Discipline Policy – Code of Conduct

The Seymour Board of Education in recognizing its moral and legal responsibilities to the total community, including parents, students, and school personnel, is highly desirous of continued pride in its public schools.  Recognizing that with every legal right that an individual in the public school possesses, an equal sense of responsibility must be shared by each individual for the common goal of respecting the rights of others in our schools.  It is the purpose and philosophy of the Seymour Board of Education to outline necessary administrative procedures that will provide for a fair but firm approach in promoting the proper conduct of pupils in the Seymour Public Schools.  This policy is in conjunction with Board of Education policy 5114.

Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process

The Seymour Board of Education in recognizing its moral and legal responsibilities to the total community, including parents, students, and school personnel is highly desirous of continued pride in its public schools. Recognizing that with every legal right that an individual in the public school possesses, an equal sense of responsibility must be shared by each individual for the common goal of respecting the rights of others in our schools. It is the purpose and philosophy of the Seymour Board of Education to outline necessary administrative procedures that will provide for a fair but firm approach in promoting the proper conduct of students in the Seymour Public Schools.

 Removal/Suspension/Expulsion

The Board of Education recognizes the necessity of fair and judicious rules and guidelines to aid in the positive conduct of students and the administration of the schools in a manner resulting in the benefit of all students.  The Board authorizes its teachers to remove students from class when they deliberately cause a serious disruption of the educational process within the classroom  The Board authorizes the administration of its schools to suspend students whose conduct on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity violates published policy of such board, is seriously disruptive of the educational process, or endangers persons or property or whose conduct off school grounds is in violation of such policy and is seriously disruptive of the educational process. In making a determination as to whether conduct is seriously disruptive of the educational process, the administration may consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to: (1) whether the incident occurred within close proximity of a school (2) whether other students from the school were involved or whether there was any gang involvement; (3) whether the conduct involved violence, threats of violence or the unlawful use of a weapon, as defined in section 29 38, and whether any injuries occurred, and (4) whether the conduct involved the use of alcohol Further, the Board may expel a student from school after an opportunity for a full hearing conducted under procedures covered in the law for such conduct.

 Definitions

A.     Dangerous Instrument means any instrument, article or substance which, under the circumstances in which it is used or attempted or threatened to be used, is capable of causing death or serious physical injury, and includes a ''vehicle" or a dog that has been commanded to attack, except a dog owned by law enforcement agency when such dog is in the performance of its duties under the direct supervision, care and control of an assigned law enforcement officer.

B.     Deadly Weapon means any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, from which a shot may be discharged, or a switchblade knife, gravity knife, billy club, blackjack, bludgeon or metal knuckles.

C.     Electronic Defense Weapon means a weapon which by electronic impulse or current is capable of immobilizing a person temporarily, but is not capable of inflicting death or serious physical injury.

D.     Emergency means a situation in which the continued presence of the student in school poses such a danger to persons or property or such a disruption of the educational process that a hearing may be delayed until a time as soon after the exclusion of such student as possible.

E.      Exclusion means any denial of public school privileges to a student for disciplinary purposes.

F.      Expulsion means the exclusion of a student from school privileges for more than ten (10) consecutive school days. The expulsion period may not extend beyond one (1) calendar year.

G.     Firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C §921, means (a) any weapon (including a starter gun) that will, is designed to, or may be readily converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, (b) the frame or receiver of any such weapon, (c) a firearm muffler or silencer, or (d) any destructive device. The term firearm does not include an antique firearm  As used in this definition, a "destructive device" includes any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas device, including a bomb, a grenade, a rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, a missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, a mine, or any other device similar to any of the devices described herein; or any weapon (other than a shotgun or shotgun shell which the Attorney General finds is generally recognized as particularly suited for sporting purposes) that will, or may be readily converted to, expel a projectile by explosive or other propellant, and which has a barrel with a bore of more than 1/2"in diameter. The term "destructive device" also includes any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into any destructive device or any device from which a destructive device may be readily assembled.

H.     In-School Suspension means an exclusion from regular classroom activity for no more than ten (10) consecutive school days, but not exclusion from school provided such exclusion shall not extend beyond the end of the school year in which such in-school suspension was imposed.   No student shall be placed on in-school suspension more than fifteen (15) times or a total of fifty (50) days in one (1) school year, whichever results in fewer days of exclusion.

I.        Martial Arts Weapon means a nunchaku, kama, kasari-fundo, octagon satonfu, or Chinese star.

J.       Removal is the exclusion of a student from a classroom for all or part of a single class period, provided such exclusion shall not extend beyond ninety (90) minutes.

K.     School Days shall mean days when school is in session for students.

L.      School-Sponsored Activity means any activity sponsored, recognized, or authorized by the Board and includes activities conducted on or off school property.

M.    Seriously Disruptive of the Educational Process, as applied to off-campus conduct, means any conduct that markedly interrupts or severely impedes the day-to-day operation of a school.

N.     Suspension means the exclusion of a student from school and/or transportation services for not more than ten (10) consecutive school days, provided such suspension shall not extend beyond the end of the school year in which such suspension is imposed; and further provided no student shall be suspended more than ten (10) times or a total of fifty (50) days in one school year, whichever results in fewer days of exclusion, unless such student is granted a formal hearing as provided below.

O.     Weapon means any firearm facsimile, BB gun, any blackjack, any metal or brass knuckles, any police baton or nightstick, any dirk knife or switch knife, any knife having an automatic spring release devise by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, any stiletto, any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches and over in length, any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, unless permitted by law lU1der section 29-38 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

P.      Notwithstanding the foregoing definitions, the reassignment of a student from one regular education classroom program in the district to another regular education classroom program in the district shall not constitute a suspension or expulsion.

Section Index

• II. Scope of the Student Discipline Policy

• III. Actions Leading to Disciplinary Action 

• IV. Discretionary and Mandatory Expulsions

• V. Procedures Governing Removal from Class

• VI. Procedures Governing Suspension

• VII. Procedures Governing In-School Suspension

• VIII. Procedures Governing Expulsion Hearing

  • IX. Alternative Educational Opportunities for Expelled Students

  • X. Notice of Student Expulsion on Cumulative Record

  • XI. Change of Residence During Expulsion Proceed 

  • XII. Procedures Governing Suspension and Expulsion of Students Identified as Eligible for Services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA'')

  • XIII. Procedures Governing Expulsions for Students Identified as Eligible for Educational Accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Section 504')

  • XIV. Procedures Governing Expulsions for Students Committed to a Juvenile Detention Center

  • XV. Early Readmission to School

• XVI. Dissemination of Policy

• XVII. Compliance with Reporting Requirements

• Academic Honesty Policy

• Accumulation of Behavioral Detentions Procedure

• Alcohol/Drugs and Tobacco

  • Breathalyzer Testing

• Bullying Policy

  • Cyberbullying

• Dress Code/Inappropriate Attire

• E-cigarette/Vaporizer or Smoking Device

• Internet Use Policy

  • Electronic Devices

• Sexual Harassment Policy