FILE:  H-3.5a

Cf:  H-3.5, H-3.5c, H-3.5d

 

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

 

 

The City of Baker School Board expects students to be well behaved while attending school or any school activity and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times.  Every teacher and every other school employee shall be authorized to hold every student to a strict accountability for any disorderly conduct, and discipline policies shall be applicable, in school or on the playgrounds of the school, on the street or road while going to or returning from school, on any school bus, during intermission or recess or at any school-sponsored activity or function.

 

Students have the responsibility to know and respect the rules of the school system.  Students shall comply with all School Board policies and school regulations, student codes of conduct, and directions of principals, teachers, and other authorized school personnel during any period of time when the student is under the authority of school personnel.

 

The City of Baker School Board shall demand reasonable student behavior and administer discipline with fundamental fairness without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, religion or political belief.  All students shall be afforded the basic rights of citizenship recognized and protected for persons of their age and maturity.  Students shall exercise their rights and responsibilities in accordance with rules established for orderly conduct of the school's mission.  Students who violate the rules of conduct shall be subject to disciplinary measures designed to correct the misconduct so that an environment conducive to learning can be maintained.

 

Moreover, the School Board reserves the authority to discipline students for behavior that may constitute a material disruption of the educational process such as audio, video, or other materials/information that may appear on the Internet or be transferred over electronic devices.

 

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

 

While the School Board cannot reasonably be expected to develop a Student Code of Conduct in such detail as to anticipate every type of misconduct that could possibly occur, the Board shall develop and maintain a Student Code of Conduct, which shall enumerate the necessary discipline action to be taken against any student who violates the Code of Conduct.  It shall be in compliance with all existing policies, rules, and regulations of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and all state laws relative to student discipline.

 

The School Board’s Code of Conduct shall include progressive levels of minor through major infractions and identify corresponding minor through major interventions and consequences.  Before an initial referral for a student's expulsion, the Code of Conduct shall require the prior administration of interventions in accordance with the minor tiers in the Code of Conduct, except in instances where the expulsion referral is the result of accumulated minor infractions in accordance with the Code of Conduct, or the underlying incident threatens the safety and health of students or staff.  Expulsions shall be reserved for the major tier of behavioral infractions involving weapons or drugs, or when the safety of students and staff has been put in jeopardy.

 

The Code of Conduct shall also include information detailing the appeal process for expulsion as included in policy H-3.5d, Expulsion.

 

Prior to the beginning of each school year, all schools of the City of Baker School District shall provide each student, and his/her parent or legal guardian with a Student Handbook or similar document that identifies and explains discipline policies, rules or regulations, and procedures that are parish-wide and/or specific to that school, as well as outline the consequences for students who violate the Student Code of Conduct or any school policy, regulation, or procedure.  Such consequences may include, but may not be limited to, oral or written reprimands, parental contact, removal of the student from the classroom, detention, corporal punishment, in-school suspension, suspension from school, assignment to an alternative school, recommending expulsion from school, or any other disciplinary measure authorized by the principal in conjunction with state law and/or School Board policy.

 

ORIENTATION/NOTICE

 

Students shall be informed by school authorities that violations of School Board policy and school rules or regulations may result in a range of disciplinary actions including corporal punishment, suspension or expulsion.  Each school shall plan and conduct an orientation or other meetings within the first five (5) days of school each year to fully inform all employees and students of all discipline policies, provisions of the student code of conduct applicable to such students, and rules and regulations necessary for the safe and orderly operation of the public schools.  The orientation shall also include information on the consequences of failure to comply with disciplinary rules and requirements of the Student Code of Conduct, particularly bullying and other similar prohibited conduct, including suspension, expulsion, the possibility of suspension of student’s driver’s license, and the possible criminal consequences of violent acts committed on school property, at a school-sponsored function, or in a firearm-free zone, as well as the contents of the Teacher Bill of Rights.  Meetings shall also be held throughout the school year as may be necessary to inform new employees and new students of such discipline policies, and regulations, contents of the Student Code of Conduct, and pertinent school rules.

 

The orientation instruction shall be age appropriate and grade appropriate and take into consideration whether the student is in a regular or special education program.

 

Any student who does not receive the orientation during the first five (5) days of the school year shall be provided an orientation during the first five (5) days of the student’s attendance.

 

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

 

Each student in grades 4-12 and each parent or guardian of a student in grades 4-12, shall annually sign a Statement of Compliance.  For students, the Statement of Compliance shall state that the student agrees to attend school regularly, arrive at school on time, demonstrate significant effort toward completion of homework assignments, and follow school and classroom rules.  For parents, the Statement of Compliance shall state that the parent or legal guardian agrees to ensure his/her child's daily attendance at school, ensure his/her child's arrival at school on time each day, ensure his/her child completes all assigned homework, and attend all required parent/teacher/principal conferences.  Failure by a student and/or parent or guardian to sign the respective Statement of Compliance may result in disciplinary action.

 

INFRACTIONS

 

Routine Infractions

 

  1. Violations of teacher's rules

  2. Excessive talking

  3. Loud talking

  4. Failure to follow guidelines

  5. Any other misbehavior of a routine nature

 

Minor Infractions

 

  1. Inappropriate behavior

  2. Disobeying teachers

  3. Tardiness to class/school

  4. Classroom disruptions

  5. Inappropriate dress

  6. Failure to follow directions

  7. Being in an unassigned or off limits area

  8. Failure to address and respond to school system employees using respectful terms, such as "Yes, Ma'am" "No, Ma'am" "Yes, Sir" "No, Sir" as appropriate

  9. Any other infraction of a minor nature

 

Major Infractions

 

  1. School or classroom disturbance

  2. Disrespect for authority

  3. Tobacco violations

  4. Stealing

  5. Skipping class or school

  6. Leaving campus without

  7. Gambling

  8. Bus misconduct

  9. Cheating

  10. Forgery

  11. Possession of electronic devices

  12. Fighting

  13. Use of profanity

  14. Vandalism

  15. Bullying

  16. Sexual harassment

    Sexual harassment may be in the form of student to student harassment or student to staff harassment.  Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or inappropriate verbal, visual, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature at school, on the way to and from school, or at a school-sponsored event.

  17. Any other misconduct of major proportion

 

Criminal Infractions

 

  1. Weapons possession or use

  2. Explosives possession or use

  3. Assault on students

  4. Assault on teachers/administrators/employees

  5. Gang or mob action

  6. Major disturbance

  7. Major vandalism

  8. Alcohol/drugs use/possession/distribution

  9. Bomb threats

  10. Any other action of a criminal nature

 

CONSEQUENCES OF INFRACTIONS

 

Every teacher and every other school employee is authorized to hold every student to a strict accountability for any disorderly conduct.  School administrators have the authority to consider infractions under categories other than those listed depending on the frequency and severity of offenses.  Any of the following consequences may be used when appropriate.

 

Consequences of Routine Infractions

 

  1. Warning by teacher

  2. Written punish work assigned by teacher

  3. Telephone call to parent by teacher

  4. Parent conference with teacher

  5. Loss of recess and/or special privileges

  6. Referral to principal or assistant principal

  7. Removal from school bus for bus violations

 

Consequences of Minor Infractions

 

  1. Referral to principal or assistant

  2. Warning by teacher, administrator, school personnel

  3. Parent Conference

  4. Written assignment by teacher or administrator

  5. Referral to counselor

  6. Behavior Modification Center

  7. Morning Behavior Clinic

  8. After School Behavior Clinic

  9. District-wide Saturday Behavior Clinic

  10. Short-term removal from bus for bus violations

 

Consequences of Major Infractions (Parent Conference Must Be Held)

 

  1. Restitution, if appropriate

  2. Notification of  law enforcement

  3. Out-of-School Suspension (Students do not attend an Alternative Program)

  4. Short –term  In-School Suspension ( one to nine days) assigned to the Behavior Modification Center on each school campus

  5. District-wide Saturday Behavior Clinic (Assigned for at least two Saturdays)

  6. Long-term In-School Suspension (ten to nineteen days) assigned to the Baker Alternative Learning Center on the campus of Baker High School.

  7. In-School Expulsion  (determined by the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook and Discipline Policy) assigned to the Baker Alternative Learning Center

  8. Expulsion/Denial of attendance for not less than one school semester or longer

  9. Exclusion

  10. Long-term removal from bus for bus violations

 

Each school in the City of Baker School System shall have in place a plan for in-school suspension prior to the beginning of each school year.  Each school’s plan shall be developed using space and personnel available.

 

Consequences of Criminal Infractions

 

All criminal infractions must be referred to the principal or assistant principal for action.

 

  1. Criminal infractions require immediate suspension from school

  2. Notification of law enforcement for every infraction

  3. Expulsion

 

Revised:  January 20, 2009 Revised:  May 3, 2016
Revised:  June 1, 2010 Revised:  August 3, 2021

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:223, 17:235.2, 17:416, 17:416.1, 17:416.8, 17:416.12, 17:416.20

Board minutes, 1-20-09, 6-1-10, 5-3-16, 8-3-21

 

City of Baker School Board