Obtaining an education is a serious endeavor. This condition cannot exist in schools without mutual respect between students and teachers. All students are asked to exemplify this attitude by the manner in which they conduct themselves in order:
· To create an atmosphere in which learning, study, and work can proceed best.
· To create an environment where there are no disruptions to the educational process.
· To prevent costly damage to school equipment and to property near the school.
· To provide for the safety of all students and staff members.
· To make individuals responsible for their actions.
Massachusetts General Laws gives the school and parents joint
jurisdiction over students on their way to and from school. Students
should always be mindful that they hold in their keeping the good name of the school and should conduct themselves
in the proper manner of responsible adults.
The Taunton High School Discipline Code is administered within the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Supreme Court and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with regard to due process for students. Students, due to their behavior, may be subject to the following disciplinary actions:
OFFICE DETENTION
Students may be assigned to office detention for various infractions including, but not limited to:
· Repeated tardiness to class
· Failure to report for teacher detention
· Misuse of pass
· Leaving class without permission
· Disrespect to school staff/Insubordination
· Forged signature
· Class cut
· Harassment of a fellow student
· Classroom or hallway disruption
Detention is held in S112 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:05 - 3:00 p.m. Double detention is held in the same location and days from 2:05 - 4:00 p.m.
SATURDAY DETENTION
Students may be assigned Saturday detention as an alternative to out-of-school suspension for various infractions including, but not limited to:
· Failing to report to office detention
· Being in a
restricted area; locker rooms, roof, stairwells, 2nd floor auditorium/lobby, or Parker Middle School
· Disrupting office detention room
· Excessive office referrals
· Excessive class cuts
· Cheating
· Excessive tardies to school and/or class
· Failing to return library books, textbooks in a timely manner
· Smoking/Tobacco usage
· Truancy/a.m. truancy/leaving the building unauthorized (p.m. truancy)
· Misuse of technology
· Insubordination
· Cafeteria or hallway disruption
· Requirement of Attendance Contract
The following rules are required for students attending Saturday detention:
· The student must attend all four hours from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
· Students must be on time, session starts at 8:00 a.m. sharp.
· Students should enter through the door near C103 at the rear of C House and report to C204.
Refusal to attend may result in a suspension from school, pending conference with an associate headmaster.
SUSPENSION
Students may be assigned a suspension from school for various infractions including, but not limited to:
· Fighting/Assault
· Vulgar or obscene language to staff/student
· Insubordination
· Vandalism
· Theft
· Use or possession of drugs or alcohol
· Repeated incidents of truancy/a.m. truancy
· Failure to report to Saturday detention
· Threatening school staff
· Leaving the building unauthorized (p.m. truancy)
· Possession of a weapon
· Being in a restricted area; locker rooms, roof stairwells, second floor auditorium lobby, or auditorium
· Smoking/Tobacco usage
· Harassment
· Hazing
· Inappropriate school behavior
· Disrupting office detention
· Disrupting Saturday detention
· Excessive tardiness to school
· Excessive
class cuts
The superintendent of schools and the headmaster, or his designee, may suspend for a period up to ten (10) school days, a student who has committed an infraction for which suspension is a possible discipline. Before students are suspended they are first given an informal hearing by the associate headmaster. A parent or guardian is then contacted by phone and a follow-up letter is sent detailing the situation. The suspension may be as a disciplinary measure or as a prelude to expulsion or exclusion procedures. Suspension from school is a very significant penalty which the school can impose upon its students. Students suspended from school will be re-admitted only after a meeting between the parent and an administrator.
Students who have been suspended will be allowed to make up the work missed and, in most cases, will be allowed to obtain assignments from teachers prior to their day(s) of suspension. During the time of suspension, a student may not participate in team practices, games, and extra-curricular activities. Students must stay off school grounds while on out-of-school suspension or they are subject to arrest for trespassing.
The school administration may call for a conference with the parent and student at any time during the suspension. In all cases of suspension the student shall have the right of appeal to the next highest administrator in the high school. If the student is suspended by an associate headmaster, the appeal would be to the assistant headmaster, then to the headmaster, then the superintendent of schools.
EXPULSION/EXCLUSION
Expulsion from school can be for a prescribed length of time beyond the maximum term for suspension, for the remainder of the current school term, or on a permanent basis. The headmaster can expel a student for the following offenses under the Massachusetts General Laws c. 71, s.37H, which state:
a. Any student who is found on school premises or at a school-sponsored or school-related events, including athletic games, in possession of a dangerous weapon, including, but not limited to, a gun or a knife; or a controlled substance as defined in chapter ninety-four C, including, but not limited to, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, may be subject to expulsion from the school or school district by the principal.
b. Any student who assaults a principal, assistant principal, teacher, teacher’s aide, or other educational staff on school premises or at school-sponsored or school-related events, including athletic games, may be subject to expulsion from the school or school district by the principal.
c. Any student who is charged in violation of either paragraph (a) or (b) shall be notified in writing of an opportunity for a hearing; provided, however, that the student may have representation, along with the opportunity to present evidence and witness at said hearing before the principal. After said hearing, a principal may, in his discretion, decide to suspend rather than expel a student who has been determined by the principal to have violated either paragraph (a) or (b). (The student will have access to documented evidence prior to the hearing and the student will receive a reasonably prompt written decision including specific grounds for the decision)
d. Any student who has been expelled from a school district pursuant to these provisions shall have the right to appeal to the superintendent. The expelled student shall have ten days from the date of the expulsion in which to notify the superintendent of his appeal. The student has the right to counsel at a hearing before the superintendent. The subject matter of the appeal shall not be limited solely to a factual determination of whether the student has violated any provisions of the school.
e. When a student is expelled under the provisions of this section, no school or school district within the commonwealth shall be required to admit such student or to provide educational services to said student. If said student does apply for admission to another school or school district, the superintendent of the school district to which the application is made may request and shall receive from the superintendent of the school expelling said student a written statement of the reasons for said expulsion.
FELONY CHARGES M.G. L. Ch. 71, Section 37H½
(1) Upon the issuance of a criminal complaint charging a
student with a felony or upon the issuance of a felony delinquency complaint against a student, the principal or
headmaster of a school in which the student is enrolled may suspend such student for a period of time determined
appropriate by said principal or headmaster if said principal or headmaster determines that the student’s
continued presence in school would have a substantial detrimental effect on the general welfare of the school. The student shall receive written notification of the charges and the
reasons for such suspension prior to such suspension taking place. The
student shall also receive written notification of his right to appeal and the process for appealing such
suspension; provided, however, that such suspension shall remain in effect prior to any appeal hearing conducted
by the superintendent.
The student shall have the right to appeal the suspension to the superintendent, or his designee. The student shall notify the superintendent in writing of his request for
an appeal no later than five calendar days following the effective date of the suspension. The superintendent shall hold a hearing with the student and the
student’s parent or guardian within three calendar days of the student’s request for an appeal. At the hearing, the student shall have the right to present oral and
written testimony on his behalf, and shall have the right to counsel. The
superintendent shall have the authority to overturn or alter the decision of the principal or headmaster,
including recommending an alternate educational program for the student. The
superintendent shall render a decision on the appeal within five calendar days of the hearing. Such decision shall be the final decision of the city, town, or regional
school district with regard to the suspension.
(2) Upon a student being convicted of a felony or upon an adjudication or admission in
court of guilt with respect to such felony or felony delinquency, the principal or
headmaster of a school in which the student is enrolled may expel said student if such principal
or headmaster determines that the student’s continued presence in school would have a
substantial detrimental effect on the general
welfare of the school. The student shall receive written notification
of the charges and reasons for such expulsion prior to such expulsion taking place. The student shall also receive written notification of his right to appeal and the process for
appealing such expulsion; provided, however, that the expulsion shall remain in effect prior to any appeal hearing
conducted by the superintendent.
The student shall have the right to appeal the expulsion to the superintendent. The student shall notify the superintendent in writing of his request for
an appeal no later than five calendar days following the effective date of the expulsion. The superintendent shall hold a hearing with the student and the
student’s parent or guardian within three calendar days of the student’s request for an appeal. At the hearing, the student shall have the right to present oral and
written testimony on his behalf, and shall have the right to counsel. The
superintendent shall have the authority to overturn or alter the decision of the principal or headmaster,
including recommending an alternate educational program for the student. The
superintendent shall render a decision on the appeal within five calendar days of the hearing. Such decision shall be the final decision of the city, town, or regional
school district with regard to the expulsion.
Upon expulsion of such student, no school or school district shall be required to provide educational services to such student.
VANDALISM
The Taunton Public Schools system and the Taunton School Committee recognizes that any acts of vandalism committed against public and private property are costly and require positive interventions through educational programs. Consequently, the committee will support various programs aimed at reducing the amount of vandalism in the school.
Every citizen of the city, staff members, students, and members of the police department are urged by the school committee to cooperate in reporting any incidents of vandalism to property under control of the school department, and the name(s) of the person or persons believed to be responsible. Each employee will report to the headmaster, or his designee, every incident of vandalism known to him and, if known, the names of those responsible. Taunton High School utilizes surveillance cameras which may assist in the process of identifying vandals.
The Superintendent, or his designee, and the headmaster are all authorized to sign criminal complaints and to press charges against perpetrators of vandalism against school property, and are further authorized to delegate, as they see fit, authority to sign such complaints and to press charges.
After it has been determined that a student(s) is responsible for vandalism, the student(s) will be suspended out-of-school for a period up to ten days. Parents and students will be made aware of the legal implications involved. Restitution will be sought for all or part of any damages.
TOBACCO
Possession of any tobacco product is a violation of school policy
as well as Massachusetts General Laws.
Tobacco products will be confiscated and will not be returned. Smoking
and chewing tobacco are prohibited on school property and on school buses.
Students found violating this rule may be assigned:
· First offense – Saturday detention
· Second offense – one day out-of-school suspension
· Third offense – three days out-of-school suspension
Students who possess/use tobacco products will be referred to the Safe and Drug-Free School Coordinator.
ALCOHOL AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
The use, possession, or serving of any alcoholic beverages or controlled substances in
school, on school grounds or at school sponsored activities is prohibited. Further,
any person shall be barred from school or any school sponsored activity if he/she has been drinking alcoholic
beverages or using controlled substances prior to his/her attendance at, or participation in, said school
sponsored activity. Violation of this policy will result in the
immediate suspension of the student for a period of up to ten (10) school days with an exclusion hearing unless a
harsher punishment is mandated by another provision of this discipline code.
As a result of an exclusion hearing, a student suspension may be extended at the discretion of the
Headmaster. Notwithstanding, any other provision of the discipline
code to the contrary, students who have been disciplined for alcohol or substance abuse-related infractions are
expected to participate in a substance abuse education program upon their return to school. The high school administration considers the student’s willingness to
cooperate in determining the length of suspension.
Upon reasonable suspicion of a violation of the school’s discipline code, school officials will exercise their right to conduct a search of a student and or his/her belongings. The search will be reasonable in scope in light of the age and gender of the student and the nature of the infraction. This may include, but not be limited to, student vehicles, backpacks and lockers. It is the responsibility of the administration of the school to act swiftly on any circumstance which may pose a clear and present danger to the safety of the school community.
LOCKERS
Students may request a locker in school and in the physical education department. Students will be allowed to utilize lockers before school, between classes, and at the end of the school day. Students should leave all valuables in their associate headmaster's office. Students should not bring significant amounts of money to school. The school is not responsible for loss or theft.
Lockers may never be used for storing contraband items such as alcoholic beverages, stolen property, weapons, or controlled substances. Lockers are the property of the school department and, therefore, are subject to inspection by public school officials at any time to ensure that students are in compliance with these regulations. Master locker keys and records of locker combinations are retained by school officials.
METAL DETECTOR SEARCH POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to promote an effective educational environment and to insure the safety of all students and school personnel within the City of Taunton. The policy is intended to encourage compliance with, and to identify those who fail to comply with school policy, local ordinances and state statutes regarding the carrying of dangerous weapons or objects on school property. The cooperation of all students and faculty is expected and school officials and the Taunton Police Department shall make every effort to implement the policy in a reasonable, orderly, and efficient manner.
Effective March 1, 1993, with or without prior notice, school officials may require students to pass through a metal detector. The metal detector may be set up or a hand-held metal detector may be used for the specific purpose of conducting a random search of the entire student body, or a search of one or more individual students. A metal detector may be temporarily or permanently installed at a school entrance or doorway. A metal detector may be used at any time during regular school hours or in conjunction with any school-sponsored event.
If the metal detector indicates that the student has a metal object on his or her person, the student will then be requested to produce the object or to otherwise explain what has caused the device to detect a metal object. If the student fails or refuses to produce the object and/or explain what may have caused the device to detect the presence of a metal object, school officials or police officers may conduct a “pat-down” search of the student or compel the student to empty his or her pockets and/or remove outer clothing (jacket, sweatshirt, etc.).
If a dangerous weapon or object, as defined by this school code of conduct, a city ordinance or a state statute is found, school officials and/or police officers will take appropriate action including, but not limited to, confiscation of the dangerous weapon or object and suspension, expulsion and/or criminal prosecution of the student.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The Taunton School System has an obligation to prevent sexual harassment in the schools by employees, non-employees, and students. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
Forms of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to the
following:
Verbal Harassment
For example – suggestive or insulting comments, whistling, jokes or slurs, discussion
of one’s sexual
activities and/or sexual
orientation.
Visual Harassment
For example – derogatory, offensive posters, cards, cartoons, graffiti, drawings,
sexual gestures and
leering.
Physical Harassment
For example – unnecessary or offensive touching and obstruction of an individual’s
movement.
Please note: most physical forms of harassment are considered assaultive behaviors.
A student who believes that he/she has been subjected to or has witnessed an incident of sexual harassment should report the allegation to one of the following: an administrator, guidance counselor, Taunton High School Access Center counselor, or Taunton Public Schools Title IX Officer. Once an allegation has been reported, a building level administrator will be notified and will conduct an investigation of the incident by following the steps listed below. Due to the investigation process, the student cannot be given an absolute promise of confidentiality.
The building level administrator will interview:
· the student who has reported the allegation.
· the alleged perpetrator to determine his/her response to the allegation.
The administrator will complete a written report of the incident, the decision rendered and action taken to address the situation. Within fifteen school days, this report must be forwarded to the Title IX officer. If one of the parties is not satisfied with the building administrator’s decision, that individual can appeal the decision to the headmaster; and then to the superintendent. Retaliation against an individual who has complained about sexual harassment and/or retaliation against individuals for cooperating in an investigation of a sexual harassment complaint are similarly unlawful and will not be tolerated.
HAZING
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 269, Sections 17-19 define “hazing” to mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which will fully or recklessly endanger the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any school student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep rest or extended isolation. Not withstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this action. The administration will conduct a thorough investigation of any alleged hazing incident. After it has been determined that hazing has taken place, the student(s) will be suspended out-of-school for a period up to ten days. The matter will be referred to the police department and the school committee will be informed by the superintendent.
PEER MEDIATION
This program attempts to resolve conflicts peacefully before violence occurs. It is voluntary. Mediators are students who are neutral, impartial, and trained in mediation skills. Administration encourages mediation upon return from suspension.
TAUNTON YOUTH COURT (T.Y.C.)
The Taunton Youth Court is a program offered by school administrators as an alternative to suspension and other disciplinary action. School administrators decide and select student infraction cases which may be heard by the Youth Court. Students are then asked to acquire parental permission to be eligible for the program. The case will then take place with students trained in the traditional roles of court personnel (attorneys, bailiffs, jurors) along with adult staff and a decision will be reached based on restorative justice with possible sanctions including, but not limited to, letters of apology, restitution, community service time, participation in after school activities and general assistance to the school or community. (The T.Y.C. will remain as long as there is outside grant funding)
MCAS TUTORIAL/REMEDIATION ROOM
Freshmen and sophomore students who face disciplinary action, including suspension, may be referred to the MCAS Tutorial/Remediation Room. This instructionally based tutorial program will serve as an alternative to out of school suspension. As part of the Academic Service Learning grant, students are provided with MCAS tutorial assistance and special attention is paid towards their individual student success plans. The MCAS Tutorial/Remediation Room is supervised by a coordinator who works closely with the associate headmasters and guidance counselors monitoring student attendance and academics.
Any person affected by a restraining order (209A), issued by any
trial court, must provide a copy of the order to their associate headmaster and guidance counselor.
SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS – DISCIPLINE POLICY
All students are expected to meet the requirements for behavior as set forth in this handbook. M.G.L. c. 71B requires that additional provisions be made for students who have been found by an evaluation team to have special needs and whose program is described in an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).
The following are procedures required with respect to the suspensions of students with disabilities:
1). Any student may be suspended up to ten (10) days in any school year.
2). After a student with special needs has been suspended for ten (10) days in any school
year, during
any subsequent removal the public school must provide sufficient services for
the student to continue to receive a
free and appropriate public education.
3). The school must also provide the following procedural safeguards for students with
disabilities prior to
any suspension of more than ten (10) consecutive days or more than
ten (10) cumulative
days (if there is a pattern of suspension) within a school year.
a. A suspension of longer than ten (10) consecutive days or a series
of suspensions
that are shorter than ten
(10) consecutive days but
constitute a pattern are
considered to represent a change in placement.
b. Prior to suspension that constitutes a change in placement
of a student with
disabilities, district personnel, the parent, and other
relevant members of the Team,
as determined by the parent and the district, convene to review all relevant
information in the student’s file, including the IEP, any teacher observations, and
any relevant information from
the parents, to determine whether the behavior was
caused by or had a direct and substantial relationship to
the disability or was the
direct result of the district’s failure to implement the IEP – “a
manifest
determination”.
c. If district personnel, the parent, and other relevant
members of the Team
determine that the behavior is not a
manifestation of the
disability, then the district
may suspend or expel the student consistent with the policies
applied to any
student without disabilities, except that the district must still offer:
· services to enable the student, although in another setting, to continue to participate in the general education curriculum and to progress toward IEP goals; and
· as appropriate, a functional behavioral assessment and behavioral intervention services and modifications, to address the behavior so that it does not recur
d. Regardless of the manifestation determination, the district
may place the student in
an interim alternative educational
setting, (as determined by the Team) for up to 45
school days.
· on its own authority if the behavior involves weapons or illegal drugs or another controlled substance or the infliction of serious bodily injury on another person while at school or a school function or, considered case by case, unique circumstances, or
· on the authority of a hearing officer if the officer orders the alternative placement after the district provides evidence that the student is “substantially likely to injure himself/herself or others.
In either case, the interim alternative educational setting enables the student to continue in the general curriculum and to continue receiving services identified on the IEP, and provides services to address the problem behavior.
e. If district personnel, the parent, and other relevant
members of the Team
determine that the behavior is a manifestation of the
disability, then the Team
completes a functional behavioral assessment and behavioral
intervention plan if it
has not already so. If a behavioral intervention plan is already in
place, the Team
reviews it and modifies, as
necessary, to address the behavior. Except when he or
she has been
placed in an interim alternative setting as
identified above, the student
returns to the original placement unless the parents and district agree otherwise.
f. Not later than the date of the decision to take
disciplinary action, the school district
notifies the parents of the
decision and provides them
with the written notice of
procedural safeguards. If the parent
chooses to appeal or the school district
requests a hearing because
it believes that maintaining the students current
placement is substantially likely to
result in an injury to the student or others, the
student remains in the disciplinary placement,
if any,
until the decision of the hearing
officer or the end of the time period for the disciplinary action,
whichever comes
first, unless the parent
and the school district agree otherwise.
4). There are also procedural requirements applied to students not yet determined to be
eligible for
special education including the following:
a. If, prior to disciplinary action, a district has knowledge
that the student
may be a student may be a student with a disability, then the
district makes all
protections available to the student until and unless the student is subsequently
determined not to be
eligible.
The district may be considered to have prior knowledge if:
The parent had expressed concern in writing; or
The parent had requested an evaluation; or
District staff had expressed directly to the special education director or other supervisory personnel specific concerns about a pattern of behavior demonstrated by the student.
The district may not be considered to have had prior knowledge if the parent has not consented to evaluation of the student or has refused special education services, or if an evaluation of the student has resulted in a determination of ineligibility.
b. If the district had no reason to consider the student disabled, and the parent requests an evaluation subsequent to the disciplinary action, the district must have procedures consistent with federal requirements to conduct an expedited evaluation to determine eligibility.
c. If the student is found eligible, then he/she receives all procedural protections subsequent to the finding of eligibility.
