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Taylor School District Educating for the 21st Century
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A primary objective of the Taylor School District is assisting students to become responsible individuals, able and willing to assume their role as law-abiding citizens. One aspect of the growth process is developing respect for rules and regulations established to protect the rights of all members of the school community. Violations of these rules and regulations are harmful to the rights and privileges of others and will not be tolerated. This code will apply to violations occurring on any school property, at any school sponsored activity or related to events occurring on school property or school related activity or when en route to or from home and school or a school related activity (door to door with in a reasonable amount of time). Acts of misconduct will result in disciplinary, corrective and/or legal action against the student. Many acts listed are violations of state laws, and city ordinances, as well as school district regulations. A copy of this document shall be provided to parents and students. Students, like all citizens, have rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. The rights of an individual are preserved only by the protection and preservation of the rights of others. Students are responsible for the way they exercise their rights and must accept the consequences of their actions and recognize the boundaries of their rights. Receiving a diploma is a privilege granted by the Taylor School District to those who have fulfilled the necessary requirements. Participation in the commencement exercise and the farewell assembly are also privileges granted by the Taylor School District. The following statements set forth the rights and responsibilities of Taylor School students. Students have the right to an education, and they also have the responsibility not to interfere with or threaten the education of others by their actions. Students have the right to seek changes in school policies and regulations in an orderly manner by utilizing channels provided for this purpose. The school administration has the authority to regulate student expression for legitimate educational reasons. As intellectual beings, students have a right to search vigorously for truth by examining opposing ideas and to espouse and express their views in an orderly manner. Where the soundness of their position can neither be proved nor disproved they shall in no way be penalized academically for holding those views. A student must be concerned for the effect that his/her spoken word or symbolic expression will have on the personal reputation of others, and students have the right to have their own personal reputation protected accordingly. Students have the right to present petitions. However, the collecting of signatures on petitions shall not disrupt classroom procedures nor interfere with the educational process. Journalism through school sponsored publications provides many learning experiences. In a school community, students involved in student publications shall convey information with accuracy and insight. Such publications shall operate in accordance with applicable constitutional guidelines. The responsibility and authority to make decisions based on the standards mentioned above are vested in the building Principal or in whomever he/she delegates this authority. Non school publications are prohibited without prior approval from central office or the building administration. Students have the right to assemble peacefully. There is an appropriate time and place for the expression of opinions and beliefs. Conducting and/or participating in demonstrations which interfere with the operation of the school or classroom is inappropriate and will not be tolerated. Students have the right to participate in school activities regardless of race, sex, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, marital status or any other protected category. Students may not be denied participation in any activity for any reason other than those established by state, county, and school eligibility requirements, which are legitimately related to the purpose of the activity. A student's personal property is his/her own. Students are discouraged from bringing to school valuables such as jewelry, electronic items and valuable clothing, which could be stolen, damaged or proves disruptive to others. Bringing money to school other than what is necessary for lunch or other school-related activities is discouraged. If valuable personal property is to be used on a school-related project, the student must arrange with staff for safekeeping. If a student brings valuable personal items to school, he/she is solely responsible for his/her personal property and if said personal property is found to be missing during the school day, the educational process of other students will not be interrupted to locate the property. The school district is not responsible for replacing or reimbursement of said item. The district retains the right to search persons and property on school premises or at school functions consistent with applicable laws. STUDENTS AND PARENTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT: A. Lockers, school desks and computer files are school property and students should have no expectation that the contents of their locker and/or desk will remain private. A general inspection of school properties such as lockers, desks, etc. may be conducted on a regular basis. During these inspections items which are school property may be collected (example: overdue library books). The privacy rights of the pupil shall be respected regarding any items that are not illegal or against school policy. 380.1306 MCL. B. All items which have been seized will be turned over to proper authorities or returned to the true owner, depending upon the situation. C. Periodic unannounced use of canines accompanied by law enforcement officials shall be permitted. D. Vehicles at school or school related activities are subject to search and seizure. Rights carry with them certain responsibilities, which must be shared by the students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the Board of Education. The primary responsibilities of each group are listed below: A. To attend school regularly, and to be on time and prepared to learn to the best of their ability. B. To respect the rights of others. C. To respect the property of others, including school property. D. To follow reasonable requests, instructions and directions of school personnel and to contribute at all times to the peace and tranquility of the school. E. To communicate ideas for improvement of the school through representative student government and appropriate staff. A. To assist your child in attending school regularly, on time and to notify the school when the student is absent. B. To provide for your child's health, personal cleanliness, acceptable grooming and suitable dress. C. To listen to, consult with, understand and trust your child. D. To work with school personnel and community groups to communicate concerns which may interfere with a child's education. E. To teach your child to respect the law and the rights of others. F. To be responsible for and insistent upon your child's development of self-reliance, independence, and educational growth. A. To know and enforce the rules both consistently and fairly. B. To respect the individuality of students. C. To assist students to become self-reliant, independent, and effective learners. D. To work with parents, students, and school staff to provide for a positive change. E. To notify parents and/or students that the student may be failing a course. RESPONSIBILITIES ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF A. To know and consistently and fairly enforce the rules and policies of the individual school and the school district. B. To establish a climate of understanding toward all students, parents, and staff. C. To encourage innovative practices in the individual buildings, which will increase students' self-respect, self-reliance, and educational progress. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION A. To hold the Superintendent and school employees responsible for the fair and consistent application of policies of the Board of Education. B. To work to adopt clear and understandable policies that enforce the goals of the school system and to assure communication of the policies to all persons affected by them. C. To maintain open communication with all segments of the community to foster attainment of the best possible educational environment. The following guideline will be used when the police want to question a student(s) at school or school related activities. 1. The administration will determine if the student to be questioned is a: a. Victim of a crime b. Witness to a crime c. Suspect in a criminal case d. Defendant in a criminal case 2. If the student is determined to be a victim or witness to a crime, the police may be allowed to question the student without parental permission. An administrator or his/her designee will witness the questioning. 3. The administrator or his/her designee will notify parents or legal guardians when a minor student, victim or witness, is questioned by the police. The timing of this notification will be determined by the administration in consultation with the police.
4. If the student is a suspect or defendant in a criminal case the administration will: a. Notify the parent that the police are at school to question their child and ask them to come to school. b. If the parent cannot come to school, the administrator or his/her designee will witness the questioning. c. If the parent does not want the child questioned by the police at school, questioning will not be allowed. 5. The police have the right to take a student into custody without arrest. The police and/or school will notify the parent and/or guardian. 6. The police have the right to place a student under arrest while at school or school related activities. The following attendance policy was developed on the premise that there is a positive correlation between attendance and student academic progress and that meaningful and necessary instruction is taking place in the school. The school and parents, therefore, should work together to stress the importance of regular attendance. It is the responsibility of a student to attend school unless prevented by illness or circumstances beyond their control. When an absence is necessary, it is the responsibility of the parent to contact the school. Telephone number will be provided by each school. (Refer to School Attendance Law M.C.L.A. 380-1311). HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS 1. Parents within the Taylor School District are required by law to assure that their children attend school continuously and consistently until they reach the age of 16. 2. Students within the Taylor School District are required to attend school continuously and consistently for the entire year until they reach the age of 16. 3. Teachers, Counselors and Administrators will investigate absences. Daily attendance records will be maintained for each student. 4. Regular attendance contributes to the probability of scholastic success and to the development of positive attitude and habits, which carry over into adult life. Therefore the Taylor School District attendance policy shall allow no more than thirteen (13) days of excused and or unexcused absences per semester. 5. When a student is absent from school, parents must telephone the school on the day the student is absent. A parent must call the school no later than one half hour after the start of the school day on the day of the absence. The reason for the absence and the parent's daytime telephone number must be provided. Parents must excuse absences by telephone unless there is no home telephone. If no home phone is available, a letter from the parent must be received within three (3) school days. Parents may call the number provided by each school to excuse their children during school hours. The number provided by each school for the recorder may be used at any time to excuse an absence. 6. There will be four types of absences: Excused,
Unexcused, Suspension, and School Business. The Tardy Policy for each high school will be as follows: Tardies # 1, 2 and 3 are teacher management. Tardy # 4 is a one day detention assigned by the teacher. Failure to serve the one day detention will result in a one day out of school suspension. Tardy # 5 and every subsequent tardy (6, 7, 8…) will result in a one day out of school suspension. Tardy is defined as not inside the classroom door when the bell rings. EXCUSED ABSENCES An excused absence is an absence which has been
confirmed by a parent phone call or written note and is for one of the
following five reasons. ONLY THE FOLLOWING ABSENCES WILL BE EXCUSED: 1. MEDICAL - Excused if a telephone call from a parent verifies that the student was not in school because of illness or to obtain health care. If an illness is chronic or long term, administration should be notified and a note from a health professional should be submitted. If a student becomes ill during the school day and it is necessary to go home, he or she must check out through the office. If a student is hospitalized for an extended period of time and a record of same is submitted confirming the days when the student was in the hospital, those days will not be included in the absence limit of thirteen (13) days per semester which determines loss of credit. 2. RELIGIOUS - Excused if caused by observance of religious occasions formally recognized by an organized faith to which the student, or the student's family, belongs and which require abstinence from the activities of daily life or the attendance at religious services. A note from a parent or a note on the letterhead of the religious organization is required. 3. FAMILY EMERGENCY - Excused if caused by family emergencies such as a death, funeral, serious illness or other crisis requiring absence from school and if proper notification is provided. 4. PRE-ARRANGED - Because of the ample vacation time built into the school calendar, families are strongly urged to arrange vacations at times that will not take students out of school. If a family finds it necessary to remove a student from school for family circumstances, a parent should provide written notification to the school at least three days in advance to pre-arrange the absence. The student must make arrangements with each teacher to make up work missed during the pre-arranged absence period. Students are required to keep up with class work during this absence. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE - Administrators can excuse
absences necessary for personal or confidential reasons, court
appearances, funerals, and other extenuating circumstances. SCHOOL BUSINESS ABSENCE A school business absence is an absence from school or class initiated by school activities or functions. School business absences are neither excused nor unexcused. School business absences are not to be included in the absence limit of thirteen (13) days per semester, which determines loss of credit. When students are on any school business absence they are required to keep up with their class work and assignments during the absence. College visitations may be considered school business when they: 1. Are scheduled through the counseling office 2. Are validated in writing by college personnel 3. Do not exceed two full school days An absence for a court appearance will be marked
"school business" if the student is summoned or subpoenaed as a
witness or party to a matter or case. MAKE-UP WORK A student will have one day for each day absent to make
up homework if the absence is excused, except for pre-arranged absences.
When a student is absent for one day, he/she may be required to make up
any tests on the day the student returns to school if the test was
announced in advance, unless other arrangements are made with the teacher.
If a student has a pre-arranged absence, all work and tests must be made
up by the second day when the student returns to school unless other
arrangements are made with the teacher. When a student has been given a
due date on a major or long term assignment (one which has been assigned
at least two weeks in advance) an excused absence shall not affect the
predetermined due date of the assigned material. It shall be the
responsibility of the student to assure that the assignment is completed
and turned in to the teacher on the due date. UNEXCUSED ABSENCES 1. No confirmed excuse - If a student is absent and the parent does not verify the absence, it is unexcused. 2. Truancy – If a student is willfully absent from school or deliberately does not go to class without valid reason. Truancy will lead to immediate disciplinary and/or court action as required by law. Students must check out through the office when leaving school during the school day. Students failing to do so will be disciplined. 3. Late to school, car problems, missed bus and others - Being more
than ten minutes late to class will be treated as an unexcused absence,
unless the tardiness is excused in writing by the building
administrator. ABSENCE DUE TO SUSPENSION An absence due to suspension is neither excused nor
unexcused but is an absence due to disciplinary procedures. APPEAL PROCEDURE A. Students who have lost credit in a class after thirteen absences* will be informed of this fact by the Assistant Principal or Counselor. The student’s parents will be sent a letter informing them of the loss of credit and of the right to appeal. If they wish to appeal, they may do so two weeks prior to the end of that semester. The Counselor is responsible for notifying the administration if the parent intends to appeal. B. An appeal of the loss of credit may be made to the School Appeal Committee, which will be composed of one Counselor, one Administrator and one Teacher. C. Appeals will be heard during the last week of the current semester during school hours. A student must continue to attend classes until the appeal is heard and/or after a decision is reached. D. The student and parent(s) /guardian(s) may attend the appeal meeting. E. At the appeal meeting, the parent and student will be provided with the opportunity to explain the reason for the excess of thirteen absences in writing. Medical verification, family funeral notices, court documents or other evidence of extenuating circumstances should be presented at the earliest possible time in the appeal process. F. If possible, a decision will be rendered at the appeal meeting. G. Factors considered in evaluating a student's attendance record and in determining whether or not an appeal should be granted include but are not limited to: (1) whether all absences were excused and/or validated (2) whether the documentation provided is authentic (not falsified) and (3) whether the absences have had a significant impact on academic progress. H. If the parent is dissatisfied with the decision of the School Appeal Committee; a further written appeal may be made to the building Principal within three school days. I. The Principal will render a decision based on the above factors within three (3) school days. J. The decision of the Principal is final. *As noted previously, a student will lose credit in a
class after thirteen absences per semester. STUDENT TARDINESS POLICY Students are expected to be in class on time unless
excused with a pass from a staff member or the office. Students are tardy
if they are not present in the classroom when the bell starts to ring. A
tardy in excess of ten (10) minutes is considered an absence and will
result in penalties for unexcused absences.
DENIAL OF EDUCATIONAL PARTICIPATION School staff recognizes that the goal of any disciplinary measure is to assure a safe educational environment and to assist the student into changing behavior in such a way that the student's future conduct will be more acceptable and more directed toward educational attainment. The method of discipline used is at the discretion of school staff following guidelines of this code. The type selected should be the most constructive possible for the circumstances. A student’s continuous disruption of the educational environment could result in his/her permanent removal from the Taylor School District. The following are some examples of disciplinary action, which may be used when a student's behavior interferes with his educational opportunity or that of others or with the safe orderly conduct of school activities. A. Parent Conference B. Removal from classroom C. Detention D. Temporary Suspension E. Extended Suspension F. Expulsion A meeting arranged for consultation between school personnel and parent. Teachers will establish rules concerning general student behavior. Violators of these classroom rules are to be handled by the individual teacher on a reasonable basis. A student may be temporarily removed from a classroom and referred to the office when the seriousness of the offense, the persistence of the misbehavior, or the misconduct disrupts the educational process of the other students in the classroom, or the student has been disrespectful and defiant to the teacher. As an alternative disciplinary method, the Principal may establish a detention period. Such a detention period shall meet after regular school hours. Each session shall be of equal time to a normal class hour and shall serve as an alternative to a suspension for students involved in minor disciplinary infractions. A condition of detention may include a school service activity. A. The Taylor School District’s Board of Education and Michigan law prohibits corporal punishment. Corporal punishment means the deliberate infliction of physical pain by any means upon the whole or any part of a pupil's body as a penalty or punishment for a pupil's offense. B. Parents and students should be aware the following is not corporal punishment: 1. Restraining or removing a pupil whose behavior is interfering with the orderly exercise and performance of school district functions within a school or at a school related activity and/or if that pupil has refused to comply with a request to refrain from further disruptive acts. 2. Quelling a disturbance that threatens physical injury to any person. 3. Protecting himself, herself, the pupil, or others from immediate physical injury. 4. Obtaining possession of a weapon or other dangerous object upon or within the control of a pupil. 5. Protecting property. A student may be suspended from school for a definite period of time by the Superintendent, Principal or their designee, for violation of any law, of this Student Code of Conduct, a School District Policy, regulation, rule, or other persistent disobedience or gross misdemeanor. Any violation of the state or local law will promptly be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authority. Suspensions may be temporary or for an extended period. The severity of the penalty should be relative to the seriousness of the offense. A suspension begins when the student is officially notified in writing of the suspension. A suspension ends at 11:59 p.m. on the last date of the suspension. A. Temporary Suspension Is defined as removal from school for ten (10) school days or less. Before a student is temporarily suspended that individual will receive notice of the charge, an explanation of the evidence against the student and an opportunity for the student to present his or her side of the story. B. Extended Suspension Is defined as removal from school for more than ten (10) school days with the right to be readmitted on evidence of satisfactory elimination of the cause for suspension. Expulsion from school is the permanent removal of a student from school and the denial of the student’s right to attend school activities and/or be present on school district property. Following expulsion, the student will not be readmitted to any unit of the Taylor Schools so long as the order of expulsion remains in effect. The Superintendent of schools or his/her designee may expel a student from the Taylor School District after notice to the student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) of the charges against the student and a hearing thereon as required by law and School District Policy. CONDITIONS RELATING TO SUSPENSION A. Assignments and tests missed during temporary suspension may be made up. If the student is serving a temporary suspension of three (3) days or less, the student will have as many days to make up the work as he/she has been suspended. If the student is serving a temporary suspension of four (4) or more consecutive days, all make-up work must be submitted within five (5) days of the student’s return to school. Work will be credited by the teacher toward the student’s grade. A student on extended suspension will have the right to maintain class progress only when practical in the judgement of the building principal. In such case it will be the responsibility of the parent to pick up and drop off class work to the school. B. Students who have been suspended or expelled from school shall not be eligible to participate in or attend curricular or extracurricular activities during the time of their exclusion. Further, the student shall not be present on School District property unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for a pre-arranged conference with an administrator. C. In each student's case, consideration will be given to age, experience and abilities of the student. Past incidences of misconduct will be carefully noted when dealing with a student regarding a current conduct violation. D. After suspension, every effort shall be exerted to determine and resolve the cause for such behavior. The resources available to help resolve misconduct problems include parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, school social workers, school and county health service, student services, psychological evaluations, family or social service agencies, police departments and courts. E. Conditions for readmission of a student may include probationary terms. All students shall have the right to due process in appeal of disciplinary proceedings. A student's due process safeguards consist of the opportunity to: 1. Be informed of the categories of misconduct and penalties or corrective actions, which may be used, through printed material made available to them and through discussion with school personnel. 2. Be informed of charges against them and penalties or other actions, which may result. In cases involving any extended suspension or expulsion from school, written notice will be sent to parent(s)/ guardian (s). 3. Have the right to respond to the charges or allegations. 4. In the event of an extended suspension or expulsion, have an impartial hearing regarding the conduct charged, with the opportunity to offer a defense, present and cross-examine witnesses, and examine any documents or other evidence relating to the charges. Such student also has the right to representation by counsel at his/her expense. 5. Appeals of suspensions and expulsions must follow the steps of the "Appeal Procedure". Disciplinary or corrective action may, at the discretion of the Principal, remain in effect during appeal activities. 6. An Administrator may order the immediate suspension of a student whose conduct disrupts the academic atmosphere of the school, endangers fellow students, teachers, school officials, damages property or presents a threat of disrupting the educational process or atmosphere of the school. In such cases, the due process procedure shall be completed as soon as practicable, and the school will telephone the numbers on the emergency card if the parent is not available. In the event no contact can be made using the emergency card, the local police department may be contacted to take custody of the child. A student may exercise his/her right of appeal by following the steps listed below: 1. This step of the appeal process does not apply to discipline imposed by the building principal. If a student has been suspended for 10 days or less by an assistant principal or designee, the student or parents of the student may appeal for a hearing with the school principal. Such a request may be made by contacting the building principal within two (2) days of the first day of suspension and setting up an appointment. The principal will investigate and hear an appeal as soon as possible but not more than three (3) days following its receipt. Based upon information from this hearing, the principal will make a decision to sustain, adjust or reverse the action within one (1) day unless a decision should be made immediately following the hearing, the student and parents will be informed of the decision. THE DECISION OF THE PRINCIPAL IS FINAL WITH REGARD TO SUSPENSION OF 10 DAYS OR LESS. 2. A suspension of 11 school days or more including expulsion can be requested by a school administrator depending upon the seriousness of the violation of the student code of conduct. In the event an administrator requests a suspension of 11 or more days including expulsion, the assistant superintendent or his/her designee will establish a hearing date. A review committee will be set up within five (5) school days of the first day of suspension to examine or hear the case within ten (10) school days total from the first day of the student’s suspension. All parties shall be entitled to representation of their own choice and at their own expense during the hearing. Based upon information from this hearing, the review committee will make a decision to sustain, adjust or reverse the building administrator’s recommendation within five (5) school days unless a decision should be made immediately following the hearing. The student and parents will be informed of the decision. 3. In the case of an extended suspension (11
school days
or more) or expulsion, the decision of the review committee may be
appealed in writing for a hearing with the Superintendent or his/her
designee. Such written requests must be made within five (5) school days of
the receipt of the previous hearing decision, stating specific
grievances and reasons for appeal. The Superintendent or his/her
designee will conduct a hearing as soon, as is practicable. Attendance
may include participants from steps 1 and 2. The parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified of the place, time, and date of the hearing, which will be conducted under the rules set forth by the Superintendent in accordance with the provisions of due process. A verbatim record of the hearing will be kept. Court rules of evidence will not be followed. All parties shall be entitled to representation during appeal hearings, and the board attorney and other resource people may be present. Parent(s)/guardian(s) of a minor student are expected to be present. Based upon information from the hearing, the Superintendent or his/her designee will make a decision to sustain, adjust, or reverse the Step 2 decision within five (5) school days unless a decision should be made immediately following the hearing. All parties will be notified in writing of the Superintendent’s decision. The decision of the Superintendent will be final. 4. If the student is found to be innocent at any step of the appeal process, the student will be fully reinstated immediately. All references to the matter will be removed from the student's official school record. Any record of time lost will be removed from the student's record. The foregoing appeal procedure can be modified by the following: A. Should a parent or guardian prefer, in the case of a suspension of greater than ten (10) school days or an expulsion, the appeal hearing before the Principal and the Review Committee may be waived, and the initial suspension/expulsion decision may be reviewed by the Superintendent or his/her designee. Such request must be made, in writing, within three (3) school days of the first day of suspension. The Superintendent or his/her designee will hear the appeal within ten (10) school days of the first day of suspension. B. At any time during the disciplinary proceedings, the Superintendent or his/her designee may enter into a voluntary written contract with the student and/or his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) setting forth the parties' agreement in settlement of the disciplinary charges. In such cases, the written agreement shall be final and binding and may not be later challenged. ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE – SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS It is essential that students are aware that the use of illicit drugs and the unlawful possession and use of alcohol and tobacco are wrong and harmful. In compliance with the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 (H.R. 1804), the Taylor School District shall provide age-appropriate, developmentally based violence, drug, alcohol, and tobacco education and prevention programs (which address the legal, social, and health consequences of the aforementioned and which provide information about effective techniques for resisting peer pressure) for all students in all grades from early childhood through grade 12. Students who have problems, which are in any way related to violence, drug, alcohol, or tobacco abuse, are encouraged to immediately seek professional assistance. Names of agencies offering counseling, rehabilitation and re-entry programs may be obtained from school buildings or the Department of Instruction. A. Whenever any student is suspected of having any involvement with drugs or alcohol, this fact shall be immediately reported to the Principal or Assistant Principal of the school. 1. Drugs are defined as those substances (including marijuana) which are regulated and defined within the Controlled Substance Act of 1971, being P.A. 1971, Act 196, and Article VII of the Public Health Code, being MCL 33.7101, ET SEQ, and in other Michigan or Federal Statutes and any amendments thereto, or regulations promulgated in pursuance thereto. 2. Alcohol is defined as any beverage containing ethyl alcohol including, but not limited to; beer, wine (wine coolers), liquor, or distilled spirits, and by whatever name called, containing one-half of one percent (1/2 OF 1%) or more alcohol by volume. B. The Principal shall immediately do the following: 1. Make such inquires and investigation as he/she deems necessary to obtain all the facts. 2. Notify the student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) of the pending investigation. 3. Notify the police department. 4. The Principal shall further notify the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) in writing of the mandatory disciplinary action that will be imposed if there is a finding of drugs or alcohol involvement and of their right to a review of such action. 5. The Principal shall not impose any disciplinary action until a finding has been made that the student is involved with drugs and/or alcohol. The student shall be permitted to remain in class while the investigation is being conducted, except in a case of suspected overdose of drugs or alcohol. C. When it has been determined that the student has been involved with drugs or alcohol, the Principal shall impose the disciplinary action and immediately notify the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) of same. A complete report shall be forwarded immediately to the office of the Superintendent. D. In the event of an overdose of drugs or alcohol, no student shall be readmitted until a statement from a medical physician is obtained attesting to the health and physical condition of said student and his/her ability to continue in school. Bus transportation is a privilege granted to students and not a responsibility of the Taylor School District. Therefore, the privilege of riding a school bus is directly dependent on the behavior of the rider as it pertains to the student code of conduct. As such, it is incumbent upon parent(s)/guardian(s) to educate their child(ren) as to appropriate behavior. No student will be removed en route unless there is danger to the safety of the driver and/or students. A triplicate report form will be provided, by the transportation department, to each bus driver for the purpose of reporting violations to the building administration. The administration will expedite the discipline and distribute copies of the report as follows: 1. Parents 2. Principal 3. Bus Driver BUS MISCONDUCT Severe student action that affects the health or safety of the students on or waiting for the bus may cause immediate bus suspension and disciplinary action from the school according to the student code of conduct. A. Restitution for damage done by students will be charged against the student or the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) at its replacement cost. Arrangement for the satisfactory settlement of restitution must be made with the transportation department before bus privileges are resumed. B. Students must enter and exit buses in an orderly fashion. Pushing, shoving or jostling while entering or exiting the bus is not permitted. If not complied with, the driver shall not load or unload the bus until the students comply. C. The following violations may lead to temporary or permanent suspension of bus privileges and disciplinary action from the school according to the student code of conduct. Examples of violations include, but are not limited to: 1. Insubordination 2. Smoking 3. Fighting 4. Profane or foul language 5. Destruction of property 6. Repeated offenses 7. Opening bus emergency doors D. Violation for smoking on buses: 1. 1st Offense: Ten (10) days without bus transportation. 2. 2nd Offense: Thirty (30) days without bus transportation. 3. 3rd Offense: Forfeit of bus transportation for the remainder of the school year. E. Violation for fighting on buses and/or at bus stop: 1. 1st Offense: Ten (10) days without bus transportation. 2. 2nd Offense: Thirty (30) days without bus transportation. 3. 3rd Offense: Forfeit of bus transportation for the remainder of the school year. F. Violation for vandalism on buses and/or at bus stops, destruction of buses, or throwing objects inside the bus or out of the bus. 1. 1st Offense: Ten (10) days without bus transportation and restitution of damage. 2. 2nd Offense: Thirty (30) days without bus transportation and restitution of damage. 3. 3rd Offense: Forfeit of bus transportation for the remainder of the school year and restitution of damage. G. Disorderly conduct/insubordination/profane or foul language 1. 1st Offense: Referral to principal/letter to parent. 2. 2nd Offense: Five (5) days without bus transportation. The driver may request a parent conference. 3. 3rd Offense: Ten (10) days without bus transportation. 4. 4th Offense: Removal from the bus for a minimum of thirty (30) days or remainder of the school year at Principal's discretion. H. Opening emergency door with out authorization 1. 1st Offense: Thirty (30) days without bus transportation. 2. 2nd Offense: Forfeit bus transportation for a minimum of one school year. Proper behavior is expected by all students utilizing school district transportation. TECHNOLOGY – ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY The Taylor School District has actively pursued making advanced technology and increased access to learning opportunities available to our students, faculty and staff. One result of this initiative is that students in the Taylor School District now have the opportunity for Internet use. Access to the Internet will enable students to explore thousands of libraries, databases and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with Internet users throughout the world. With this new tool, however, students and parents should be warned that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some people. Therefore, students and staff must understand and practice proper ethical and legal use. While our intent is to make Internet access available to further educational goals and objectives, students may find ways to access other materials as well. It is the user’s responsibility not to initiate access to such material. We believe that the benefits to students from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, exceed any disadvantages. Ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway. The Taylor School District student code of conduct is the accepted guide for behavior and extends to the use of the Internet. Students’ use of the Internet must also be in support of education and research and consistent with the educational objectives of the Taylor School District. Use of other organization’s network or computing resources must comply with the rules appropriate for that network. Transmission of or downloading any material in violation of any national or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material or material protected by trade secret. Use for commercial activities is not acceptable. Use for product advertisement or political lobbying is also prohibited. PRIVILEGES The use of the Internet, computer systems, software and the network are a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. The school and system administrators will deem what is inappropriate use and their decision is final. Violations of district policies may result in a loss of access as well as other disciplinary or legal action. The Taylor School District reserves the right to review any material on user accounts or workstation and to monitor fileserver space in order to make determinations on whether specific uses of the network are inappropriate. Students’ use of the Internet may also be revoked, denied, or suspended at the request of faculty and staff. NETWORK ETIQUETTE Students of the Taylor School District are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include (but are not limited to) the following:
The Taylor School District makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. The Taylor School District will not be responsible for any damages suffered while on this system. These damages include loss of data as a result of delays, non-deliveries, miss-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by the system or your errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the information system is at your own risk. The Taylor School District specifically disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy of information obtained through its service. All users need to consider the source of any information they obtain, and consider how valid that information may be. SAFETY RULES
PROVISIONS FOR REVIEW OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT A review of this code of conduct shall be made at the discretion of the Superintendent. Any recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education. The Taylor School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, height, weight, marital status, handicap, or disability in any of its programs or activities. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Inquiries by students and/or their parents/guardians related to discrimination on the basis of disability/handicap should be directed to: Director of Special Education, Taylor School District 23033 Northline Road, Taylor, MI 48180 (734) 374-1200 All other inquiries related to discrimination should be directed to: Deputy Superintendent, Taylor School District 23033 Northline Road, Taylor, MI 48180 (734) 374-1200 The Taylor School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, height, weight, marital status, handicap, or disability in any of its programs or activities. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Inquiries by students and/or their parents/guardians related to discrimination on the basis of disability/handicap should be directed to: Director of Special Education, Taylor School District 23033 Northline Road, Taylor, MI 48180 (734) 374-1200 All other inquiries related to discrimination should be directed to: Deputy Superintendent, Taylor School District 23033 Northline Road, Taylor, MI 48180 (734) 374-1200 These categories of misconduct have been prepared to assist students, parents and staff to understand what actions are inappropriate in our school setting. Purposeful permission to undermine this code of conduct is prohibited. The following list, while it sets forth some very important areas of misconduct, does not contain every possible action, which might violate the rules and rights of others. A student might be subject to discipline even though his/her conduct is not specifically prohibited. Any action which disrupts school activity or which might cause danger to persons or destruction of property may result in disciplinary action. Any behavior which has a negative impact on the health, safety and welfare of persons or on the learning environment may result in discipline at the discretion of administration. The penalties set forth are only the minimum penalties. All days of suspension reflect days in which school is in session. More severe discipline, up to and including expulsion, may result depending on the seriousness of the misconduct. In appropriate circumstances, there may also be a referral to law enforcement or other agencies. It is understood that, in the elementary schools, the age and maturity level of the children would dictate that the Principal has the option of using his/her discretion and judgment in implementing the provisions of this code with the exception of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, weapons, criminal sexual conduct, and arson.
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