III. Actions Leading to Disciplinary Action

Including, but not limited to, removal from class, suspension and/or expulsion) includes conduct on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity (including on a school bus), and conduct off school grounds, as set forth above. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Striking or assaulting students, members of the school staff or other persons.

2. Theft.

3. The use of obscene or profane language or gestures, the possession and/or display of obscenity or pornographic images or the unauthorized or inappropriate possession and/or display of images, pictures or photographs depicting nudity.

4. Violation of smoking, dress, transportation regulations, or other regulations and/or policies governing student conduct.

5. Refusal to obey a member of the school staff; law enforcement authorities, or school volunteers, or disruptive classroom behavior.

6. Any act of harassment based on an individual protected status, including but not limited to, age, marital status, present or past history of intellectual disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, disability, national origin or ancestry.

7. Refusal by a student to identify himself/herself to a staff member when asked, misidentification of oneself to such person(s), lying to school officials or otherwise engaging in dishonest behavior.

8. Inappropriate displays of public affection of a sexual nature and/or sexual activity on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity.

9. A walk-out from or sit-in within a classroom or school building or school grounds.

10. Blackmailing, threatening or intimidating school staff or students (or acting in a manner that could be construed to constitute blackmail, a threat, or intimidation, regardless of whether intended as a joke).

11. Possession of any weapon, weapon facsimile, deadly weapon, martial arts weapon, electronic defense weapon, pistol, knife, blackjack, bludgeon, box cutter, metal knuckles, pellet gun, air pistol, explosive device, firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, whether functional or not, or any other dangerous object or instrument. The possession and/or use of any object or device that has been converted or modified for use as a weapon.

12. Possession of any ammunition for any weapon described above in paragraph 11.

13. Unauthorized entrance into any school facility or portion of a school facility or aiding or abetting an unauthorized entrance.

14. Possession or ignition of any fireworks, combustible or other explosive materials, or ignition of any material causing a fire. Possession of any materials designed to be used in the ignition of combustible materials, including matches and lighters.

15. Unauthorized possession, sale, distribution, use, consumption, or aiding in the procurement of tobacco, drugs, narcotics or alcoholic beverages (or any facsimile of tobacco, drugs, narcotics or alcoholic beverages, or any item represented to be tobacco, drugs or alcoholic beverages), including being under the influence of any such substances. For the purposes of this Paragraph 15, the term "drugs" shall include, but shall not be limited to, any medicinal preparation (prescription and non­ prescription) and any controlled substance whose possession, sale, distribution, use or consumption is illegal under state and/or federal law.

16. Sale, distribution, or consumption of substances contained in household items; including, but not limited to glue, paint, accelerants/propellants for aerosol canisters, and/or items such as the aerators for whipped cream; if sold, distributed or consumed for the purpose of inducing a stimulant, depressant, hallucinogenic or mind-altering effect.

17. Possession of paraphernalia used or designed to be used in the consumption, sale or distribution of drugs, alcohol or tobacco, as described in subparagraph (15) above. For purposes of this policy, drug paraphernalia includes any equipment, products and materials of any kind which are used, intended for use or designed for use in growing, harvesting, manufacturing, producing, preparing, packaging, storing, containing or concealing, or injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing controlled drugs or controlled substances into the human body, including but not limited to items such as ''bongs," pipes, "roach clips," vials, tobacco rolling papers, and any object or container used, intended or designed for use in storing, concealing, possessing, distributing or selling controlled drugs or controlled substances.

18. The destruction of real personal or school property, such as cutting, defacing, or otherwise damaging property in any way.

19. Accumulation of offenses such as school and class tardiness, class or study hall cutting, or failure to attend detention.

20. Being on school grounds while on out-of-school suspension or expulsion without permission from the appropriate members of school administration.

21. Making bomb threats or other threats to the safety of students, staff members, and/or other persons.

22. Defiance of school rules and the valid authority of teachers, supervisors, administrators, other staff members, and/or law enforcement authorities.

23. Throwing snowballs, rocks, sticks, and/or similar objects, except as specifically authorized by school staff.

24. Unauthorized and/or reckless and/or improper operation of a motor vehicle on school grounds or at any school-sponsored activity.

25. Leaving school grounds, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity without authorization.

26. Use of or copying of the academic work of another individual and presenting it as the student's own work, without proper attribution; or any other form of academic dishonesty, cheating, or plagiarism

27. Possession and/or use of a handheld electronic device such as cellular telephone, radio, walkman, CD player, blackberry, personal data assistant, walkie talkie, Smartphone, mobile or handheld device, or similar electronic device, on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity in violation of Board policy and/or administrative regulations regulating the use of such devices.

28. Possession and/or use of a beeper or paging device on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity without the written permission of the principal or his/her designee.

29. Unauthorized use of any school computer, computer system, computer software, Internet connection, or similar school property or system, or the use of such property or system for inappropriate purposes.

30. Possession and/or use of a laser pointer, unless the student possesses the laser pointer temporarily for an educational purpose while under the direct supervision of a responsible adult.

31. Hazing.

32. Bullying, defined as the repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic communication, such as cyberbullying, directed at or referring to another student attending school in the same school district, or a physical act or gesture by one or more students repeatedly directed at another student attending school in the same school district, that:

a) causes physical or emotional harm to such student or damage to such student's property;

b) places such student in reasonable fear of harm to himself or herself; or of damage to his or her property;

c) creates a hostile environment at school for such student;

d) infringes on the rights of such student at school or

e) substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school

Bullying shall include, but not be limited to, a written, verbal, or electronic communication or physical act or gesture based on any actual or perceived differentiating characteristics, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or group who has or is perceived to have one or more of such characteristics.

33. Cyberbullying, defined as any act of bullying through the use of the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, cellular mobile telephone, or other mobile electronic devices or any electronic communications.

34. Acting in any manner that creates health and/or safety hazard for staff members, students, or the public, regardless of whether the conduct is intended as a joke.

35. Engaging in a plan to stage or create a violent situation for the purposes of recording it by electronic means; or recording by electronic means acts of violence for purposes of later publication.

36. Engaging in a plan to stage sexual activity for the purposes of recording it by electronic means; or recording by electronic means sexual acts for purposes of later publication.

37. Using computer systems, including email, instant messaging, text messaging, blogging or the use of social networking websites, or other forms of electronic communications, to engage in any conduct prohibited by this policy.

38. Any action prohibited by any Federal or State law.

39. Any other violation of school rules or regulations or a series of violations which makes the presence of the student in school seriously disruptive of the educational process and/or a danger to persons or property.


Updated 11/12/2019, JF