You can expect to be treated fairly.  You can expect to have rational consequences assigned to you in a timely manner. It also means that you will receive due process where you are notified of the specific nature of the allegations against you, receive an opportunity to respond and/or identify witnesses who can support your position, and exercise rights of appeal.

Restorative Communication and Restorative Practices: Springfield High School is committed to providing for alternate responses to student misconduct using a framework called “Restorative Practices.” Restorative practices is an approach that shifts the thinking in regards to  discipline from one based on determining which rules were broken and what consequences will be applied to a more active form of social discipline that focuses on relationships.  In restorative practices, we ask the following questions when responding to harm: 

• Who was harmed?

• Why did the harm occur?

• What needs are unmet in the community?

• What needs to be done to restore community?  

In cases where a student has engaged in behavior that represents harm to the school community, one option may be a resolution process that involves dialogue about the needs that led to the behavior and the impact of that behavior on the school community. The Restorative Practices Coordinator and the Culture and Climate Team are available to assist in dispute resolution, facilitation of harm and support circles, and informal remediation of conflicts. These processes can be used as an alternative to or in conjunction with traditional forms of discipline.

Research has shown that traditional measures of school discipline like suspension, detention, and other passive forms of discipline often do not result in improved behavior. Students that are subject to such discipline generally are more likely to engage in the behavior again because the underlying issues have not been resolved. In addition, traditional discipline is often exclusionary and forces students out of the school community. In contrast, restorative practices focus on keeping students in the community and repairing any harm that was done. In a restorative framework, students are more likely to remain in school and graduate from high school.

While restorative practices are sometimes seen as a lack of accountability, if done well, the opposite is true. Engaging in circle processes, restorative conversations, and restitution are more active forms of social discipline that can improve and sustain community, actually repair past harm and prevent future harm.

Definitions:

• Lunch Detention: Lunch detention serves as a natural consequence for student misconduct, including failing to follow school expectations. Teachers may issue lunch detentions. During lunch detention, students are required to report to the main office to check in before obtaining lunch from the cafeteria. They will then be allowed to get their lunch and return to the main office for a structured lunch setting (see below). This consequence reinforces personal accountability, encourages responsible behavior, and supports a safe and respectful school environment.

• FLEX Administrative Detentions (AKA “Administrative Detention”): Administrative detentions will be issued by the Main Office and will be held in the Main Office. Skipping an Administrative detention will result in  OSS.        

• Out-of-School Suspension: If in-school suspension (ISS) is unavailable, students may receive an out-of-school suspension for serious offenses or repeated rule violations. Due process requires that students be notified of the suspension. The Principal or Assistant Principal will explain the reason and length of the suspension. Students have the right to respond in their defense. Parents or guardians will be informed by phone and letter. During suspension, students are prohibited from being on any school grounds in the district and may not attend or participate in any school-sponsored events, including weekend activities and sports. Students are responsible for making up missed work and tests by requesting assignments from the Main Office, which can be picked up after school.

Lunch Detention Expectations and Rules:

•  Be on time.    

•  Upon arriving at the detention room, students should check in with the staff member so that their name  

     may be marked off as “present.”

•  When you arrive at detention, you will be assigned a seat.  You must remain in that seat for the 

      entire time unless permitted to leave your seat.  

• Do not get up from the seat to dispose of trash, sharpen your pencil, get a book, ask a question, etc.  

• There is NO roaming around the room.  

• If you have a problem, raise your hand and wait to be called on.  

•  Students will not be permitted to go to the restroom, water fountain, or to see another teacher once the 

     detention session has started. Students should attend to these matters before arriving at the detention 

     room.

•  No electronic devices (e.g., cell phones) of any kind may be used.  All cell phones must be turned off—

     this means NO VIBRATE MODE may be used.  Any electronic device that is seen or heard will be 

     confiscated, and progressive discipline will be assigned by an administrator (see below).   

•  You may not close your eyes, put your head down on the desk, or lay your head back.  There is no 

     sleeping or resting in detention.   

•  There will be no whispering, talking, writing notes, or trying to communicate in any way with any other 

     student.

• The student is to follow all detention proctor expectations.

• The staff member will dismiss the student when it is time to leave.

FLEX Administrative Detention Expectations and Rules:

•  Administrative Detentions will be held in the Main Office

•  Be on time.    

•  When you arrive at detention, you will be assigned a seat.  You must remain in that seat for the 

      entire time unless permitted to leave your seat.  

• Do not get up from the seat to dispose of trash, sharpen your pencil, get a book, ask a question, etc.  

• There is NO roaming around the room.  

• If you have a problem, raise your hand and wait to be called on.  

•  Students will not be permitted to go to the restroom, water fountain, or to see another teacher once the 

     detention session has started. Students should attend to these matters before arriving at the detention 

     room.

•  No electronic devices (e.g., cell phones) of any kind may be used.  All cell phones must be turned off—

     this means NO VIBRATE MODE may be used.  Any electronic device that is seen or heard will be 

     confiscated, and progressive discipline will be assigned by an administrator (see below).   

•  You may not close your eyes, put your head down on the desk, or lay your head back.  There is no 

     sleeping or resting in detention.   

•  There will be no whispering, talking, writing notes, or trying to communicate in any way with any other 

     student.

•  The staff member will dismiss the student when it is time to leave.

Progressive Discipline

Late to Detention:

• If you arrive late, then you will serve the remainder of the detention and an additional detention. 

• If you were originally assigned two detentions, you will serve the remainder of the detention and an Administrative detention.

Misbehavior at Detention: 

• The first time a student is asked to leave detention for inappropriate behavior, they will be assigned 2 additional detentions.  

• All subsequent removals will result in Administrative detentions or OSS. 

• If, based on past behavior, a student has demonstrated an inability to be assigned lunch detentions or teacher detentions, all assigned detentions will be Administrative detentions or OSS.

Skipping Detentions:

• Skipping a lunch detention will result in two lunch detentions.

• Skipping an Administrative detention will result in OSS.

Other: 

• Students are solely responsible for attending assigned detentions on the date and time assigned.

• The staff member who assigns detention shall contact “home” via phone call at least 24 hours prior to the detention. If there is no answer or no option to leave a voicemail, an email shall be sent home.

• The staff member will inform the student why they were assigned detention, as well as the time, location, and details of the detention.

Out of School Suspension: In the case of serious offenses or repeated rule violations, you will be assigned an out of school suspension. Due process requires notification of students who are being placed on suspension. The Principal or Assistant Principal will inform the student of the reason for suspension and its duration.  Students have the right to speak in their own defense, and their parents/guardians will be informed of the action by phone and by letter.  A copy of the student’s suspension letter will be forwarded to the Superintendent of Schools.  Suspended students are not allowed on school grounds anywhere in the district and may not participate in any school-sponsored activities during the suspension period. This includes both weekend activities and sports.  Suspended students are expected to make up work and tests missed during the suspension period.  It is their responsibility to request assignments from the Main Office.  Assignments may be picked up after school.

Any student accumulating ten suspensions during the school year may be required to appear before the School Board to defend their behavior.