Student Code of Classroom Conduct (MAPS Policy #5500)
The following guidelines have been established to create a safe learning environment for MHS students, staff, administrators, and visitors. It is neither possible nor necessary to specify every type of improper or inappropriate behavior for which the school may take disciplinary action. Provided below, however, are examples of reasons a student may face disciplinary action. They are listed here to avoid any misunderstandings.
No person shall possess, use or store a weapon or look alike weapon on school property, on school vehicles, on school buses, or at any school-related event according to administrative guideline.
Students will not possess, use, and/or sell alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapor pens and/or drugs or facsimiles on school property, per administrative guideline.
The Merrill School District prohibits harassment or intimidation of any nature.
Insubordination is the blatant refusal to comply with reasonable requests or direction of school personnel and will not be tolerated.
Any written or verbal behavior, digital/electronic or otherwise, which disrupts the orderly learning environment for others will not be tolerated.
Pushing, striking, or other inappropriate physical contact with a student or staff member is not allowed.
No students shall interfere with the orderly operation of the classroom by using, threatening to use or counseling others to use violence, force, coercion, threats, intimidation, fear, or disruptive means.
No students will be allowed to dress or groom in a manner that presents a danger to health or safety, causes interference with work, or creates classroom disorder.
Repeated classroom interruptions, confronting staff argumentatively, making loud noises, or refusing to follow directions, throwing objects in the classroom, repeated disruptions or violations of classroom rules, or excessive or disruptive talking, will not be allowed.
No students will be allowed in the building weekday evenings, Saturdays, and/or Sundays unless they are supervised by a member of the faculty and/or school appointed coach/supervisor.
Once a student arrives at a campus area, their skateboard or rollerblades are to be carried and then stored in the student’s locker until the end of the school day.
Students may use an office phone before and after school, during the student’s lunch hour, or in case of an emergency.
Fighting and profane language are strictly prohibited.
All posters and advertising done by non-school sponsored groups must be pre-approved by high school administration and may only be posted in approved school locations.
Acts of vandalism will result in disciplinary action and compensation for vandalism will be made by the vandal.
Students will refrain from overt displays of affection in school or on school grounds.
Students must use a pass in order to be in the halls when outside of normal scheduled passing times.
Plagiarism is defined as the passing of another individual's words or ideas as your own. See section on PLAGIARISM for more information.
Students engaging in sexually intimate behavior at school or while at school sponsored events will be subject to discipline including possible expulsion. It is important to note that some sexually intimate behaviors violate state laws and school personnel are required to report such instances to state or local authorities.
Personal electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops, earbuds, etc) may not be used during any class time (from bell to bell). Students my use personal electronic devices during passing times, at lunch, before and after school, and in certain large group study areas (LGI, Commons, 236, 246, and the Library). It is not the student's right to posses or use a phone/personal electronic device in the school.
Students may not interfere with the ability of the teacher to teach effectively; such conduct includes, but is not limited to the following:
Repeatedly reporting to class without bringing necessary materials to participate in class activities.
Possession of personal property prohibited by school rules (backpacks/bags for example) or otherwise disruptive to the teaching and learning of others.
Showing disrespect or defiance to the teacher, exhibited in words, gestures or other behavior.
Behaving in a way that is inconsistent with class decorum and the ability of others to learn. Such behavior includes, but is not limited to, sleeping in class, blatant inattention, or other overt or passive refusal or inability to engage in class activities.
In the interest of student and staff safety, no bags, backpacks, purses, etc., may be brought into a classroom. Lockers are provided to students so that all of these items may be stored and locked.
BULLYING and HARASSMENT (MAPS Policy #5517)
It is the policy of Merrill High School to maintain a learning environment that is free from harassment. No student shall be subjected to bullying or harassment. It shall be a violation of this Code of Conduct for students to harass other students, staff or visitors to the District through conduct or communications as described in Board policy. Each administrator shall be responsible for promoting understanding and acceptance of, and assuring compliance with, state and federal laws and Board policy and procedures governing harassment within his or her school or office. Violations of this policy or procedure will be cause for disciplinary action.
STUDENT DRESS CODE (MAPS Policy #5511)
The purpose of a school dress code is to prepare students for future workplace dress expectations. A student’s dress or grooming shall not affect the health or safety of students and staff; or disrupt or distract from the learning environment within the classroom or school.
During the school day, outdoor styled jackets should be removed upon entering the building and placed in lockers.
During the school day, hoods must be removed upon entering the school building.
Outdoor coats and hoods shall not be worn or carried anywhere within the building unless special conditions exist and the administration has given permission.
No student shall be permitted to wear any clothing or jewelry that contains a reference to alcohol, tobacco, sexual references, profanity, illegal drugs, and/or gangs.
No student shall be permitted to wear a costume, a flag, or wrap themselves in a blanket during the school day. Special dress-up days such as the week of homecoming are an exception.
All students are expected to wear appropriate footwear.
Half shirts/crop tops must be covered.
Students may wear shorts, dresses, or skirts that are appropriate.
Students may not wear dark lensed glasses (sunglasses) in the building during the school day.
ENTERING AND EXITING THE BUILDING
Before and After School
Students are to be dropped off and picked up on the EAST side of the building near the courtyard.
During School Hours (7:50 am-3:20 pm)
All students entering the building during school hours must do so through door #12 and immediately check in with the attendance office.
Leaving During School Hours
If students enter or exit the building it should be through door #12.
In the interest of school safety and security, any student who props a door open will receive disciplinary action.
CELL PHONE & PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES (MAPS Policy #5136)
Cell Phones
Cell phones and personal tablets/iPads (to include any personal wireless technological devices) will be allowed in the commons and hallways provided they do not become disruptive to the educational setting.
Classrooms will be equipped with cell phone holders/caddys on the wall. If students have their personal device out during class, they will be asked by the teacher to put the device in the caddy.
Personal Electronic Devices
Students are NOT allowed to use any personal electronic device (to include iWatch and similar devices) in classes or study periods.
Unauthorized personal technology use will result in...
There will be no personal technology use in a classroom at any time. This includes work time, study halls in a teacher's classroom, interventions, or advisory. On test days, all students will be required to place personal technology in the teacher’s classroom caddy. If a student is found with a personal technology device during test time they will receive a zero on that test. This is a school wide policy prohibiting visual personal technology usage that will be enforced consistently by administration.
Classroom Managed Behavior - On non-test days, blatant personal technology usage in the classroom will result in the teacher confiscating it quietly and placing it in their classroom caddy for the remainder of that class period. If a student is a frequent offender or if they refuse to turn over their personal technology, they will be charged with their first offense.
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First Offense: Students will turn their personal technology over to office staff during that class and the personal technology will be released from the office to students at the end of the school day. A behavior documentation will be put into Skyward by the teacher and front office staff will ensure that the student has turned in their phone.
Second Offense: Students will turn their personal technology over to office staff during that class and the personal technology will only be released from the office to the student's parent/guardian at the end of the day. A behavior documentation will be put into Skyward by the teacher and front office staff will ensure that the student has turned in their personal technology.
Third Offense: Students will turn their personal technology over to office staff during that class and the personal technology will only be released from the office to the student's parent/guardian at the end of the day. The student will not be allowed to bring their phone to school for the period of 30 days. Front office staff will add the student's name and dates on the running no phone list. If a student is seen on personal technology they will receive a suspension.
Further Offenses: Students may lose the privilege of bringing personal technology to school for the remainder of the quarter, semester, or year. This will be an administrative discretion.
*Refusal to turn personal technology over to staff or the office will result in the student being assigned a suspension.
Students and/or parents will be required to pay for any damages incurred by the student to school property and materials, and/or personal property of individuals.
ACADEMICS
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Students found to be engaging in behavior which places the integrity of the academic exercise in jeopardy will be referred for disciplinary action. These behaviors include but are not limited to:
Copying another student’s work.
Obtaining and/or distributing test materials including answers and/or questions.
Plagiarism
Disciplinary action will include all or part of the following:
Zero for the assessment
Failure for the semester
Suspension
Expulsion
PLAGIARISM
The faculty at Merrill High School is committed to teaching students how to become ethical users of information and ideas. It is our responsibility not only to educate students in the research process and mechanics of proper writing and proper documentation, but also to hold these students accountable for honest work. Whether an assigned project is in a visual, written, or spoken format, students are expected to accurately reference all sources of information consulted for the project. Plagiarism is regarded as a serious offense and will not be tolerated by Merrill High School or any other institution of higher learning. It is an expectation that all departments and students adhere to and enforce this policy.
Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as:
Copying of another person’s ideas and /or works, whether intentional or not, in whole or in part, from a print or non-print source, and using those ideas or words as their own.
Deliberate and/or consistent lack of proper documentation and citation in the project or the paper.
In-text documentation that is not reflected in the works cited page.
Presenting the results from an artificial intelligence platform as one's own
Plagiarism is a disruptive form of dishonesty and it violates relationships with classmates, teachers, and it violates the legal rights of people we may never meet.
Consequences of Plagiarism
Plagiarism may occur due to ignorance or inexperience on the part of the student. An example of plagiarism at this level may involve a student’s using a paragraph or a few lines of text without citing the material properly. Most of the paper is the student’s own work.
Recommended Procedures for violations:
Conference with the student reviewing procedures for citing materials.
Redo the assignment
A grade reduction to be determined by the teacher.
Recommended procedures for a greater degree of plagiarism:
A grade reduction on the original assignment. The student may receive a zero.
The instructor will send notification to the student’s parents or notify the parents by phone.
A plagiarism report form turned into the office that will be placed in the student's discipline record along with a copy of the plagiarized work.
Notification to the National Honor Society advisor, if appropriate.
Disciplinary action by administration including notification to parents.
MERRILL HIGH SCHOOL IS A DRUG FREE SCHOOL ZONE (MAPS Policy #5512)
The possession, use, being under the influence of, or having the intent to distribute any prescription or illegal drug, alcohol, tobacco, controlled substance, look-alike substance or being in possession of any type of drug paraphernalia while on school property or attending a school-sponsored event is prohibited.
Lockers are provided for the convenience of the students and are to be used solely and exclusively for the storage of clothes, and school-related materials. No student shall use his/her locker for any other purpose.
Lockers are the property of the school district and may be searched at any time without prior notice to, or consent of, the student(s) and/or parent(s)/guardian(s). The District Administrator, school administration, teachers, staff members, or employees of the district may conduct searches. When searching the locker, students’ personal belongings may be searched. This may include backpacks, purses, coats, and other similar articles. Any unauthorized items found in the locker will be removed. Items removed from the locker may be retained by the school pending an investigation to the nature of the item and may be turned over to law enforcement. Parent(s)/guardian(s) and the student shall be notified of items taken from the locker unless such notification would compromise an investigation. In addition, the student the locker is assigned to is solely responsible for items found in the locker.
Students may be subjected to an individual search based on reasonable suspicion that the student has dangerous or illegal items or substances on his/her possession. Individual searches will be conducted in the presences of two district employees. When possible an effort will be made to ensure that one of the district employees is the same sex as the student. Searches of this nature may include the searching of a student’s purse, pockets, backpack, and similar personal articles. Strip searches are illegal and will not be conducted by school district personnel.
In an effort to protect the health and welfare of its students, Merrill Area Public School District authorizes the use of trained canine units to search outside of lockers, vehicles parked in the school lot, and any other area deemed necessary by school administration in conjunction with the district administrator. The use of canine units and general searches of vehicles on school property may occur without notice.
ENFORCEMENT OF RULE VIOLATIONS (MAPS Policy #5610)
Administrative Assigned Detentions
Detentions issued by administration shall be served in a designated detention room. Students are to report for detention with study materials and work silently throughout the time of detention. Failure to serve detention(s) will result in the student being suspended.
Signing Up for Detentions
When students are assigned a detention they may be allowed to select a date which falls within the three days immediately after the infraction was addressed. If the student does not attend the rescheduled detention he/she will serve an in-school suspension as determined by the administration.
Other Disciplinary Interventions
Student conferences
Parent conferences
Referral to school counselor/school psychologist
Referral to juvenile support programs
In-School Suspension (ISS) or Directed Study
Students are required to bring their classroom materials with them when in ISS. Students are expected to adhere to all school rules in ISS.
If a student is tardy to ISS, it may result in further discipline.
Students are to be working on school related material.
Students should not sleep, talk or socialize with other students during ISS.
Bathroom breaks will be provided.
Any student leaving without permission may be assigned additional day(s) of ISS or other disciplinary consequences. Once a student reaches five ISS days per quarter, he/she may be issued out-of- school suspensions (if need be) for the remainder of that quarter.
Out-of-School Suspension (OSS)
Students may be suspended out-of-school for major violations or repeated violations of school rules (with possible expulsion).
Major violations may include, but are not limited to, the following: blatant disrespect and/or verbal/physical abuse of school personnel, tobacco possession, alcohol possession, harassment, fighting, gang activity, vandalism, insubordination, defiance of school rules, foul/vulgar language, gambling, theft, and other incidents as determined by building administration.
A student who has been suspended out of school will not be allowed in the school building or on school grounds. A student who has been suspended will not be allowed on any school bus. Verbal notification of a suspension will be confirmed in a follow up written communication to the parents and/or guardian of the suspended student. A student who has been suspended from school will remain in an assigned area until the parents/guardians have been contacted and arrangements made for the student to be picked up. During the suspension, the student involved will be under the care of the parents or guardian during normal school hours and is not permitted on school district property (to include a school bus). The suspended student will not be allowed to be involved in extracurricular activities either as a spectator or as a participant.
In addition to suspension, the student and parents/guardians may be required to attend a Pre-Expulsion conference with the building principal, the Superintendent of Schools and other designees. This formal conference, typically used in matters of a student’s repeated noncompliance with rules adopted under subd. 1 (§ 120.13) or school board rules, shall include a discussion of the student behavior and discipline record leading up to, and including, the most recent suspension.
At the Pre-expulsion conference all parties will discuss recommendations and behavioral expectations moving forward and the progressive discipline actions to be taken by the school should the student’s behavior not improve. Should the student continue to refuse or neglect to obey school rules after the pre-expulsion conference, further progressive discipline action could result in a recommendation from the administration to the Board of Education to proceed to an expulsion hearing.
If a pre-expulsion conference is required, a suspension may not exceed five school days.
In accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 120.13(1)(c), the school board may expel a pupil from school whenever it finds the pupil guilty of the following actions:
Repeated refusal or neglect to obey school rules or school board rules.
Conduct while either at or not at school or under or not under the supervision of a school authority which endangers the property, health, or safety of others at school or under the supervision of a school authority.
Knowingly conveying any threat or false information concerning any attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made to destroy any school property by means of explosives.
Conduct while not at school or not under the supervision of school authority which endangers the property, health, or safety of any employee or school board member of the school district in which the pupil is enrolled.
Repeatedly engaging in conduct while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority that disrupts the ability of school authorities to maintain order of an educational atmosphere at school or at an activity supervised by a school authority and such conduct does not constitute grounds for expulsion under [1] thru [4] above; and (this reason only applies to students 16 years or older) is satisfied that the interest of the school demands the pupil’s expulsion.
The school board shall expel a student from school for a period of not less than one year for possessing a firearm while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority.
Expulsion procedures outlined by state law and per administrative guideline will be followed.
For more information regarding board policy and state law related to expulsion please contact high school administration or the office of the superintendent.