Citizenship

Being an A+ Citizen

Students who participate in the A+ program must maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use, possession, and distribution of drugs and alcohol. Certification of good citizenship will be based on the student’s official discipline record maintained in the Administrative Offices at Penney High School and any additional evidence outside of the discipline record that the student has not maintained a record of good citizenship and/or avoided the unlawful use, possession, or distribution of drugs and/or alcohol. The principal is responsible for certifying the accuracy of the student’s discipline record.

An A+ student will not possess, sell, transfer, distribute, or use any drug (1) on school property, (2) at school events or activities away from campus, or (3) off-campus during non-school or school hours. In other words, drug possession, sale, transfer, distribution or use is not permitted regardless of location and time of day. The District will evaluate all potential evidence that a student is not maintaining a record of good citizenship and avoiding the unlawful use, possession, and distribution of drugs and alcohol, including evidence from social media. For purposes of this rule, the term “drug” includes any illegal drug, alcoholic beverage, illegally possessed prescription drug, controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, or item which by markings or by representations made, is represented to be a drug. The following offenses will result in immediate removal from the A+ school program:

Ø Possession, use, sale or transfer of alcohol or drugs

Ø Possession of drug paraphernalia

Ø Criminal activity as defined by the Safe Schools Act:

· First and second degree murder

· Kidnapping

· First and second degree assault

· First and second degree burglary

· Robbery

· Distribution of drugs

· Distribution of drugs to minors

· First degree arson

· Voluntary/involuntary manslaughter

· Sexual assault

· Felonious restraint

· Property damage

· Possession of a weapon (under weapon provisions of Chapter 571 Missouri revised statutes)

Ø Assault on a student

Ø Intimidation of school staff

Ø Physical threat to staff

Ø Vandalism/theft

Ø False fire alarm/bomb threats and misuse of emergency equipment

Ø Expulsion from school

Ø Behavior that a student receives a long-term (more than 10 school days) out of school suspension for that the A+ Student Review Committee deems should result in immediate removal from the A+ program.

Probation

Disciplinary offenses, other than an offense that causes immediate removal from the program as indicated above, will result in the student being placed on probation. The probation period will be one calendar year. For example, a student placed on probation April 21 will be on probation until April 21 the following year. Any student who, in the opinion of school administrators, exhibits a continuous pattern of disruptive behavior as recorded in his/her discipline record may be placed on probation; and any student placed in a short-term (10 school days or less) out of school suspension will be placed on probation for the first offense. A second short-term suspension will immediately remove the student from the A+ program.

Good citizenship outside the school setting is of equal importance. Records from the Office of Juvenile Services or law enforcement are available to Penney High School. This information will be used in determining citizenship. Any student receiving a misdemeanor charge will be placed on probation. A second offense will result in immediate removal from the A+ program. Any student will be removed from the program if the District receives notice that:

· A criminal petition has been filed against the student for one of the acts identified under Missouri Revised Statute Section 167.115.

· The student has been convicted, an indictment or information has been filed alleging the student has committed, a petition has been filed alleging the student has committed, or the pupil has been adjudicated to have committed one of the acts identified in Missouri Revised Statute Section 167.171.3.

A student may only be reinstated to the program if the student produces proof that the relevant criminal action has been expunged or dismissed without any consequence to the student. A student will not be reinstated if he/she receives probation, suspended imposition of sentence, a plea bargain, court supervision and/or monitoring in lieu of further prosecution, or a dismissal based upon another type of agreement with juvenile, prosecution, probation, or judicial authorities or officials. Each student’s citizenship record is subject to review by the A+ Student Review Committee. Participation in the program is a privilege and not a right. However, to minimize the risk of erroneous removal of a student from the program, the District will provide the following appeals process for student expulsions from the program:

Attendance or Review Process

An A+ Student Review Committee will be composed of the following:

Guidance Counselor

High School Principal

A+ Coordinator

After the Student Review Committee reaches a decision, the A+ Coordinator will notify the parents by letter. If a student is expelled from the A+ program, the student or the student’s parents/guardians may request an appeal of that decision by notifying the A+ Coordinator within five working days of receiving the notice. The A+ Coordinator will provide notice of the appeal to the Board. The Board of Education, or a committee appointed by the Board, will hear the appeal in closed session at the soonest upcoming regularly scheduled Board meeting. The appeal will be conducted as follows:

The A+ Coordinator will provide a written and/or oral statement to the Board (or the appointed committee) of the A+ Student Review Committee’s reason(s) for the student’s expulsion from the program. The student and/or the student’s parents/guardians may provide a written and/or oral statement to the Board (or the appointed committee) of the reason(s) why the student should not be expelled from the program. The Board will notify the student of its decision in writing within five working days of hearing the appeal.