4091a - Safe schools and appropriate conduct

I. Premise:

Piute School District believes that students, staff, community neighbors and visitors should experience an environment at school, on the school grounds, during school, while using district provided transportation, and at school sponsored activities that is conducive to learning, safe and free from disruption and violence.

The Board of Education further believes that the individual's conduct and practices should not be disruptive and should not distract from the learning environment, but should contribute to it by a show of respect for all other persons and property.

In its efforts to establish and maintain a safe learning-appropriate environment in all of the schools in Piute District, the Piute School District Board has determined that certain conditions/actions are not appropriate nor acceptable, may be disruptive or distracting and will not be tolerated. Among these, but not limited to, are those named in Section III of this policy.

II. LAW

Utah Code 53A-11-901

1. The Legislature recognizes that every student in the public schools should have the opportunity to learn in an environment which is safe, conducive to the learning process, and free from unnecessary disruption.

2. To foster such an environment, each local school board, shall adopt conduct and discipline policies for the public schools within the district.

3. Each district shall base its policies on the principle that every student is expected;

   1. to follow accepted rules of conduct; and

   2. to show respect for other people and to obey persons in authority at the school.

III. CONDUCT AND ACTIVITIES

Behaviors that are unacceptable by school district standards is unacceptable in an educational environment.

Any such behaviors in a classroom or any area in the school building (auditorium, restroom, etc.), on school grounds, on a school vehicle or district-approved transportation, at school activities or events on campus or other locations, whether during school hours or not, are unacceptable and will subject the student(s) to disciplinary measures being taken. 

The following student behaviors have been deemed by the Board to be inappropriate, distracting for the learning process, disruptive, and/or possibly dangerous:

1. Behaviors That Show Disrespect

1a. Blatant disrespect: call uncomplimentary names, taunt, ridicule, talk-back to person in authority (teacher, aide, substitute, principal, or other school employees or volunteer adults), treat other persons with disregard for their feelings, by making fun of their language, appearance, clothing, disability, or other characteristics and/or show other disrespectful attitude toward another.

l.b. Direct and willful disobedience: acting with disregard for rules or authority, deference to others wishes, defiance, physical resistance and/or challenge to authority

1.c. Behaviors based on Prejudice: against an individual or a group of individuals based upon an opinion that because of their race, color, creed, age, sex, country of origin, marital or parental status, capabilities and/or limitations, they are different from and therefore considered to be inferior to the prejudiced person

1.d. Discrimination: demonstrated by 1) exclusion from clubs and activities, 2) derisive remarks, humiliation, and ridicule, 3) physical or verbal threats, 4) mischievous or harmful acts against victim, based on such bias or prejudice is not acceptable

2. Behaviors That Are Offensive

2.a. Displaying an/or possession of pornography: (pictures, books, magazines, etc.) in the school setting (lockers, locker rooms, restrooms, buses, etc.)

2.b Promiscuity: immodest conduct, offensive touching, inappropriate display of affection, intimacy, public show of feelings of a personal or private nature

2.c. Indecency: to commit acts or to dress in a manner considered to be indecent (immodest, revealing, suggestive) or disruptive, in the school environment.

2.d Offending someone: vulgar, coarse, suggestive, profane, inappropriate, degrading, humiliating, or otherwise unacceptable according to school policy and community standards

2.e.Sexual and other types of harassment: acting with intent to frighten, threaten, alarm, annoy or to exhibit conduct that is pervasive, unwelcome, derisive or coercive, demeaning, humiliating, that subjects one to the demands of another; unsolicited indecent proposition; suggestive inappropriate language, drawings, etc. on clothing; aforementioned unacceptable behaviors, i.e., hazing, pornography, etc. may be defined as harassment in some instances

3. Behaviors That Threaten. Can Lead To Violence

3.a.Hazing or initiation rites: which belittle, ridicule, embarrass, intimidate, threaten, cause pain or suffering, or force individuals to act in such a way as is contrary to his wishes, or acts that violate state laws

3.b.Extortion: obtaining money and/or information, or personal property form another by coercion or intimidation; blackmail

3.c.Weapons: possession and/or threatened use of any firearm or explosive or any object that reasonably can be considered a weapon or explosive, including firecrackers (see Piute School District Policy 4091/b)

3.d.Criminal mischief: acts that damage or destroy property (vandalize, deface with graffiti, etc.) disrupt or impair services/services to the school (power, phone, etc.) tamper with property belonging to another (remove handle, spray with scent, etc.) throw or shoot projectiles (paper wads, water, etc.) other than explosive; act intended to cause another to suffer; may be planned or on impulse; may be unlawful, malicious or playfully executed act.

3.e. Gang activity: participating, promoting, and/or encouraging gang activity; wearing clothing or other items that suggest gang membership; using hand signs; displaying symbols; marking property; coercing, intimidating; anything that symbolizes gang membership, (see Piute School District 4091 /b)

3.f. Fighting: physical conflict between two or more individuals; engaging in the exchange of blows or contacts, whether by mutual agreement or in defense (response to attack)

3.g. Assault: to attempt to cause or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another or to threaten another with bodily injury or to cause physical contact with another when the student should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative (UCA 76-5-102); to attack; a violent physical or verbal attack (Webster's Dictionary); threats to physical well-being of a student or staff member and/or his family, both on and off school grounds,

3.h.Aggravated assault: an intentional force likely to produce death or serious bodily injury

4. Behavior That Are Crimes Against Property

4.a. Theft: school property (books, instruments, tools, athletic supplies, etc.) or another individual's property (money, items of clothing, books, notebooks, etc.)

4.b.Arson: act of knowingly, by means of fire or explosives, damaging a building and/or personal property of others; also to knowingly make false fire report or a false bomb threat. Such action may jeopardize the safety of others, interrupt school schedule, and possibly result in costly search for nonexistent bomb or fire.

4.c. Vandalism: destruction of or damage to school property [..."lost or willfully cut, defaced or otherwise injured"...(State Code 53A-11-806)] or property belonging to another individual

4.d.Graffiti: writing names, slogans, signs, symbols, words, and/or drawings on school building, grounds, or other school property (desks, lockers, bleachers, etc.) with any permanent markers, paint, lacquer, etc. or whitewash, chalk, plaster, etc.; anything that marks or defaces property.

4.e. Littering: careless scattering of waste paper, trash, garbage with no regard for the appearance of premises or the inconvenience to others; failure to properly dispose of one's own trash.

4.f. Burglary: breaking into a school building and/or classroom or other structures owned and operated by the school district with intent to steal, damage, or destroy.

4.g.Trespassing: to enter or remain in an unauthorized place or to refuse to leave school property or event upon request.

5.  Inappropriate Behaviors Of Personal Choice

5.a. Gambling: (betting, cards, dice, games of chance, electronic games, etc.) that involves exchange of monies or collateral; risking something of value on the chance of winning something else of value.

5.b.Cheating: changing grades, falsifying records, copying others work, plagiarizing, lying, having another do the work for pay or as a favor, etc.

5.c. Loitering: occupying an unauthorized place on or near the school or school grounds, property, or activities.

5.d.Drugs/alcohol/tobacco: possession, use, sale, distribution of any controlled substance, alcohol, or tobacco; being intoxicated or under the influence of any controlled drug, alcoholic beverage, inhalant or injected narcotic; carrying drug paraphernalia; consorting with others who possess or are using drugs or alcohol (see Piute School Policies 4102 & 4105)

5.e. Inappropriate clothing: suggestive and/or indecent language, drawings, etc. on clothing; and/or slogans that promote substances illegal for minors (see Piute School District Policy 4019 Dress and Grooming Standards)

5.f. Truancy: sluffing, leaving school without permission; students are expected to be in attendance and in all scheduled classes or at school sponsored events unless properly excused (see Piute School District Policy 4010, 4016)

6.   Any Unlawful Act

6.a.Any unlawful act: misconduct, offense, misdemeanor, felonies, and/or any infraction of the law that is subject to suspicion, arrest, trial, prosecution, fine, punishment, confinement; an act committed intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, with criminal negligence, offenses for which the perpetrator is subject to intervention by the law and to legal responsibility for his acts; any of the aforementioned offenses which may require the involvement of law enforcement agencies during school time or school activities. 

IV. REPORTING AND CONTROL

Students who participate in any prohibited activities and/or negative behaviors as described above will be subject to disciplinary action, based on the severity of the violation and its overall effect on the welfare of other students or school personnel, or to disciplinary actions as outlined in other district policies and/or state, county, and city laws.

It will be the responsibility and obligation of school personnel, students and staff, to monitor conduct and report to the principal, assistant principal or designee any behavior that is inappropriate as identified in Section III or for other unacceptable activities.

Students and parents need to understand that suspension/expulsion are appropriate discipline for serious offenses and for habitual offenders of policy, although other disciplinary measures may also be enforced. For conduct identified in Section III, steps to be taken in disciplining offenders may include but are not limited to, the following:

Administrators will assess mitigating and aggravating factors that may exist in discipline situations to determine discipline outcomes:

Mitigating  Factors: exist when a situation arises when one student may not be as guilty as another. Example: Three students are vaping, but one student, “the four” is standing off watching but encouraging vaping.

Aggravating Factors: exist when a situation arises when one student is more in violation of a rule or guideline than another in a discipline situation. Example: Three students are vaping, but “one” of the three distributed and provided the substance to vape to the other two. 

Process:

Student will be given a fair and objective opportunity to share their side of the event or situation before disciplinary action is taken.

Principal or Administrative designee will make every effort to hold consistency with student discipline. Principal or Administrative designee will document each disciplinary situation.

Student discipline policy will be reviewed at the start of each year with all students and sent home to parents annually for their information.

 Revised August 13, 2019