Student Conduct

Student Conduct on Campus

Oak Park High School is a community of students gathered for the purpose of formal learning, wherein each respects him or herself, others, and the institution. Proper student conduct is important so that all students have the maximum opportunity to learn. Students also need to be aware of what is acceptable male-female behavior on campus. While sexual harassment is a very clear violation of the law, other types of distracting behavior are not as clear. Overt physical contact and/or excessive displays of affection are not appropriate for a high school campus. After an initial warning, students who fail to exercise good judgement in this area will be counseled and required to attend a meeting with parents and an administrator. The following school-wide rules are in place to help students meet their responsibilities:

Students will be responsible for following all established classroom and campus rules. By following the rules, students can be certain that their rights and the rights of others as well as their own safety are honored and protected.

Students will be respectful toward all faculty and staff members, parent volunteers, and other students. Students will refrain from: fighting and/or provoking others, using profane or obscene language, responding to others in a defiant manner, and disturbing classes.

Students will be respectful of and responsible for using school equipment and facilities in an appropriate manner. Students will refrain from purposeful destruction or theft of another person's or school property. Students and/or their parents are expected to make restitution for lost books or damaged property.

Students will be punctual and in attendance at all classes unless excused by a parent or guardian. A phone call made to the school explaining the student's absence is required from the parent or guardian. Parents must make contact with the attendance office before their child can be released during the school day. Students cannot be released to a friend or a neighbor unless they are listed on the emergency card.

Students will honor school as a place for academic and social learning. Students will refrain from using toys, skateboards, skates, bicycles, and other personal play equipment while on campus.

Students will follow all school rules for behavior when traveling to and from school or while involved in an off-campus school activity such as a field trip, concert, or athletic event, etc.

Students will follow all school rules for behavior when attending assemblies or evening activities and will exhibit appropriate audience skills.

Students will stay within the campus' designated boundaries during school hours. Students with the requisite off-campus pass may leave school at lunch time.

Electronic Devices / Cell Phones

Cell-Phones, ipods, mp-3 players and electronic signalling devices should not be used during school hours. If an electronic device disrupts the learning process, the following actions will be taken:

  • 1st offense – device will be confiscated for the remainder of the day
  • 2nd and any additional offenses will be treated as defiance to authority and will be assigned progressive discipline.

Any emergency calls should be made through the office. Parents can leave messages for students at the counseling office.

Saturday School

Saturday School may be used for the correction of a student's misbehavior. Saturday School shall be constructive in nature, emphasizing the make-up of school work and the counseling of the student in regard to appropriate behavior. It is the responsibility of the student to complete assigned Saturday School to solve the problem, as well as to avoid further consequences.

Loss of Privileges

The loss of privileges may include denying the right of a student to hold class or student body office, the revocation of off-campus passes or parking permits, or the right to participate in class or school activities. Whenever possible, there will be a rational and significant relationship between the offense and the loss of privilege.

Classroom Suspension

Teachers may suspend a student from their classroom pursuant to Education Code 48910, for the day of the suspension and the day following. The teacher shall immediately report the suspension to the assistant principal and send the pupil to the office for appropriate action. As soon as possible, the teacher shall ask the parent or guardian of the pupil to attend a parent-teacher conference regarding the suspension. Whenever practicable, a school counselor and/or school administrator shall attend the conference as scheduled.

When a teacher suspends a student from the classroom, only the principal or the principal's designee may send the student home. The pupil shall not be returned to the class from which he or she was suspended during the period of suspension, without the concurrence of the teacher of the class and the principal. A pupil suspended from a class shall not be placed in another regular class during the period of suspension.

Administrative Suspension

The principal of the school, the principal's designee, or the superintendent of schools may suspend a pupil from the school for any reasons enumerated in Section 48900, for no more than five consecutive school days. Suspension, including in-school suspension shall be imposed only when other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct. However, a pupil, including an individual with exceptional needs, may be suspended for any of the reasons enumerated in Section 48900 upon a first offense, if the principal or superintendent of schools determines that the pupil's presence causes a danger to persons or property or threatens to disrupt the instructional process. The total number of days for which a pupil may be suspended from school shall not exceed 20 school days in any school year, unless for purposes of adjustment, the pupil enrolls in or is transferred to another regular school, an opportunity school or class, or a continuation education school or class, in which case the total number of suspension days shall not exceed 30 in any school year.

Campus Conduct - Grounds for Suspension and Expulsion (E.C. 48900)

A pupil shall not be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion unless the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that one or more of the enumerated acts below have been violated while:

  • On any school grounds within the district;
  • Going to or coming from school;
  • During the lunch period, whether on or off campus;
  • During, or while going to or coming from, a school-sponsored activity. (For example-all dances, athletic events(home or away), field trips, overnight activities, bus trips, and etc.)

a) (1) Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person; or

(2) Willfully used force or violence upon the person of another, except in self-defense.

b) Possessed, sold, or furnished any firearm, knife, dangerous object, or explosive.

c) Possessed, used, sold, furnished, or been under the influence of any controlled substance, alcohol or intoxicant of any kind.

d) Offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance, alcohol, intoxicant, or representation of items thereof.

e) Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.

f) Caused or attempted to cause damage to school or private property.

g) Stole or attempted to steal school or private property.

h) Possessed or used tobacco, or tobacco products.

i) Committed an obscene act or engaged in profanity or vulgarity.

j) Offered, possessed, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia.

k) Disrupted school activities or willfully defied valid authority.

l) Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.

m) Possessed an imitation firearm.

n) Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault, or committed a sexual battery, as defined in the Penal Code.

o) Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a pupil who is a complaining witness or witness in a school disciplinary proceeding.

p) Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug Soma.

q) Engaged in, or attempted to engage in, hazing as defined in Section 245.6 of the Penal Code.

r) Engaged in an act of bullying, including, but not limited to, bullying committed by means of an electronic act directed toward a pupil or school personnel.

t) Aided or abetted the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury.

u) As used in this section, "school property" includes, but is not limited to, electronic files and databases.

w) It is the intent of the Legislature that alternatives to suspension or expulsion be imposed against a pupil who is truant, tardy, or otherwise absent from school activities.

(E.C. 48900.5) Pupil's presence causes a danger to persons or property, or threatens to disrupt the instructional process.

(E.C. 48900.7) Pupil has made terrorist threats against school officials or school property, or both.

(E.C. 48900.2) Committed sexual harassment as defined in section 212.5 of the Californa Education Code.

(E.C. 48900.3) Caused, attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or participated in an act of hate violence.

Recommending Expulsion (E.C. 48915)

Although the Oak Park Unified School District follows a progressive approach to student discipline, the acts enumerated in E.C. 48915 below constitute serious threats to school and individual safety. As a result, they will be dealt with in a swift and appropriate manner as prescribed in the Education Code.

The Education Code requires that the principal or superintendent of schools recommend the expulsion of a pupil for any of the following acts committed at school or at a school activity off school grounds. The principal or the superintendent of schools shall recommend a pupil's expulsion for any of the following acts, unless the principal or superintendent finds, and so reports in writing to the Governing Board, that expulsion is inappropriate due to particular circumstances.

  • Causing serious physical injury to another person, except in self-defense
  • Possession of any knife or other dangerous object of no reasonable use to the pupil
  • Unlawful possession of any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code (except for first offense of less than one ounce of marijuana)
  • Robbery or extortion
  • Assault or battery upon any school employee
  • In addition, the principal or superintendent of schools shall recommend the expulsion of a pupil that has committed any of the following acts at school or at a school activity off grounds.
  • Possessing, selling or otherwise furnishing a firearm or imitation firearm
  • Brandishing a knife at another person
  • Unlawfully selling a controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC)
  • Committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault or sexual battery

Possession of an explosive

Specific Procedures for Disciplinary Action

The following represents a series of recommended guidelines in the disposition of discipline at Oak Park High School. Depending on the circumstances of your behavior and your prior history, or lack thereof, in matters such as these, responses may vary from situation to situation at the administrator’s discretion.

The schedule of actions possible when an infraction of regulations occurs is:


  1. Conference with student regarding violation and a warning
  2. Parent contact and a warning
  3. Campus Cleanup
  4. Signed behavior contract
  5. Parent/teacher/administrator conference
  6. Saturday School Program
    1. In-School Suspension
  7. Suspension
  8. Administrative removal from class and a withdrawal/fail (WF) grade
  9. Transfer to another specialized program or continuation school
  10. Contact with police or other appropriate agency
  11. Expulsion from the district

Spring Semester Graduating Seniors

Students sign a behavioral contract at the beginning of their senior year. Seniors have access to all of the above-mentioned interventions. In addition, if they break their contract, the following consequences are implemented:

· Exclusion from the activity and referral to the appropriate authority.

· Suspension or expulsion from school.

· Exclusion from school activities for the remainder of the school year. Activities include, but are not limited to: Junior-Senior Prom, Senior Awards Recognition, Senior Activities, and may include Commencement and Grad Nite.

Medications

Students and parents should also be aware that it is illegal to bring prescriptive or over the counter medication (including aspirin, Advil, or other pain relieving medication) onto a school campus. Students requiring medication any time during the school day must have a properly signed Medical Release Form on file. All medicine must be stored and dispensed in the office, with the exception of inhalers, epi-pens and insulin. Students should also be aware of the dangers of providing prescriptive or over the counter drugs to other students.

Weapons

The California Education code 49330 defines an injurious object as any device capable of inflicting substantial bodily damage. All students are reminded that any object which may be used to inflict harm on another person will be considered a weapon. This includes any firearm (including BB and pellet guns), knives (including pocket knives, dirks, daggers, and razors), explosives, or any other dangerous object. Students should also be aware that a recent law has made the possession of an imitation firearm on school campuses a suspendable and expellable offense. The school district will treat the possession of the replica or imitation firearm the same as if it were a real weapon. The use or possession of a weapon on campus constitutes a serious threat to school and individual safety. As a result, violations of this code will result in a recommendation for expulsion from the district.