include, but are not limited to, the following:
· bomb threat
· possession, use or transfer of weapons - a weapon is defined as a firearm (rifle, shotgun, pistol or similar device that propels a projectile through the energy of an explosive); a knife, razor, bludgeon, blackjack, metal pipe or pole, brass knuckles (to include multi-finger rings); incendiary or explosive device; or any other type of device or object which may be used to inflict bodily injury or death.
· sexual offenses (which include sexual acts that do not result in a criminal offense)
· arson
· distribution, sale, purchase, manufacture, use, being under the influence of, or unlawful possession of alcohol or a controlled substance, as defined in S.C. Code Ann. §§ 44-53-110 through 44-53-270. (See Policy JCDAC)
· threatening to take the life of or inflict bodily harm upon a school employee or member of their immediate family
· ganging ("Ganging" or participating as a member of a gang and inflicting a violent act of bodily harm, however slight, upon another person will not tolerated. A "gang" shall consist of two or more persons acting together for and with the purpose of committing an act of violence against another person. "Participation" also includes any act that interferes with or hinders a staff member from stopping the infliction of bodily injury that is the objective of the gang.)
· unauthorized access, use, or attempted access or use of District computer systems
Additional acts for which principals may recommend students for expulsion include, but are not limited to, the following:
· vandalism (major)
· theft, possession or sale of stolen property
· disturbing the schools
· possession, use, or transfer of "look-a-like" weapons
· assault and battery
· extortion
· any other acts as determined by the Board
NOTE: In determining whether a student is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, the student's appearance, behavior, manner, presence of an odor of the substance, and statements made by the student as to the use of controlled substances or alcohol may be considered without regard to the amount of alcohol/controlled substance consumed.
The principals must recommend students for expulsion if they have committed offenses which are underlined above. If a student commits an offense that is not underlined, the principals may recommend the student for expulsion when the circumstances warrant it. The administration may apply sanctions in cases of criminal conduct which may include, but are not limited to, the following:
· withdrawal of privileges (a privilege, as defined by the Greenville County School Board, is a student's opportunity to participate in any function of the school beyond attending class, riding buses and participating in the school District's food service program)
· out-of-school suspension
· assignment to alternative school
· expulsion
· restitution of property and damages, where appropriate, should be sought by local school authorities
· other sanctions as approved by the Board or administration
Extenuating, mitigating or aggravating circumstances
The Board confers upon the Superintendent or his/her designee the authority to consider extenuating, mitigating or aggravating circumstances which may exist in a particular case of misconduct. The administrator should consider such circumstances in determining the most appropriate sanction.
Discipline of disabled students
Students with disabilities will be disciplined in accordance with federal and State law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as set forth in the procedures developed by the administration.
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