Code of Conduct

The goals and objectives of this policy are to provide effective discipline practices that: 

     1. ensure the safety and dignity of students and staff 

     2. maintain a positive, weapons-free, and drug-free learning environment 

     3. keep school property and the property of others secure 

     4. address the causes of a student’s misbehavior and provide opportunities for all individuals involved in an incident 

         to participate in its resolution 

     5. teach students positive behavioral skills to become independent, self-disciplined citizens in the school community 

         and society. 

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When and Where Conduct Rules Apply 

A student is subject to disciplinary action for engaging in prohibited student conduct, as described in the section with that name below, whenever the student’s conduct is reasonably related to school or school activities, including, but not limited to: 

     1. On school grounds during school hours or immediately before or after school

     2. En route to or from school on days where school is in session

     3. Off school grounds at a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable 

          relationship to school

     4. Traveling to or from school or a school activity, function, or event

     5. Anywhere, if the conduct interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the school environment, school operations, 

         or an educational function, including, but not limited to, conduct that may reasonably be considered to: 

          (a) be a threat or an attempted intimidation of a staff member

          (b) endanger the health or safety of students, staff, or school property. 

Definition

For purposes of this policy, the term “possession” includes having control, custody, or care, currently or in the past, of an object or substance, including situations in which the item is: 

          a. on the student’s person

          b. contained in another item belonging to, or under the control of, the student, such as in the student’s clothing,

               backpack, or automobile

          c. in a school’s student locker, desk, or other school property

          d. at any location on school property or at a school-sponsored event 

Prohibited Student Conduct 

The school administration is authorized to discipline students for gross disobedience or misconduct, including but not limited to: 

1. Using, possessing, distributing, purchasing, or selling tobacco 

2. Using, possessing, distributing, purchasing, or selling nicotine materials including but not limited to electronic cigarettes and/or vapor devices. 

3. Using, possessing, distributing, purchasing, or selling alcoholic beverages. Students who are under the influence of an alcoholic beverage are not permitted to attend school or school functions and are treated as though they had alcohol in their possession. 

4. Using, possessing, distributing, purchasing, selling, or offering for sale: 

a. Any illegal drug, controlled substance, or cannabis (including marijuana, hashish and medical cannabis unless the student is authorized to be administered a medical cannabis infused product under Ashley’s Law). (7:190 )  

b. Any anabolic steroid unless being administered in accordance with a physician’s or licensed practitioners prescription. 

c. Any prescription drug when not prescribed for the student by a physician or licensed practitioner, or when used in a manner inconsistent with the prescription or prescribing physician or licensed practitioner’s instructions. The use or possession of medical cannabis, even by a student for whom medical cannabis has been prescribed, is prohibited unless the student is authorized to be administered a medical cannabis infused product under Ashley’s Law. 

d. Any inhalant, regardless of whether it contains an illegal drug or controlled substance: 

i. that a student believes is, or represents to be capable of, causing intoxication, hallucination, excitement, or dulling of the brain or nervous system; 

ii. about which the student engaged in behavior that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student intended the inhalant to cause intoxication, hallucination, excitement, or dulling of the brain or nervous system. The prohibition in this section does not apply to a student’s use of asthma or other legally prescribed inhalant medications. 

e. “Look-alike” or counterfeit drugs, including a substance that is not prohibited by this policy, but one: 

i. that a student believes to be, or represents to be, an illegal drug or controlled substance that is not prohibited by this policy, or 

ii. about which a student engaged in behavior that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student expressly or impliedly represented to be an illegal drug, or controlled substance, or other substance that is prohibited by this policy.

f. Drug paraphernalia, including devices that are or can be used to: 

i. ingest, inhale, or inject cannabis or controlled substances into the body; 

ii. grow, process, store, or conceal cannabis or controlled substances. Students who are under the influence of any prohibited substance are not permitted to attend school or school functions and are treated as though they had the prohibited substance, as applicable, in their possession. 

g. Any substance inhaled, injected, smoked, consumed, or otherwise ingested or absorbed with the intention of causing a physiological or psychological change in the body, including but not limited to pure caffeine in tablet of powdered form. 

5. Using, possessing, controlling, or transferring a “weapon” as that term is defined in the Weapons section of this policy, or violating the Weapons section of this policy. 

6. Using or possessing an electronic paging device. Using a cellular telephone, video recording device, personal digital assistant (PDA), or other electronic device in any manner that disrupts the educational environment or violates the rights of others, including using the device to take photographs in locker rooms or bathrooms, cheat, or otherwise violate student conduct rules. Prohibited conduct specifically includes, but is not limited to creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving, or possessing an indecent visual depiction of oneself or another person through the use of a computer, electronic communication device, or cellular phone. Unless otherwise banned under this policy or by the Building Principal, all electronic devices must be kept powered-off during the regular school day unless: 

a. the supervising teacher, or principal grants permission (7:190) 

b. using or possessing a cellular telephone, electronic signaling device, two way radio, video recording device, and/or other telecommunication device unless authorized and approved by the Building Principal 

c. use of the device is provided in a student’s individualized education program (IEP).

d. it is needed in an emergency that threatens the safety of students, staff, or other individuals. 

7. Using or possessing a laser pointer unless under a staff member’s direct supervision and in the context of instruction. 

8. Disobeying rules of student conduct or directives from staff members or school officials. Examples of disobeying staff directives include refusing a District staff member’s request to stop, present school identification, or submit to a search. 

9. Engaging in academic dishonesty, including cheating, intentionally plagiarizing, wrongfully giving or receiving help during an academic examination, altering report cards and or progress reports, and wrongfully obtaining test copies or scores. 

10. Engaging in hazing or any kind of bullying or aggressive behavior that does physical or psychological harm to another or any urging of other students to engage in such conduct. Prohibited conduct includes any use of violence, force, noise, coercion, threats, intimidation, fear, harassment, hazing, stalking, sexual harassment, public humiliation, theft or destruction of property, retaliation, hazing, bullying, bullying using a school computer or a school computer network, or other comparable conduct. Prohibited conduct specifically includes, but is not limited to engaging in any sexual activity, offensive touching, sexual harassment, indecent exposure (including mooning), and sexual assault. This does not include the non-disruptive expression of gender or sexual orientation or preference. 

11. Causing or attempting to cause damage to, or stealing or attempting to steal, school property or another person’s personal property. 

12. Entering secured school property or a school facility without authorization. 

13. Being absent without a recognized excuse; State law and Board policy regarding truancy control will be used with chronic and habitual truants. 

14. Being involved with any public school fraternity, sorority, or secret society, by: 

a. being a member; 

b. promising to join; 

c. pledging to become a member; 

d. soliciting any other person to join, promise to join, or be pledged to become a member. 

15. Being involved in gangs or gang-related activities, including displaying gang symbols or paraphernalia. 

16. Violating any criminal law, including but not limited to, assault, battery, arson, theft, gambling, eavesdropping, and hazing. 

17. Making an explicit threat on an Internet website that is accessible during or after school hours against a student, school employee, or other school-related personnel if the Internet website through which the threat was made is a site that was accessible within the school at the time the thread was made, and the threat is reasonably interpreted as threatening to and/or harmful to the safety and security of the threatened individual(s) because of his or her duties or employment status or status as a student inside the school. Making an explicit threat on an Internet website against a school, employee, or any school-related personnel under circumstances described in (7:190) 

18. Engaging in any activity, on or off campus, that interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the school environment, school operations, or an educational function, including but not limited to, conduct that may reasonably be considered to: 

a. be a threat or an attempted intimidation of a staff member;

b. endanger the health or safety of students, staff, or school property. 

19. Calling emergency responders (such as 911) including but not limited to setting off alarms/signals indicating the presence of an emergency when no emergency exists, or indicating the presence of a bomb/explosive device on school grounds, on a school bus, or at any school activity. 

20. Operating an unmanned aircraft system or drone for any purpose on school grounds or at any school event unless grant permission by the Superintendent or designee. Efforts, including the use of early intervention and progressive discipline, shall be made to deter students, while at school or a school-related event, from engaging in aggressive behavior that may reasonably produce physical or physiological harm to someone else. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the parent/guardian of a student who engages in aggressive behavior is notified of the incident. The failure to provide such notification does not limit the Board’s authority to impose discipline, including suspension or expulsion, for such behavior. No disciplinary action shall be taken against any student that is based totally or in part on the refusal of the student’s parent/guardian to administer or consent to the administration of psychotropic or psychostimulant medication to the student. The grounds for disciplinary action, including those described more thoroughly later in this policy, apply whenever the student’s conduct is reasonably related to school or school activities, including but not limited to: 

1. On, or within sight of, school grounds before, during, or after school hours or at any time; 

2. Off school grounds at a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school; 

3. Traveling to or from school or a school activity, function, or event; 

4. Anywhere, if the conduct interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the school environment, school operations, or an educational function, including but not limited to, conduct that may reasonably be considered to: 

a. be a threat or an attempted intimidation of a staff member; 

b. endanger the health or safety of students, staff, or school property. 

Disciplinary Measures 

Disciplinary measures may include: 

1. Notification of parents/guardians 

2. Temporary removal from the classroom 

3. Disciplinary conference 

4. Withholding of privileges 

5. Return of property or restitution for lost, stolen, or damaged property. 

6. After-school study or Saturday study, provided student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) has been notified. If transportation arrangements cannot be agreed upon, an alternative disciplinary measure must be used. If this plan is used, the student must be supervised by detaining teacher, building principal, or designee. (7:190.)

7. In-school suspension for a period not to exceed 5 school days. The building principal or designee shall ensure that the student is properly supervised. 

8. Suspension of bus riding privileges, providing that appropriate procedures are followed. 

9. Out of School Suspension from school and all school activities in accordance with Board Policy 7:20, Suspension Procedures and with Board policy 7:220, Bus Conduct. A student who has been suspended will be restricted from being on school grounds unless granted permission by the principal of the school. 

10. Expulsion from school an all school activities for a definite time period not exceed 2 calendar years in accordance with Board Policy 7:210, Expulsion Procedures. A student who has been expelled will be restricted from being on school grounds and at school activities for the duration of the expulsion. 

11. Transfer to an alternative program (i.e. Safe Schools Program) if the student is expelled or otherwise qualifies for the transfer under State law. The transfer shall be in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of the School Code. 

12. Community service with local public and nonprofit agencies that enhance efforts to meet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs.

a. School administration shall use this option only as an alternative to another disciplinary measure, giving the student and/or parent/guardian the choice. 

b. The district will not provide transportation for community service. 

13. Seizure of contraband which may lead to confiscation and temporary retention of personal property that was used to violate this policy or school disciplinary rules 

14. Notification of juvenile authorities or other law enforcement whenever conduct involves criminal activity including but not limited to illegal drugs (controlled substances), “look-alikes” alcohol, or weapons, or in circumstances as otherwise authorized by the reciprocal reporting agreement between the District and local law enforcement agencies, the Courts, or juvenile authorities. 

The above list of disciplinary measures is a range of options that will not always be applicable in every case. In some circumstances, it may not be possible to avoid suspending or expelling a student because behavioral interventions, other than a suspension and expulsion, will not be appropriate and available, and the only reasonable and practical way to resolve the threat and/or address the disruption is a suspension or expulsion. 

A student who is subject to a suspension in excess of 20 school days or an expulsion may be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of the School Code. Corporal punishment shall not be used. 

Corporal punishment is prohibited. Corporal punishment is defined as slapping, paddling, or prolonged maintenance of students in physically painful positions, or intentional infliction of bodily harm. Corporal punishment does not include reasonable force as needed to maintain safety for students, staff, or other persons, or for the purpose of self defense or defense of property. 

Isolated Time Out, Time Out, and Physical Restraint 

Neither isolated time out, time out, nor physical restraint shall be used to discipline or punish a student. These methods are only authorized for use as permitted in 105 ILCS 5/10-20.33, State Board of Education rules (23 Ill.Admin.Code§§ 1.280, 1.285), and the District’s procedure(s). 

Weapons 

A student who is determined to have brought to school or to any school sponsored activity or event, or any event that bears a reasonable relationship to school, uses, possesses, controls, or transfers a weapon, or any other object that can reasonably be considered, or looks like, a weapon, shall be expelled for at least one calendar year, but no more than 2 calendar years. 

The Superintendent may modify the expulsion period and the Board may modify the Superintendent’s determination, on a case-by-case basis. A “weapon” means possession, use, control, or transfer of: 

1. a firearm, meaning any gun, rifle, shotgun, a weapon as defined by Section 921 of Title 18, United States Code, (18 U.S.C. § 921), firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card (430 ILCS 65/), or firearm as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (720 ILCS 5/24-1); 

2. any other object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, including but not limited to, knives, brass knuckles, billy clubs

3. “look-alikes” of any weapon as defined above. Any item, such as a baseball bat, pipe, bottle, lock, stick, pencil, and pen, is considered to be a weapon if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm. The Superintendent or designee may grant an exception to this policy, upon the prior request of an adult supervisor, for students in theatre, cooking, ROTC, martial arts, and similar programs, whether or not school-sponsored, provided the item is not equipped, nor intended, to do bodily harm. 

The expulsion requirement under either paragraph one or two above, may be modified by the Superintendent, and the

Superintendent’s determination may be modified by the Board on a case-by-case basis. The Superintendent or designee

may grant an exception to this policy, upon the prior request of an adult supervisor, for students in theatre, cooking, ROTC, martial arts, and similar programs whether or not school-sponsored, provided the item is not equipped, nor intended, to do bodily harm. This policy’s prohibitions concerning weapons apply regardless of whether: 

     1. A student is licensed to carry a concealed firearm, 

     2.The Board permits visitors, who are licensed to carry a concealed firearm, to store a firearm, to store a firearm in a locked vehicle in a school parking area. 

Re-Engagement of Returning Students 

The Superintendent or designee shall maintain a process to facilitate the re-engagement of students who are returning from an out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or an alternative school setting. The goal of re-engagement shall be to support the student’s ability to be successful in school following a period of exclusionary discipline and shall include the opportunity for students who have been suspended to complete or make up work for equivalent academic credit. 

Required Notices 

A school staff member shall immediately notify the office of the Building Principal in the event that he or she: 

     1. observes any person in possession of a firearm on or around school grounds; however, such action may be delayed if immediate notice would   endanger students under his or her supervision, 

     2. observes or has reason to suspect that any person on school grounds is or was involved in a drug-related incident,

     3. observes a battery committed against any staff member. 

Upon receiving such a report, the Building Principal or designee shall immediately notify the local law enforcement agency, State Police (ISP), and any involved student’s parent/guardian. “School grounds” includes modes of transportation to school activities and any public way within 1000 feet of the school, as well as school property itself. 

Delegation of Authority 

Each teacher and any other school personnel may temporarily remove students from a classroom for disruptive behavior when students are under his or her supervision. 

Reasonable force may be used to maintain safety for self-defense, safety of students, school personnel or other persons. 

Teachers, educational paraprofessionals, or other certificated employees may use reasonable force to help curtail disruptive behavior. 

The Superintendent, building principal, or assistant principal is authorized to impose the same disciplinary measures as teachers. 

Provided that appropriate procedures are followed, the Superintendent, building principal, or assistant principal above 

may suspend students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct by: 

     1. Removing student from all school functions 

     2. Revoking bus riding privileges up to 10 days Suspension of a student from riding the bus in excess of 10 school days because of safety concerns must be approved by the Superintendent or designee. 

Student Handbook 

The Superintendent or designee, with input from the parent-teacher advisory committee, shall prepare disciplinary rules implementing the District’s disciplinary policies. These disciplinary rules shall be presented annually to the Board for its review and approval. A student handbook, including the District disciplinary policies and rules, shall be distributed to the students’ parents/guardians within 15 days of the beginning of the school year or a student’s enrollment.

Misconduct by Students With Disabilities

The District shall comply with the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 and the Illinois State Board of Education’s Special Education rules when disciplining students with disabilities. No student with a disability shall be expelled if the student’s particular act of gross disobedience or misconduct is a manifestation of the student’s disability. (7:230)

Gum Chewing

Gum chewing is not permitted in school, including the lunch period, unless approved by the classroom teacher, at which time it should be discarded prior to exiting the classroom.

Cheating

Cheating of any kind is not permitted at school. If you are found to be cheating on a test or classroom assignment, you will meet with the administration.  Your parents will be notified and you will receive no credit for the test or assignment. If any further incidence of cheating occurs, the above procedure will be followed with the addition of a conference including your parents, your teacher and the administration.

Personal Electronic Devices

Students are allowed to bring a cell phone to school. The cell phone must be turned off and remain in the child’s backpack. Smart Watches should not be used during the school day for texting or calling home. There are phones in each classroom and in the office. If a student needs to call home they can do so by using the classroom or office telephones.

Behavior and Bullying

Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment are important District goals. Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, military status, unfavorable discharge status from the military service, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, order of protection status, status of being homeless, or actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy, physical appearance, socioeconomic status, academic status, pregnancy, parenting status, and homelessness, association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in each of the following situations: 

1. During any school-sponsored education program or activity. 

2. While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities. 

3. Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment. 

4. Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a non-school related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the School District or school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of a school. This paragraph (item #4) applies only when a school administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred; it does not require staff members to monitor any non-school related activity, function, or program. (7:180)

Bullying includes cyberbullying and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following: 

1. Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student's or students' person or property; 

2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student's or students' physical or mental health; 

3. Substantially interfering with the student's or students' academic performance; or 

4. Substantially interfering with the students' ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school. 

Bullying may take various forms, including without limitation one or more of the following: harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive. 

Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photo-electronic system, or photo- optical system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. Cyberbullying includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying. Cyberbullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying. 

Restorative measures means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that: (i) are adapted to the particular needs of the school and community, (ii) contribute to maintaining school safety, (iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate, (iv) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society, (v) serve to build and restore relationships among students, families, schools, and communities, (vi) reduce the likelihood of future disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students' behavioral health needs in order to keep students in school, and (vii) increase student accountability if the incident of bullying is based on religion, race, ethnicity, or any other category that is identified in the Ill. Human Rights Act. 

School personnel means persons employed by, on contract with, or who volunteer in a school district, including without limitation school and school district administrators, teachers, school counselors, school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, and school resource officers.

The school is required to inform parents or guardians of any alleged incidents of bullying that their student may be involved in, or instances of self-harm determined to be the result of bullying, within 24 hours after the school administration is made aware of the students’ involvement in the bullying incident or self-harm. The school must make diligent efforts to notify parents or guardians, including by utilizing all contact information the school has available or that can be reasonably obtained by the school within 24-hours. (P.A. 103-0047)

Furthermore, schools are required to collect all bullying and submit non-identifiable data regarding all verified allegations of bullying and whether the bullying was based on actual or perceived characteristics in an annual report to the State Board of Education by August 15 of each year starting with the 2024-2025 school year.

Dress Code

Students are expected to dress appropriately for school. Inappropriate clothing includes, but is not restricted to…

•  Clothing that has unkind messages, is gang related, or advertises alcohol, tobacco, or drug use. 

• Hats are not allowed to be worn in school. Hoodies can be worn at school, but must remain off of the head indoors.

• All clothing must cover the midriff. Narrow strapped shirts should not be worn without an undershirt or an outer garment covering the shirt.

• Footwear must be worn at all times. 

• The staff and administration may ask a student to phone home for a change in clothing if concerns arise. Please do not hesitate to phone the principal to ask about school dress.

A student's appearance, including dress and hygiene, must not disrupt the educational process or compromise standards of health and safety. The District does not prohibit hair styles historically associated with race, ethnicity, hair texture, or any other protected classes under Board policy 7:10 Equal Educational Opportunities, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists.