Back to Student Behavior

Code JICDA

The district’s code of conduct and discipline is established to achieve and maintain order in the schools. In administrative rule JICDA-R, the board and the administration offer a list of offenses along with the required or recommended dispositions for the information of students, parents/legal guardians and school personnel.

Disciplinary actions will include appropriate hearings and review. The removal of a student from the learning environment will occur only for just cause and in accordance with due process of law. The administration may consider extenuating circumstances when taking disciplinary action.

The administrative rule is effective during the following times and in the following places.

• on the school grounds during and immediately before or immediately after school hours

• on the school grounds at any other time when the school is being used by a school group

• off the school grounds at a school activity, function or event

• en route to and from school on a school bus or other school vehicle

Code JICDA-R

The board may confer upon the appropriate administrator the authority to consider extenuating, mitigating or aggravating circumstances which may exist in a particular case of misconduct. Such circumstances should be considered in determining the most appropriate form of discipline to be used.

Behaviors requiring disciplinary action:

Disorderly conduct is defined as those activities engaged in by student(s) which tend to impede orderly classroom procedures or instructional activities, orderly operation of the school, or the frequency or seriousness which disturb a classroom or school.

Acts of disorderly conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following.

• classroom tardies

• cheating on examination or classroom assignment

• lying

• acting in a manner so as to interfere with the instructional process

• abusive language between or among students

• failure to complete assignments or carry out directions

• use of forged notes or excuses

• cutting class

• school tardiness

• truancy

• other disorderly acts as determined by the board of trustees

• other disorderly acts, as determined by the school administration, not in conflict with board policy or state or federal law 

Students who commit acts of disorderly conduct should be referred to the school administration for appropriate disciplinary action. A complete record of the actions taken will be maintained.

Possible sanctions to be applied in cases of disorderly conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• verbal reprimand

• withdrawal of privileges

• detention

• in-school suspension

• out-of-school suspension

• expulsion for the remainder of the school year

Disruptive conduct is defined as those activities engaged in by student(s) which are directed against persons or property, and the consequences of which tend to endanger the health or safety of oneself or others in the school. Some instances of disruptive conduct may overlap certain criminal offenses, justifying other administrative sanctions and court proceedings.

Acts of disruptive conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following.

• use of an intoxicant

• fighting

• vandalism (minor)

• stealing

• threats against others, including, but not limited to, display or use of facsimile, toy or look alike weapons; possession of a facsimile, toy or look alike weapon

• trespass

• abusive language to staff

• refusal to obey school personnel or agents (such as volunteer aides or chaperones) whose responsibilities include supervision of students

• first offense possession or use of unauthorized substances, as defined by law or local school board policy

• illegally occupying or blocking in any way school property with the intent to deprive others of its use

• unlawful assembly

• disrupting lawful assembly

• inappropriate verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature

• unauthorized possession of a telecommunication device, including pagers, cellular phones, etc.

• repeat offenses of conduct classified as disorderly conduct under this policy

• other disruptive acts as determined by the board of trustees

• other disruptive acts, as determined by the school administration, not in conflict with board policy, state or federal law

Students who commit acts of disruptive conduct will be referred to the school administration for appropriate disciplinary action. A complete record of the actions taken will be maintained.

Possible sanctions to be applied in cases of disruptive conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following.

• temporary removal from class

• in-school suspension

• out-of-school suspension

• transfer to alternative education program

• referral to outside agency

• expulsion for the remainder of the school year

• restitution

Criminal conduct is defined as those activities engaged in by student(s) which result in violence to oneself or another’s person or property or which pose a direct and serious threat to the safety of oneself or others in the school. These activities usually require administrative action which results in the immediate removal of the student from school, the intervention of law enforcement authorities and/or action by the board.

Acts of criminal conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following.

• assault and battery

• extortion

• bomb threat

• possession, use or transfer of a weapon, including but not limited to: firearm, incendiary or explosive devise, ammunition of any kind, knife of any blade length, blackjack, brass knuckles, or any other item used to inflict, or with the intent to inflict, physical harm; (any BB or other similar gun that looks like or has been altered to look like an operable firearm may be considered a weapon for purposes of this policy)

- Possession is defined as being in a student’s locker, purse, gym bag, backpack or any other item carried by or belonging to the student or in a vehicle parked on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity.

- Any student who realizes that he/she has accidentally brought a weapon such as a knife or box cutter onto school grounds or to a school-sponsored activity should go immediately to a teacher or administrator and turn the item in. If the administration determines that the student turned the item in immediately upon discovery, the student may not be sanctioned. Students who delay turning over an item will be sanctioned.

• sexual offenses

• vandalism (major)

• theft, possession or sale of stolen property

• arson

• subsequent offense, possession or use and furnishing, selling or possession of unauthorized substances as defined by law or board policy

• furnishing or selling unauthorized substances

• threatening to take the life of or inflict bodily harm upon a teacher, principal, or members of their immediate family

• repeat offenses of conduct classified as disruptive conduct under this policy

Students who commit acts of criminal conduct will be referred to the school administration for appropriate disciplinary action. A complete record of the action taken will be maintained.

Possible sanctions to be applied in cases of criminal conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following.

• out-of-school suspension

• transfer to alternative education program

• referral to outside agency

• expulsion for the remainder of the school year

• expulsion for one calendar year

• permanent expulsion

• restitution

Discipline of students with disabilities will be handled in conformity with federal law and regulation.