Discipline Policies

Teachers are charged with the control of their classrooms. They are responsible to conduct learning experiences that are morally sound and non-disruptive. Whenever a pupil or pupils become unruly or out of order, the teacher has the responsibility to correct them. If he or she is unable to control students, it is imperative that the administration be contacted so measures can be taken to remedy the situation. The district will not tolerate continued undisciplined behavior on the part of any individual or group of students. Every teacher is expected to assist in all school discipline in the classroom corridors, outside on school property and during lunch hours.

When a student or students disobey, external authority must be involved. Correction should be sought through improvement of casual factors before punishment is involved. Study of individual differences, conferences with pupils and parent(s), and assistance from the administration and specialists within the school should be the teacher's first thought in attempting to help a pupil correct behavior patterns which are retarding his own development and interfering with the rights of others.

Punishment so conceived is developmental discipline rather than punitive. Based upon faith in the worth and dignity of each individual, discipline becomes a guiding rather than a punitive device. Any form of punishment which impairs a student's self-respect should be avoided.

The board discourages permanent expulsion. Rather, expulsions shall be reviewed at the conclusion of the expulsion time, such reviews shall include, with duly acquired consent of the parent(s), the judgment of other agencies and professionals who have provided service to the expelled student. The purpose of such a review is to provide information for the board to decide, by majority vote of the full board, whether the expulsion is to be continued, or whether the student is to be readmitted to school.

 

I. Detention will be used as a deterrent to unacceptable student behavior.

A. The student will serve detention on a selected day each week from 2:40 p.m. until 4 p.m., in a designated area in the middle school.

B. Detention slips may be issued by any faculty member or administrator at the time of infraction.

C. Detention will take precedence over all school, home and work activities. Students receiving detention will serve on the assigned date. The only exception will be an excuse signed by a doctor or dentist, or emergency (i.e. family death), or absence from school that day.

D. Following the fifth detention offense, additional punitive action will be considered. Students whose attitude and/or conduct necessitates more than 5 detentions may be suspended.

E. Students who are assigned detention and do not report for that detention will be assigned another one. If the student does not report for two successive detentions, he or she will receive additional disciplinary action such as an in or out-of-school suspension.

F. Students serving detention will be required to bring written work. If they do not, the staff in charge may assign work to be done; no free reading is permitted; work being done during detention time should be school related.

 

II. Offenses warranting detention/suspension: (Subjective decision by Administrators)

1. Class disruption.

2. Lack of cooperation.

3. Insubordination.

4. Inappropriate language or gestures.

5. Leaving school grounds without permission.

6. The possession by students of telephone paging devices, commonly referred to as beepers, shall be prohibited on school grounds and school sponsored activities and on buses or other vehicles provided by the school district. However, beepers will be permitted (only by school authority approval) in the following cases: a student which is a member of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or rescue squad. A student who has a need for a beeper due to the medical condition of an immediate family member.

1st offense - confiscation of pager

2nd offense - 1 day detention and confiscation of pager

 

III. Offenses warranting immediate suspension:

1.Threatening a teacher (10 days with option of school board hearing and police notification)

2. Fighting

3. Stealing

4. Threatening a student in any way - If a student threatens another student in a physical manner, they will be suspended for a period of not more than 10 days. If a more serious threat is made, the student will be suspended and must receive psychological clearance before they will be allowed to return to school. Death threats of any kind will result in suspension and recommendation of an alternative placement for a period of time that is both punitive and therapeutic.

5. Any behavior that the administration feels is severe.

 

IV. Offenses warranting school board hearing recommending expulsion or suspension for 10 days minimum:

1. Possessing or using explosives.

2. Creating life-threatening situations.

3. Reporting by telephone, in writing or in person, a threat known to be false.

4. Activating a false alarm.

5. Assaulting a teacher (police notification).

6. Arson (police notification).

7. Possession of weapons - Weapons Policy.

8. May include offenses listed in Section III.

 

Weapons means any pistol, revolver, rifle, shot gun, air gun, pellet gun, B.B. gun, stun gun or any other kind of device which propels or emits a projectile or electrical charge by use of any energy source; any smoke bomb, firecracker, cherry bomb, dynamite, or other type of explosive, pyrotechnic device or incendiary device of any kind; any knife; any chains, brass knuckles, night sticks, ax handles or any other instruments, objects or devices, that can be used, to harm, threaten, harass, temporarily or permanently, incapacitate or render unconscious any person.

School premises means any school buildings, school grounds, school buses or any premises, grounds or vehicles used for school activities or purposes.

School activities means any activity directly related to either the cirriculum or to extracurricular activities such as walking or otherwise traveling from home to school or from school to school or to any event at another school or traveling to any other school related event at a non-school site.

Weapon replica means any object, instrument or device which a person reasonably believes to be a weapon and which causes the person observing it to experience fear or physical injury.

The possession, transportation or control of a weapon or weapon replica on school premises or at or during a school activity is prohibited except for those persons receiving written permission from the Superintendent or his designee.

Any person who violates this policy shall be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency, and if such person is also an ELCO student, he or she shall be subject to the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949, as last amended, and the regulations issued thereunder and the policies and procedures of ELCO, which includes the possibility of permanent expulsion.

(This is not exhaustive of detention/suspension/ expulsion behaviors but merely illustrative)

9. Damaging school property.

10. Displays of excessive affection (kissing, embracing).

11. Inappropriate dress (discretion of the staff).

12. Attempting personal gain through intimidation.

13. Forging parents signature on school related documents.

14. Failure to use the hallway pass properly.

15. False sign out.