JG - Student Discipline**

Code: JG
Adopted: 1/12/83
Re-adopted: 3/15/95, 8/13/97, 9/28/11, 9/13/17; 11/16/22
 
Discipline in the district is based upon a philosophy designed to produce behavioral changes that will enable students to develop the self-discipline necessary to remain in school and to function successfully in their educational and social environments.
 
Students are subject to discipline for conduct while traveling to and from school, at the bus stop, at school-sponsored events, while at other schools in the district and while off campus, whenever such conduct causes a substantial and material disruption of the educational environment or the invasion of rights of others.
 
The major objectives of the district discipline program are to teach the following fundamental concepts for living:
 
1. Understanding and respect for individual rights, dignity and safety;
2. Understanding and respect for the law, Board policies, administrative regulations and school rules;
3. Understanding of and respect for public and private property rights.
 
The Board seeks to ensure a school climate which is appropriate for learning and which assures the safety and welfare of personnel and students. The superintendent will develop procedures whereby those students who disrupt the educational setting or who endanger the safety of others, will be subject to disciplinary sanctions that are age appropriate, and to the extent practicable, use approaches that are shown through research to be effective to correct behavioral problems, while supporting a students’ attendance to school and classes. Examples include, but are not limited to, reprimands, conferences, detention and denial of participation in cocurricular and extracurricular activities. Titles and/or privileges available to or granted to students may be denied and/or revoked (e.g., valedictorian, salutatorian, student body, class or club office positions, field trips, senior trip, prom, etc.). The superintendent may propose alternative programs of instruction or instruction combined with counseling prior to a student’s expulsion or a student leaving school in accordance with law.
 
The district shall enforce consistently, fairly and without bias all student conduct policies, administrative regulations and school rules.
 
A student whose conduct or condition is seriously detrimental to the school’s best interests may be suspended. Students may be expelled for any of the following circumstances: a) when a student’s conduct poses a threat to the health or safety of students or employees; b) when other strategies to change the student’s behavior have been ineffective, except that expulsion may not be used to address truancy; or c) when required by law. The district shall consider the age of the student and the student’s past pattern of behavior prior to imposing the suspension or expulsion. The district will ensure careful consideration of the rights and needs of the individual concerned, as well as the best interests of other students and the school program as a whole.
 
The use of out-of-school suspension or expulsion for discipline of a student in the fifth grade or below, is limited to:
 
1. Nonaccidental conduct causing serious physical harm to a student or employee;
2. When a school administrator determines, based on the administrator’s observation or upon a report from an employee, the student’s conduct poses a threat to the health or safety of students or employees; or
3. When the suspension or expulsion is required by law.
 
When an out-of-school suspension is imposed on a student in the fifth grade or lower, the district shall take steps to prevent the recurrence of the behavior that led to the out-of-school suspension, and return the student to a classroom setting to minimize the disruption of the student’s academic instruction.
 
Special education students shall be disciplined in accordance with federal law and Board policy JGDA - Discipline of Students with Disabilities and accompanying administrative regulation.
 
Parents, students and employees shall be notified by handbook, code of conduct or other document of acceptable behavior, behavior subject to discipline and the procedures to address behavior. These procedures will include a system of consequences designed to correct student misconduct and promote acceptable behavior.
 
END OF POLICY

 


Legal Reference(s)

ORS 243.650
ORS 332.061
ORS 332.072
ORS 332.107
ORS 339.115
ORS 339.240 to -339.280
ORS 659.850
OAR 581-021-0045
OAR 581-021-0050 to -0075

Tinker v. Des Moines Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969).
Shorb v. Grotting and Powers Sch. Dist., Case No. 00CV-0255 (Coos County Circuit Ct.) (2000).
Ferguson v. Phoenix Talent Sch. Dist. #4, 172 Or. App. 389 (2001).
 
Cross Reference(s):

JFC - Student Conduct
JGD - Suspension
JGE - Expulsion