Code of Student Conduct - Page Two

Student Pamphlet
A Summarized Version of Students' Responsibilities, Expectations, and Discipline

  Weapons / Dangerous Instruments

A student shall not possess, handle, or transmit a knife, razor, ice pick, explosive, sword, cane, machete, firearm, look-alike / toy gun, mace (or similar substance), pellet or air rifle, pistol, or other object that reasonably can be considered a weapon, or wear clothing or jewelry with slogans, symbols, or pictures depicting weapons, gangs, or criminal activity. Violation of this rule may result in suspension or expulsion. The rule does not apply to normal school supplies such as pencils or compasses or other objects unless they are used as weapons.

  Suspensions and Expulsions

A student who violates school rules is subject to disciplinary action which may include a disciplinary notice, suspension notice, (short or long-term), or a suggested expulsion notice. Discipline could include any of the following: after-school work, repair, clean-up and/or painting an area of physical damage caused by the student, withdrawal or cancellation of school activity privileges, or court action.

A short-term suspension is any disciplinary action whereby a student is not permitted to attend school for a period not to exceed 10 school days. A parent conference is required before the student can be reinstated to school.

A long-term suspension is any disciplinary action whereby a student is not permitted to attend school for more than 10 school days but less than 365 calendar days. During the entire period of suspension, you are forbidden to come upon the property of the school, or any Norfolk Public School, including all school grounds and buildings, unless specifically authorized by school officials to come upon the property for a specific purpose.

An expulsion is any disciplinary action whereby a student is not permitted to attend school within the school division and is ineligible for readmission for 365 calendar days after the initial date of the expulsion. You are forbidden to come upon the property of any Norfolk Public School during the entire period of expulsion unless specifically authorized by school officials to come upon the property for a specific purpose.

The more serious your offense, the more severe the punishment. Repeated disobedience, even of minor rules, may lead to more serious punishment. The principal or principal's designee determines what action to take, and his or her decision depends on the seriousness of the violation. Any person, administrator, teacher, staff member, or student who knows you are disobeying the rules may suggest to the school board, through the superintendent of schools/designee, that you be disciplined or suspended.

Suspensions and expulsions may result in a complete denial of the ability to attend school within the division or a denial of the ability to attend regular school with permission to attend alternative school within the division for the period of the suspension or expulsion. Expulsion may result in the denial of the ability to return to school upon the end of the period expulsion although a student may always petition for readmission. Suspension may result in the denial of the ability to attend regular school upon the end of the period of suspension. The Superintendent may also require a student to attend alternative school without imposing a suspension or an expulsion for various reasons, including serious or repeated violations of School Board Policies.

Any principal, assistant principal or his/her designee may suspend you for disobeying school rules. The complaint may come from any person who has a good reason. Suspensions of ten days or less should first be appealed to the building principal. Additionally, you may contact the department of pupil personnel services should you have concerns regarding the appeal process.

Any person who has good reason may suggest your expulsion from school. This must be done in writing to the school board through the superintendent of schools or his designee. An investigation will be conducted by school officials. You may appeal the school's decision to the Senior Director, Department of Pupil Personnel Services, who has the authority to take any of the following actions: uphold the disposition; enhance the punishment; or recommend alternative courses of action.

  Pupil Transportation

Proper behavior is required to, from, and at bus stops and while riding the bus to assure that the rights of others are respected.

1. THE SCHOOL BUS
   School bus transportation is provided for many Norfolk students. This service exists for elementary, middle, and high school students to and from school, instructional field trips, athletic trips and special after-school activities. It is important to know that riding a school bus is a privilege. Students who do not behave on the school bus may have the privilege of riding revoked for a specified time. The driver of the bus has the authority to, and the responsibility for, maintaining order and providing a safe environment. Driver expectations of students will include, but are not limited to, that students: remain in their assigned seats unless directed by the driver to do otherwise, keep hands and feet to themselves, speak in an appropriate voice tone, refrain from using profanity or indecent language, and refrain from consuming food or beverage while on the bus.
2. MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS
   High school students who meet the requirements and accept the responsibilities of driving private automobiles to school may be permitted to do so. This entitlement depends upon the student's willingness to follow the parking and auto usage regulations as prescribed by the individual high school. Failure to adhere to these regulations could result in forfeiture of the privilege of parking a motor vehicle on school property.
3. BICYCLE RIDERS
   Bicycles may be ridden to elementary, middle, and high schools. The safety of the riders and the securing of their bicycles are the responsibility of the riders. Improper use of bicycles, such as riding in bus-loading areas, constitutes grounds for the loss of bicycle parking privileges at school. On their way to and from school, bike riders are prohibited from violating the property rights of homeowners, apartment dwellers, and businesses.
4. WALKERS
   Students in elementary, middle, and high schools who live within the designated non-transportation zones are required to arrive promptly at school. Parents are encouraged to identify and assist in the choice of a safe route. On their way to and from school, student walkers are prohibited from violating the property of others, including homeowners, apartment dwellers, and businesses. Walkers include students going to and from home or to and from bus stops.

  Additional Information

• When disciplinary action is taken, you have the right to receive a written copy of the notice of such action.
• Your parent/legal guardian, or you if you are over 18 years old, may submit a written request for appeal to the senior director, department of pupil personnel services.
• Any disciplinary recommendation may be modified in any fashion by more senior school officials such as the Senior Director of the Department of Pupil Personnel Services, the Chief of Operations, the Superintendent or the School Board (acting either in committee or as a whole).
• You may appeal recommendations of short or long terms suspension, expulsion, and placement in alternative school without a suspension or expulsion. Your ability to appeal will vary depending on the type of disciplinary action recommended. This is set out in detail in the Policies and Regulations Manual of the School Board.
• Discipline of identified handicapped students will conform to policies and regulations developed by the superintendent and approved by the school board.
• Copies of all disciplinary notices are forwarded to the department of pupil personnel services within 3 days of completion. All notices of disciplinary action will be filed in your permanent folder.
• Students who have a current 504 Plan shall be afforded the support of this plan while assigned to In School Suspension (ISS) if the assigning administrator, in consultation with the 504 case manager, determines that it is possible to implement the plan.

  Removal of Students

Schools are for the benefit of all people. Parents or legal guardians of any student who is a threat to the health and safety of the school community will be notified of the student's violations. If a case is extremely serious, the student will have to leave the school.

Examples of reasons for removal are:

• spreading communicable diseases
• being charged with criminal activity
• failing to abide by state laws for admission to school (examples: residence and immunizations)

  Student Records

Norfolk Public Schools complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which governs the maintenance, access, and copying of records. Copies of Management of the Student's Scholastic Record are available for inspection in each school.*The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the school division receives a request for access.
   Parents or eligible students should submit to the principal or his/her designee a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal or his/her designee will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
   Parents or eligible students may ask Norfolk Public Schools to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
   If the school division decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school division will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education record, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the School has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
4. The right to refuse to let the Norfolk Public Schools designate as “directory information” any or all of the types of information about a student described in the following sentences, so long as parents or eligible students express their refusal in writing and file it with the Office of Pupil Personnel no later than ten school days after the distribution of this pamphlet. “Directory Information” means information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. It includes, but is not limited to, the student’s name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate; full-time or part-time), participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, degrees, honors and awards received, and the most recent educational agency or institution attended.
5. The right to file a complaint with the U. S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school division to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.
6. In this student pamphlet, your rights and the accompanying regulations, responsibilities, and procedures are summarized as clearly and concisely as possible. The full version of the Code of Student Conduct is also available for clarification of the meaning or application of a particular rule, and the "Student Section" of the Policies and Regulations manual, Norfolk Public Schools, contains a complete account of all rules, regulations, and procedures. If you desire additional information regarding the interpretation and/or clarification of any rule, regulation, or procedure, contact your principal. Copies of the full version and the manual are available for inspection in the schools.

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