THIS STUDENT HANDBOOK BELONGS TO - Clayton County Public ...

STUDENT SAFETy/DIScIPLINEAUTHOrITy OF PrINcIPALThe principal is the designated leader of the school and with the staff is responsible for its orderly operation. In case of discipline violations or illegalactivities not covered by prescribed dispositions in Clayton County Public Schools’ Student Code of Conduct (issued to every student at the beginningof the school year), the principal may enact corrective measures which he/she feels are in the best interest of the school and the student involved.DIScIPLINE• Clayton County Public Schools is authorized by Georgia law to utilize a disciplinary hearing officer, or a tribunal panel of school officials to hearany case alleging an assault of battery or an act of physical violence against a teacher, school bus driver or other school official or schoolemployee. Except in a finding of self-defense, punishment as provided by Georgia law shall include: (1) Expulsion for the remainder of thestudent’s eligibility to attend public school for any intentional physical act which causes physical harm to an employee; (2) Expulsion, long-termsuspension or short-term suspension for intentionally making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with a school employee (OcGA20-2-751.6). This offense also requires mandatory notification to law enforcement.• Bullying is prohibited by the Clayton County Board of Education and by Georgia law. In accordance with Georgia law (OcGA 20-2-751.4), anystudent in grades 6-12 who commits a third offense of bullying in a school year will be assigned to the Alternative School program.• A meeting of the parent/guardian and appropriate school official(s) must be held to develop a school bus behavior contract whenever a studentis found to have engaged in bullying or is found to have engaged in physical assault or battery of another person on the school bus (OcGA 20-2-752.5).• Principals have the final authority to make disciplinary judgment regarding In-School Suspension (ISS) and short term (10 days or less) Outof-SchoolSuspension (OSS). For short term out-of-school suspension, an informal school level hearing by a school administrator will beconducted in accordance with Clayton County Board Policy JDD (Rule 1). Recommendation for out-of-school suspensions/expulsions whichexceed 10 days requires a request for Tribunal.• According to OcGA 20-2-1180, it is illegal for any person to remain upon the premises or within the school safety zone when that person doesnot have legitimate cause or need to be present; it shall be illegal according to OcGA 20-2-1182, for any parent, guardian or person otherthan a student at the school who has been reminded that minor children are present and then continues to insult or abuse any public schoolteacher, administrator, public school bus driver in the presence and within hearing of a student while on school grounds.• Students are to notify an administrator or staff member when illegal items are found in the school building or on the school campus. Studentsare advised not to pick up or handle illegal items.• Due process will include appropriate hearings and reviews, and in all cases the rights of individuals will be ensured and protected. Due processbegins at the school level.• School safety zone is defined as in, on or within 1,000 feet of any school property, either owned or leased for elementary, middle and highschools or used by the Board of Education.• According to OcGA 20-2-1184 and the Zero Tolerance Policy of Clayton County Public Schools, any teacher or person who has knowledge ofor reason to believe that a student has committed any of the following acts shall report to the principal who shall report to the superintendentand to the appropriate police and district attorney authority. These acts include:* Aggravated assault with a firearm* Aggravated battery* Sexual offenses* Carrying deadly weapons at public gatherings* Carrying weapons at school functions or on school property or within school safety zones* Illegal possession of a pistol or revolver by a person under 18 years of age* Possession and other activities regarding marijuana and controlled substances• In accordance with Clayton County Board of Education Policy, the use of tobacco in any form is prohibited anywhere on school property or atschool events. Students in violation of this policy are subject to disciplinary action.EXPEcTATIONS OF THE TEAcHErTeachers are expected to maintain order and discipline in the classroom and to deal with minor infractions. Teachers are to make appropriatereferrals for assistance with developing interventions for a student’s academic and behavioral challenges. When offenses are repetitious or of aserious nature, the violator will be referred to the administrator’s office. Teachers have the authority to remove students from classrooms inaccordance with Georgia law and district procedures. Any teacher, who observes misbehavior on the part of any student, whether at school or aschool-related function, is asked to correct the situation immediately.EXPEcTATIONS OF THE STUDENTStudents learn best and teachers provide the best instruction in an orderly environment. Violence will not be tolerated at school or at any schoolsponsoredfunction since extracurricular activities are considered an important part of the educational process. The following are expectationsfor students to preserve the academic process:• No individual or situation will be permitted to interfere with the learning environment in the classroom.• There will be no class, club or other group parties or picnics at any time during school hours unless specifically approved by the principal.EXPEcTATIONS OF PArENTS/GUArDIANSThe overarching philosophy of Clayton County Public Schools is that discipline helps to shape behavior that will result in the student’s ability toexcel academically. The academic process rests heavily on how well parents/guardians, school administrators and teachers work together toprovide a safety net and boundaries that engender academic success.38