Disciplinary Code & Policies

DISCIPLINARY CODE AND POLICIES

This code defines prohibited conduct. The conduct is prohibited if it occurs on school property, while using School District approved transportation, during participation in or attendance at a school-related activity anywhere, while traveling to and from school or school-related activities, at any time or place if the conduct has an adverse impact on the school community, or while the student is otherwise under the school jurisdiction. For transfer students, if sanctions imposed by a prior school are deemed insufficient or if additional steps are appropriate for protection of the safety of the school community, disciplinary steps including expulsion may be implemented based on conduct that occurred while the student was enrolled at a prior school.

 This code provides guidelines to students, school employees, and administrators, but will not under any circumstances be considered a limitation on the authority of school employees, administrators, or the school board to define misconduct and determine the appropriate punishment for any particular misconduct. The misconduct listed under each level shall not be considered exclusive, but merely provides examples of misconduct that may be considered under the specified level. Depending on the circumstances, misconduct listed under a particular level may be treated as a higher level offense, and a student may be subject to suspension or expulsion for a single incident or for misconduct not specifically listed under Level III. The penalties set forth should be considered minimum penalties for designated offenses.

 Student Responsibility: Every student has the right to an education and the responsibility to put forth efforts to achieve it. It is the responsibility of each student to behave appropriately, to comply with this code, and to respect the rights of teachers, students, administrators, and all others involved in the educational process. This code is designed to provide a fair way of handling student discipline problems. Every student should understand the rules and the consequences of breaking them.

Teacher Responsibility: The classroom teacher plays a major role in the discipline code. Whenever possible, the teacher shall:

•   communicate with the student and inform the student of the problem

•   attempt to work with the student to develop a realistic solution to the problem

•   communicate with the parent in cases of persistent problems

Parental involvement is the cornerstone to this philosophy.  Any out-of-school suspension will require parental contact and a discussion/conference before a student can return to school.

Code of Ethics

The student body, in order to protect the rights of everyone, will make every attempt to follow these principles:

●         Show respect for faculty and other students

●         Treat others as you wish to be treated

●         Show respect for all private and public property

●         Practice honesty at all times

●         Show respect for all guests and performing groups who visit Owen J. Roberts High School 

High School Discipline Code

Disciplinary Levels

This discipline code provides guidelines to students and school employees and administrators, but will not under any circumstances be considered a limitation on the authority of school employees, administrators, and the school board to define misconduct and determine the appropriate punishment for any particular misconduct.  The misconduct listed under each level shall not be considered exclusive, but merely provides examples of misconduct that may be considered under the specified level.  Depending on the circumstances, misconduct listed under a particular level may be treated as a higher level offense, and a student may be subject to suspension or expulsion for a single incident or for misconduct not specifically listed under Level III.  The penalties set forth should be considered minimum penalties for designated offenses.

Level I

Misconduct which may lead to a before school or after-school detention assignment.

Examples:

·         Disruptive behavior

·         Bus misconduct

·         Cafeteria misconduct

·         Running in school or bus loading area

·         Locker violation

·         Inappropriate language

·         Dress code violation

·         Dishonesty

·         Forgery

·         Failure to sign in when late

·         Unexcused lateness to school

·         Unexcused lateness to class

·         Cutting class/study hall/lunch

·         Leaving class, study hall, or other assignment without permission

·         Truancy – absence from school without permission or legal excuse

·         Presence in a restricted area

·         Other behavior comparable to the above

·         Other unacceptable behavior

·         Occupying the same bathroom stall as another person

·         Distributing videos depicting any behavior that violates any Owen J. Roberts School Board policy except when sharing with a trusted adult in order to report the behavior.

·         Recording videos/taking pictures that depict a person in bathrooms and/or locker rooms except when a victim is recording for the purpose of evidence.

Procedures:

Level I incidents should be handled by the appropriate teacher or building administrator. Failure to serve detention will result in a second detention. Subsequent failure to serve detention will be considered defiance and handled as a Level II offense.

Level II

Misconduct which may result in a Saturday detention, in-school suspension, or out-of-school suspension.

Examples:

·         Possession, distribution, use and abuse of tobacco or vape products policy violation

·         Fighting

·         Defiance

·         Disrespectful speech or behavior

·         Insubordination – failure to obey teachers, aides, and others in authority

·         Threats to others

·         Leaving school or campus without permission

·         Repeated or serious Level I misconduct

·         Other behavior comparable to the above

·         Other serious, unacceptable behavior

Procedures:

Level II infractions should be reported to a building administrator immediately. All Level II infractions will result in a minimum one-day Saturday detention, in-school suspension, or out-of-school suspension AND parent conference before the student may return to school.

Level III

Misconduct which may result in an out-of-school suspension or expulsion from school.

Examples:

·         Arson

·         Theft

·         Assault

·         Extortion – getting money or property by use of threats or violence

·         Search policy violation; refusal of search

·         False alarm

·         Vandalism (includes restitution as additional punishment)

·         Possession/use/transfer of fireworks or related materials

·         Any act punishable under the Pennsylvania Criminal Code

·         Anti-harassment policy violation

·         Weapons policy violation

·         Controlled substances policy violation

·         Repeated or serious Level I or Level II misconduct

·         Other behavior comparable to the above

·         Any other serious, unacceptable behavior that results in injury or damage to another person or property or poses a threat to the safety of others in the school or to the security of the school environment, or that otherwise constitutes serious misconduct

Level III misconduct may result in up to a ten (10) day out-of-school suspension with a required parent conference. The severity of the infraction may be grounds for a formal hearing before the Board of School Directors or a Committee of the Board, which could result in expulsion from school.

          Procedures:

Refer immediately to a building administrator for disciplinary action. Parents will be contacted as soon as possible. The building administrator shall contact the District Superintendent and law enforcement authorities.

A written report shall be filed with the District Superintendent within twenty-four (24) hours of the incident.

Progression of Offenses

●       If a student fails to serve a detention or is disruptive during detention, the student will be issued a Saturday morning detention.  

●         If the student fails to attend the Saturday detention or is disruptive during Saturday detention, it will be considered insubordination and the student will be suspended in-school or out of school per administrative discretion.

●         Any student suspended three (3)  times will lose privileges to park on campus, attend school dances including the prom, and will not be allowed to participate in any school sports or other school sponsored activities.  The length of these consequences is at the discretion of the administration. 

●         Any student suspended five (5) times during their senior year will, in addition to the consequences for being suspended 3 times,  not be permitted to participate in commencement.

Detentions

A student may be assigned a detention for disciplinary reasons.  There are three levels of detentions: teacher detentions, after school/office detentions, and Saturday detention.  

When an after school/office or Saturday detention is assigned, the student will be given a detention slip as a notification of the date, time and location to report. The student's parents/guardians will be notified of the detention.  The student assigned a detention is responsible for knowing this information. Losing the detention slip will not be an excused reason for missing a detention. 

If detention is postponed due to inclement weather or if a student misses detention due to absence, the detention will automatically be rescheduled for the next official detention day.  

Teacher Detentions

Teachers may assign a detention to students for lesser infractions such as late to class, failure to submit homework, disruptive class behavior, and other similar offenses. It is considered to be the first level of intervention.  Teachers are not required to notify parents when these infractions occur, but generally notify them for repeated behavior that warrants parent involvement.

Generally, these detentions are 20-45 minutes in length.  Teacher detentions will be assigned for the school day following the day of the infraction, unless the student and the teacher agree to different time for the student to serve.

After School Detentions

After school detentions are held regularly on Tuesday and or Thursday of each week.  Detentions are scheduled from 2:55 p.m. until 3:40 p.m. No student will be admitted to detention hall after 2:55 p.m. without a pass.  Detention may only be rescheduled with prior administrative approval.

The basic rules for after school detentions are as follows:

●         Students are to be on time.  Administrative approval is only exception. 

●         Students are to remain quiet.  No talking/communicating will be permitted among students.

●         Students are to bring appropriate and a sufficient amount of school work or materials for reading or working during the entire detention.  

●         Students are expected to sit up in their seats.  No heads down on desks or sleeping will be permitted.

●         Students are not permitted to have or consume food, candy, or drink.

●         Students are not permitted to play any type of games, card games, board games, electronic games or use their cell phones.

●         Students unable to comply with the rules will receive one warning.  After that, they will be instructed to leave.

●         Students who are instructed to leave an after-school detention will be issued at least a Saturday detention, depending upon the severity of the infraction.

Saturday Detentions 

Saturday detention will run every other Saturday for a period of three (3) hours per detention assignment.  They begin at 9:00

a.m. and end at noon.  The rules for Saturday detention are the same as those for after-school detentions with the addition of the following:

●  Students arriving after 9:00 AM will not be admitted and will be issued a one day in-school suspension.

●  Transportation to and from school will be the responsibility of the students and the parents.

●  Students will be given a brief stand and stretch opportunity at the midpoint (10:30 a.m.)

●  Students are permitted one bathroom/water break of 4 minutes to be taken at the time of their choosing.  One student at a time will be permitted to leave.

●  Students instructed to leave a Saturday detention due to behavior issues will be issued at least a one day in-school suspension, depending upon the severity of the infraction.

In-School Suspensions (ISS)

The parent/guardian of any student assigned an in-school suspension will be notified. Students will serve an in-school suspension from 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the ISS room (Room 205).  Those in ISS are supervised by a staff member during the entire day.  It is the responsibility of the students to bring assignments, books, and materials to work on that day.  Teachers may elect to send scheduled tests or work to students serving in ISS.  Students with IEPs will be afforded assistance if required by the Learning Support staff.  Students may not reschedule an ISS on the day of the assignment. Students must have an administrator’s approval to reschedule ISS.  After the third ISS, students will not be allowed to return to school without a parent/guardian conference.   The following rules apply to students in ISS:

●         Students are to report to ISS on time. Failure to do so may require serving additional time in ISS.  

●         Students who are absent from school the day of their ISS are to report to the ISS the day they return to school. Those who do not report will be assigned an additional day of ISS. 

●         Students are assigned a seat for the day.  A student may not change his/her seat.

●         Cell phones and other electronic devices are prohibited.

●         No talking, sleeping, or any form of misconduct is tolerated. 

●         Students will be warned if their actions are inappropriate.  After a third warning, students will be dismissed from ISS and suspended from school for the remainder of the day.  The penalty for dismissal will be determined by an administrator.

●         All students remain in the ISS room for lunch.   Students may choose to bring their lunch or purchase lunch from the cafeteria.  No food may be delivered to students.

●         Students assigned to ISS may not participate in after-school activities or sports on the day served.

●         Out-Of-School Suspensions (OSS)

Out-of-school suspension may be assigned for a period of one (1) to ten (10) days for serious offenses. The parents/guardian of any student who is suspended out of school will be notified and may be required to pick the student up from school the day the infraction occurs.  A meeting with a parent/guardian may also be required before a student is permitted to return to school.   Any student who is suspended out of school:

●         Will be permitted to obtain academic assignments which will be due upon the student’s return to school or the time the teacher has stipulated.

●         Will not be permitted to attend or participate in any after school activities or sports.

●         Will not be permitted on school property for any reason unless with administrative approval and accompanied by a parent. 

●         Must report to the Attendance Office prior to the start of school on the day of return. 

Expulsions

An expulsion is a suspension from school for severe infractions of the discipline code that is more than ten (10) days in length.  Before a student is expelled, an expulsion hearing before a committee of the School Board is conducted in accordance with section 1318 of the PA school code.  At the recommendation of this committee, the School Board may elect to expel a student for any length of time, typically from a half year to a year, but can decide to expel a student permanently.