FILE:  JD

Cf:  BD, IDDF, IHAD

Cf:  JBE, JCD, JDD, JDE

 

DISCIPLINE

 

 

It is the purpose of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board to operate the schools in a manner that will provide an orderly process of education and that will provide for the welfare and safety of all students who attend these schools.  The school's primary goal is to educate, not discipline; however, when the behavior of the individual student comes in conflict with rights of others, corrective actions may be necessary both for the benefit of that individual and the school as a whole.

 

Every teacher and other school employees in the public school system shall endeavor to hold each student to a strict accountability for any disorderly conduct in school, or on the playgrounds of the school, on any school bus, on the street or while going to or returning from school, during intermission or recess, or at any school sponsored activity or function. To assist the teacher, the School Board shall establish regulations for the use of disciplinary measures within the schools and continually monitor and appraise their usefulness.  Discipline shall be administered uniformly, consistently, and in a non-discriminatory manner.

 

Principals shall have both the authority and the duty to take disciplinary action whenever the behavior of any student(s) materially interferes with or substantially disrupts the maintenance of a proper atmosphere for learning within the classroom or other parts of the school.  However, no student shall be disciplined in any manner by the School Board or school administrator, teacher, or other school employee for the use of force upon another person when it can be reasonably concluded that the use of such force more probably than not was committed solely for the purpose of preventing a forcible offense against the student or a forcible offense provided that the force used must be reasonable and apparently necessary to prevent such offense.  A student who is the aggressor or who brings on a difficulty cannot claim the right stated above to defend himself/herself.

 

Each teacher may take disciplinary action to correct a student who engages in bullying, who disrupts normal classroom activities, who is disrespectful to a teacher, who willfully disobeys a teacher, who uses abusive or foul language directed at a teacher or another student, who violates school rules, or who interferes with an orderly education process.  The disciplinary action taken by the teacher shall be in accordance with such regulations and procedures established by the School Board.

 

VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION

 

The School Board has made virtual classes available to students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Such virtual instruction may be continued thereafter and when school is closed due to inclement weather, disasters, and other emergencies.  The provisions of this Policy and those of all student handbooks and codes of conduct shall be applicable to misconduct, whether on-campus, during virtual instruction, on a school bus, on the streets to and from school, or at a school event or activity.

 

The St. John the Baptist School Board has extended its on-campus conduct expectations to the virtual classroom, with a few modifications that factor in the home setting.  Conduct that is unacceptable and which would lead to the imposition of discipline in the regular classroom is typically unacceptable in the virtual classroom as well.  Regardless of the model of instruction, student conduct is governed by La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:416 and the Student Code of Conduct and/or Student Handbook.  At the same time, for alleged misconduct which occurs during virtual instruction, school-based administrators shall consider the need for maintaining order and appropriate conduct, the school’s interest being impacted, and the student’s and family’s right to privacy and constitutional rights while at home or in a location that is not school property.

 

A student and his/her family shall not waive their constitutional rights by electing virtual instruction.  At the same time, students engaging in virtual instruction shall insure that, prior to logging into and during any virtual classroom, the view from their camera is free of any object, writing, picture, or other display which, if possessed on school buses, in the classroom, or on school property, would subject the student to disciplinary action.

 

Students are cautioned that the virtual classroom is for instruction and for engaging with peers and teachers for educational purposes.  Students must not handle or display items, toys, messages, images, or personal property or engage in conduct unrelated to the lessons taking place.  Students who engage in conduct in the virtual classroom that violates the Student Code of Conduct and this Virtual Discipline policy may be subject to discipline in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and this policy.

 

The following non-exclusive list of behaviors are prohibited in the virtual classroom and may result in disciplinary action:

 

 

The context in which student behavior occurs is important, however, and will be taken into consideration by School and District administrators in determining whether there has been a violation of the Code of Conduct.  As with all other forms of misconduct, the level of discipline, if any, for violations in a virtual setting will depend upon the age of the student, seriousness of the offense, the disruptive nature of the misconduct, whether the conduct involved violence or the threat of violence, whether the misconduct impacted the safety or orderly environment of the classroom, the student’s prior disciplinary record, etc.

 

*School and/or district officials may be required, as mandatory reporters, to alert local law enforcement and/or the Department of Children and Family Services if they observe conduct, messages, images, or objects that raise legitimate concern for the safety and well-being of students in the virtual classroom.  This may include students handling weapons in the virtual classroom, even if it is subsequently learned that the weapon is a toy or facsimile, as it is not always possible to determine remotely whether the weapon is real or not.

 

STUDENT REMOVAL FROM CLASSROOM

 

A student may be immediately removed from a classroom by the teacher and placed in the custody of the principal or designee if the student’s behavior prevents the orderly instruction of other students, poses an immediate threat to the safety of students or the teacher, when a student exhibits disrespectful or threatening behavior toward a teacher such as using foul or abusive language or gestures directed at or threatening a student or teacher, when a student violates the school’s code of conduct, or when a student exhibits other disruptive, dangerous, or unruly behavior, including inappropriate physical contact, inappropriate verbal conduct, sexual or other harassment, throwing objects, inciting other students to misbehave, or destroying property.  The student should not be kept out of school past the suspension period imposed by the principal.

 

A student removed from the classroom shall be assigned school work missed and shall receive either partial or full credit for such work, upon the recommendation of the student’s teacher, if it is completed satisfactorily and timely as determined by the principal or his/her designee.

 

Any student removed from class in kindergarten through grade 6 shall not be permitted to return to class for at least thirty (30) minutes unless agreed to by the teacher.  A student removed from class in grades 7 through 12 shall not be permitted to return to class during the same class period, unless agreed to by the teacher initiating the disciplinary action.

 

Whenever a teacher is struck by a student, the student, in addition to any other discipline given, shall be permanently removed from the teacher's classroom, unless the teacher objects, or unless the principal, with the concurrence of the building level committee, finds the striking incident to be entirely inadvertent.

 

Upon the student being removed from class and sent to the principal's office, the principal or designee shall conduct a counseling session with the student to discuss the particular misconduct.  Once removed, the student shall not be readmitted to the classroom until the principal has implemented one of the following disciplinary measures:

 

In-school suspension

 

  1. Detention

  2. Suspension

  3. Initiation of expulsion hearings

  4. Assignment to an alternative school

  5. Requiring the completion of all assigned school and homework which would have been assigned and completed by the student during the period of suspension.

  6. Any other disciplinary measure authorized by the principal with the concurrence of the teacher or building level committee.

    For purposes of this section, classroom shall include on-campus or virtual classes.

 

Parental Notification

 

The principal or his/her designee shall provide oral or written notification to the parent or legal guardian of any student removed from the classroom.  Such notification shall include a description of any disciplinary action taken.

 

When a student has been removed from a classroom, the teacher may require the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of the student to have a conference with the teacher in the presence of the principal or his or her designee before the student is readmitted.  Upon the student’s third removal from the same classroom, the teacher and principal shall discuss the student's disruptive behavior and contemplated disciplinary measures to be taken before the principal implements such measures.  If appropriate, the principal may send a Request for Assistance form to the building level committee requesting review and assistance or to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance requesting referral to court through Families in Need of Services (FINS).  In addition, a conference between the teacher or other appropriate school employee and the student’s parent, tutor, or legal guardian shall be required prior to the student being readmitted.  If the disruptive behavior persists, the teacher may request that the principal transfer the student into another setting.

 

PARENT CONFERENCES

 

In accordance with policy IHAD, Parent Conferences, any case where a teacher, principal, or other school employee is authorized to require the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of a student to attend a conference or meeting regarding the student’s behavior, and after notice, the parent, tutor, or legal guardian willfully refuses to attend, the principal, or his/her designee, shall file a complaint, in accordance with statutory provisions, with a court exercising juvenile jurisdiction.  Notice of the conference, specifying the time and date of the conference, shall be given by contacting the parent, tutor, or legal guardian by telephone at the telephone number shown on the student’s registration card or by sending a certified letter to the address shown on the student’s registration card.

 

REPORTS TO PRINCIPAL

 

Any teacher or other school employee may report to the principal any student who acts in a disorderly manner or is in violation of school rules, or any misconduct or violation of school rules by a student who may or may not be known to the teacher or employee.  Incidents of alleged discipline violations shall be reported on the School Behavior Report Form/School Bus Behavior Report form provided by the Louisiana Department of Education.  The forms shall be submitted in accordance with procedures outlined by the School District, the Superintendent, and school system personnel.  The principal shall review and act upon such information submitted, to determine if suspension or other disciplinary action is necessary.

 

Should the principal fail to act on any report of misconduct or school violation, he/she shall explain the reasons for doing so to the Superintendent or his/her designee and to the teacher or school employee, student, parent, or legal guardian reporting the violation.

 

DELINQUENT STUDENTS

 

Students who regularly disrupt the normal school environment shall be considered as delinquent, and may be reported by appropriate school personnel to the juvenile court.  Any student that exhibits disruptive behavior, an incorrigible attitude, or any other discipline problems in general may be recommended by the principal for expulsion, assignment to an appropriate alternative educational placement, or transfer to adult education if the student is:

 

  1. Seventeen (17) years of age or older with less than five (5) units of credit toward graduation;

  2. Eighteen (18) years of age or older with less than ten (10) units of credit toward graduation; or

  3. Nineteen (19) years of age or older with less than fifteen (15) units of credit toward graduation.

 

RECUSAL OF ADMINISTRATOR IN DISCIPLINE MATTERS

 

Any school administrator or administrator's designee who is required to make a recommendation, decide an issue, or take action in a matter involving the discipline of a student shall recuse himself/herself whenever a member of the immediate family of the administrator or administrator's designee is involved in any manner in the discipline matter.  In case of recusal, the action to be taken shall be done so by the Superintendent or an impartial designee of the Superintendent.

 

Immediate family means the individual's children, brothers, sisters, parents, and spouse and the children, brothers, sisters, and parents of the spouse.

 

DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

 

Discipline of students with disabilities shall be in accordance with applicable state or federal law and regulations.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Suspension shall mean that student is temporarily prohibited from participating in his/her usual placement within school.  This usually involves temporary removal from school.

 

In-school suspension shall mean (1) student is removed from his/her usual classroom placement to an alternative educational placement for a minimum of one complete school day, and (2) no interruption of services occurs.  (An alternative educational placement may be located on or off the school site, provided that the student continues to receive instructional services and remains under the supervision of school personnel or their designees.)

 

Detention shall mean activities, assignments, or work held before the normal school day, after the normal school day, or on weekends.  Failure or refusal by a student to participate in assigned detention shall subject the student to immediate suspension.  Assignments, activities, or work which may be assigned during detention include, but are not limited to, counseling, homework assignments, behavior modification program, or other activities aimed at improving the self-esteem of the student.

 

Expulsion shall mean the removal of a student from school for at least one school semester.

 

In-school expulsion shall mean (1) Student is temporarily removed from his/her usual classroom placement to an alternative educational placement for a period of time specified by the Office of Child Welfare and Attendance, and (2) no interruption of instructional services occurs.  (An alternative educational placement may be located on or off the school site, provided that the student continues to receive instructional services and remains under the supervision of school personnel of their designees.)

 

Virtual instruction shall mean instruction provided to a student through an electronic delivery medium including but not limited to electronic learning platforms that connect a student in a remote location to classroom instruction.

 

Revised:  December, 1990 Revised:  August, 1999
Revised:  December, 1992 Revised:  June, 2003
Revised:  November, 1993 Revised:  October 15, 2009
Revised:  August, 1994 Revised:  March 21, 2013
Revised:  September, 1997 Revised:  December 10, 2020

 

 

Ref:    42 USC 12112 et seq. (Equal Opportunity for Individuals with Disabilities)

42 USC 12132 et seq. (Discrimination in Public Places)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:223, 17:224, 17:233, 17:239, 17:252, 17:416, 17:416.1, 17:416.13

Regulations for Implementation of the Exceptional Children's Act, Bulletin 1706, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 10-15-09, 3-21-13, 12-10-20

 

St. John the Baptist Parish School Board