District Resource Guide - Polk County School District

Page 8: Addition of the clause from page 4 to clarify the academic discipline
statement.
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE (SECTION 2.02): No student shall receive discipline under the Code of Student Conduct for
failure to complete academic assignments. Students have the responsibility and are expected to conduct themselves in such a
manner so as not to interfere with the rights of others to learn.
Page 10 (new Item): New item mandated by statute.
DATING VIOLENCE AND ABUSE (SECTION 2.09): It is the policy of the Polk County School Board that all of its
students have an educational setting that is safe, secure, and free from dating violence and abuse. The District shall not
tolerate dating violence and abuse of any kind. Dating violence or abuse by any student is prohibited on school property,
during any school related or school sponsored program or activity, or during school sponsored transportation.
A. Definitions
1. Dating violence is a pattern of emotional, verbal, sexual or physical abuse used by one person in a current
or past intimate relationship to exert power and control over another when one or both of the partners is a
student.
2. Abuse is mistreatment which may include insults, coercion, social sabotage, sexual harassment, threats
and/or acts of physical or sexual abuse. The abusive partner uses this pattern of violent and coercive
behavior to gain power and maintain control over the dating partner.
B. Reporting Dating Violence or Abuse
School employees shall report to the Principal or designee suspected cases of dating violence and abuse.
Students should report suspected cases of dating violence and abuse to the Principal or designee and may do so
anonymously. Student victims should report any incidents of violence and abuse to the Principal or designee as
soon after it occurs as possible. Nothing herin shall be construed as relieving a mandatory reporter of the
obligation to report a reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect.
Page 14: Mark Wilcox Center is closing along with the elimination of the athletic
drug-testing program.
DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS (SECTION 2.11 2.12): The School Board is responsible for maintaining an environment in
which students are protected from drugs and drug-related activities. The community rightfully expects the school to exercise
this responsibility to prevent drug problems from arising.
A. Florida Law: The use, possession, or distribution of illicit drugs or alcohol is unlawful and harmful.
1. Students: Students are subject to the laws regarding the use, possession, and distribution of illicit
drugs or alcohol on school campus as well as elsewhere and have the responsibility to obey these
laws.
2. Employees/Failure to Report a Violation: Failure by any employee to report a known violation
shall be in violation of Florida law and the expressed policy of this Board and would constitute an
act of gross insubordination and willful neglect of duty.
B. Policy: It is the expressed policy of this Board that the use, possession, distribution, or overt act in
connection with any controlled substance, counterfeit controlled substance, alcoholic beverage, or model
glue, as defined by law, by any student enrolled in the Polk County Public School System would result in
immediate disciplinary action as outlined in Part VII, Section 7.10, Drugs, and will also be referred to the
appropriate law enforcement agency.