Respect for law and for those persons in authority shall be expected of all students. This includes conformity to school rules as well as general provisions of law affecting students. Respect for the rights of others, consideration of their privileges, and cooperative citizenship shall also be expected of all members of the school community. The Board of Education will not tolerate violent, disruptive, or inappropriate behavior by its students.

Respect for real and personal property; pride in one's work; achievement within the range of one's ability; and exemplary personal standards of courtesy, decency, and honesty shall be maintained in the schools of this District. It is the responsibility of students, teachers and administrators to maintain a classroom environment that:

Students may be subject to discipline for violation of the Code of Conduct/Student Discipline Code even if that conduct occurs on property not owned or controlled by the Board but that is connected to activities or incidents that have occurred on property owned or controlled by the Board, or conduct that, regardless of where it occurs, is directed at a Board official or employee, or the property of such official or employee. Student conduct shall be governed by the rules and provisions of the Student Code of Conduct/Student Discipline Code. This Code of Conduct/Student Discipline shall be reviewed periodically.

All students have rights as bestowed to them by Ohio law, the Constitution of the United States, the Board of Education, and their parents/guardians. In the exercise of these rights, students have basic responsibilities. Every right has a corresponding responsibility. A student may temporarily forfeit his/her right to educational opportunities when his/her conduct disrupts the educational process, deprives others of their basic rights, and violates the school rules and local ordinances established herein.

Disciplinary Action - A violation of any rule may result in disciplinary action including assigned work, promotion and retention or credit penalties, detention, loss of privileges, written notice to or conference with parents, compensatory payment of damages, Saturday School, Alternative Learning Center (A.L.C.), out-of-school suspension, expulsion, emergency removal, or referral to police, Children’s Services, and/or Juvenile Court. Where applicable under Policy 5610.01, permanent exclusion may also result.

A firearm is defined as any weapon, including a starter gun, which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any firearm muffler, or silencer, or any destructive device. A destructive device, includes but is not limited to any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas, bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four (4) ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter (1/4) ounce, mine, or other similar device. A knife is defined as a weapon or cutting instrument consisting of a blade fastened to a handle; a razor blade or any similar device (including sharp, metal martial arts such as ninja throwing stars) that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury. Unless a student is permanently excluded from school, the Superintendent shall expel a student from school for a period of one (1) year for bringing a firearm or knife to a school building or onto any other property (including a school vehicle) owned, controlled or operated by the Board, to any interscholastic competition, an extracurricular event, or to any other school program or activity that is not located in or on property that is owned or controlled by the Board, except that the Superintendent may reduce this period on a case-by-case basis in accordance with this policy. The expulsion may extend, as necessary, into the school year following the school year in which the incident that gives rise to the expulsion takes place. The Superintendent may in his/her sole judgement and discretion, modify or reduce such expulsion in writing, to a period of less than one (1) year, on a case by case basis upon consideration of applicable State or Federal Laws and regulations relating to students with disabilities, degree of culpability given the age of the student and intent and academic and disciplinary history of the student. The Superintendent shall refer any student expelled for bringing a firearm or weapon to school to the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system serving the District.

If a student commits an act at school, on other school property, at an interscholastic competition, extracurricular event or any other school program or activity and the act:

The Superintendent may expel the student for a period of up to one (1) year.

If a student makes a bomb threat to a school building or to any premises at which a school activity is occurring at the time of the threat, the Superintendent may expel the student for a period of up to one (1) year. The Superintendent may extend the expulsion into the next school year or reduce the expulsion as necessary on a case-by-case basis as specified below. The student need not be prosecuted or convicted of any criminal act to be expelled under this provision. The Superintendent may, in his/her sole judgement and discretion, reduce such expulsion to a period of less than one (1) year, on a case by case basis for the following reasons:

Students shall not cheat, plagiarize, alter, falsify, copy, or misuse information. Authorization or credit must be given for information obtained from any source. This includes print materials and technology-generated information. Principals may establish, publish, and disseminate guidelines as to academic penalties.

Students shall not use available technology tools for illegal, unethical, non-educational, and/or for-profit use. Students shall not engage in unauthorized recording using any electronic device while on school property or during school hours.

Students shall not knowingly buy, sell, supply, apply, possess, use, transmit, conceal, be under the influence of the just-listed items, or otherwise violate the Substance Abuse Policy (Policy 5530).

Students shall not cause or attempt to cause damage to private property of students, teachers, school personnel, or other persons, or steal or attempt to steal private property of students, teachers, school personnel, or other persons, or steal or attempt to steal private property or private information, or engage or attempt to engage in or participate or attempt to participate in the unauthorized removal of private property or private information, including technology generated data.

Students shall not cause or attempt to cause damage to school property or steal or attempt to steal school property or school information, engage in or attempt to engage in or participate or attempt to participate in the unauthorized removal of school property or school information, including technology-generated data.

Students shall not act or use technology so as to intimidate, insult, sexually harass, or otherwise abuse, or orally or in writing, any member of the school staff or student body.

Students shall not, by use of violence, force, noise, coercion, threat, harassment, intimidation, fear, passive resistance, false alarm, or any other conduct, cause, attempt, or threaten to cause the disruption or obstruction of any lawful mission, process, activity, or function of the school. Students shall not urge other students to engage in such conduct for the purpose of causing, attempting, or threatening to cause the disruption or obstruction of any lawful mission, process, activity, or function of the school.

Students shall not violate school rules relating to dress and appearance. (See Section V(C),Page 6.) Students shall attend school dressed in a manner that is clean, not hazardous to their safety or the safety of others, and that does not detract from or disrupt the educational environment.

All student wireless communication devices (WCDs) should be on silent or vibrate mode and should be concealed and stored out of sight during the school day. With the expressed permission and supervision of a teacher, students may use WCDs on school property for an educational or instructional purpose. Students may use WCDs before and after school, during after school activities and at school related functions outside the school day. However, when directed by an administrator or sponsor, WCDs should be placed into vibrate or silent mode and stored out of sight. Possession of a WCD by a student is a privilege that may be forfeited by any student who fails to abide by the terms of Policy 5136 or otherwise engages in misuse of this privilege. Students may not use WCDs to distract, humiliate, harass, intimidate or threaten. Additionally, students may not violate the privacy of another person nor disrupt the learning environment. Violations of this policy may result in confiscation of the WCD and disciplinary action. The matter may be referred to law enforcement if the violation involves illegal activity. If confiscated, it will be released/returned to the student’s parent/guardian after the student complies with any other disciplinary consequences.

Students are personally and solely responsible for the care and security of any electronic equipment or devices they bring to school. The Board assumes no responsibility for theft, loss, damage or vandalism to electronic equipment and devices brought onto its property, or the authorized use of such devices.

Students shall not use or attempt to use an expressed or implied threat, violence, harassment, coercion, or intimidation to obtain money, information, or any other type of property belonging to another student, a school employee, or any other person.

Students shall not forge the writing of another or falsely use the name of another person or falsify times, dates, grades, addresses, or other data on school forms or school-related correspondence, including technology systems. Any forms of dishonesty or falsification such as, but not limited to, making a false statement, false accusation, or provide false information may result in disciplinary action.

Students shall not commit any act not listed herein that would be a felony, misdemeanor, or violation of an ordinance if committed by an adult.

Students shall not knowingly act or behave in such a way that attempts or threatens to cause, or does or could cause, physical harm to another student, any school employee, or any other person. These actions include, but will not be limited to, fighting, pushing, and other disruptions. Students also shall not entice another to fight, either with themselves or with another student.

Damage or cause, aid, advise, abets, encourage, hire, counsel, or procure another to damage, by means of fire or explosive, any building or other structure on school property.

Students shall not engage in or promote games of chance, placing of bets, or risk anything of value through any medium.

Students shall not violate the policies of the Board of Education, school rules, or school regulations. This includes conduct not specifically set herein that substantially and materially disrupts or interferes with the good order, discipline, operation, or academic or educational process taking place in the school, or that substantially and materially is or poses a threat to the safety of persons or property. Students are responsible for becoming familiar with these policies, rules, and regulations.

Harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, disability, age, or gender is prohibited. Students shall not harass another student or employee using, but not limited to, slurs or other verbal or physical conduct relating to an individual’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, disability, age, or gender, when such conduct has the purpose or the effect of (a) creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment, or (b) otherwise adversely impacting upon a student’s educational opportunities. (See Policy 5517).

Students shall not threaten, act, or participate in or attempt to threaten, act, or participate in any act or acts that injures, degrades, disgraces, or tends to injure, degrade, or disgrace any student. (See Policy 5516).

Students shall comply with directives, requests, and orders of teachers, student teachers, substitute teachers, educational aides, bus drivers, principals, and other appropriate school personnel. Insubordination is defined as the refusal to respond to a reasonable request. A student shall not refuse to comply with a reasonable request of his/her teacher, principal, coach, extracurricular advisor, staff employees, or adult volunteers. In the case of extracurricular activities, insubordination shall also include the failure to comply with the rules or requirements established by the coach or advisor for that particular activity.

Students shall not speak, write, or use technology to obtain or to generate profane, vulgar, derogatory, demeaning, sexual, or other improper or inappropriate language, or use profane, vulgar, sexual, or other improper or inappropriate gestures or signs or engage or attempt to engage in profane, vulgar, sexual, or other improper or inappropriate actions.

Students shall not engage in kissing, embracing, or any sexual acts or displays not appropriate to the educational environment.

Students who engage in acts that violate this Code, whether or not suspected or expelled, shall be subject to more severe punishment, including suspension or expulsion, for subsequent violations. The School District shall be entitled to maintain records of each student’s misconduct and consider such records to determine the type and severity of punishment to be imposed for a violation of this Code.

Students shall not possess, use, transmit, conceal, or sell cigarettes (including clove cigarettes) or tobacco. E-cigarettes, vaporizers and e-liquid and the like will be considered as a Tobacco product and will be treated as such (Board Policies 5512 and 7434). (See Policy 7434 - Policy 5512)

Students shall not act or participate in any act or acts or attempt to act or participate in any act that poses or tends to pose a danger to the safe operation of a school bus or conveyance, including, but not limited to, failing to remain seated; throwing objects at passengers, the driver, or out of the windows; extending arms or objects out of the windows; or shouting and other disorderly conduct that could cause physical harm, emotional stress, or diversion of the driver’s attention.

Students shall not be absent from all or any portion of regularly scheduled classes or other mandatory activities without school authorization and parental consent.

R.C. 3313.534, 3313.661

Revised 10/22/90
Revised 8/23/93
Revised 6/94; Readopted 7/94
Revised and Readopted 4/98
Revised and Readopted 1/99
Revised and Readopted 7/01
Revised and Readopted 11/02
Revised 7/24/17