Procedure 3240P

Students

 

Student Conduct, Expectations, and Reasonable Sanctions

This procedure sets forth conduct expectations for students and identifies common misconduct areas. For procedures governing imposition and contesting of discipline (e.g., suspensions and expulsions), see Policy and Procedure 3241 Discipline for Student Misconduct.

The rules for student conduct are as follows:

1. Alcohol, Drugs, and Mind-Altering Substances – Students will not possess, use, show evidence of having consumed, distribute, sell, or solicit or facilitate the sale of alcohol, drugs, mind-altering substances, medication not prescribed by a physician and approved in writing by the student’s parent/guardian, or drug paraphernalia (or any item which purports to be such). While in attendance at school or school-sponsored events, students must remove themselves immediately from any situation where alcohol or drugs are being possessed or consumed.

2. Alteration of Records – Students will not falsify, alter, or destroy school records or any communication between home and school.

3. Arson – Students will not intentionally cause a fire or explosion. Students also will not possess fire-ignition devices.

4. Assault – Students will not intentionally use physical force or violence on another person, or threaten or attempt to use such physical force or violence that is harmful or offensive, regardless of whether any physical injury is done to the person. Pursuant to RCW 28A.635.090, a student who interferes by force or violence with school personnel or other students will be subject to immediate suspension or expulsion and may be referred to law enforcement for investigation of criminal activity.

5. Athletic/Activity Code Violations – Students who participate in the interscholastic athletic program will conform to specific conduct standards established by the District, principals, athletic directors, and coaches and the rules and regulations of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). A student who is found to be in violation of any athletic/activity rule is subject to removal from the team. General conduct expectations and requirements for students participating in athletics/activities, as well as the appeal process for disciplinary action, are described in Policy 2151 and Procedure 2151P.

6. Attendance (Absences and Tardiness) – All students are expected to attend scheduled classes and activities daily in accordance with state law and District Policy 3122 and Procedure 3122P, unless officially excused by the designated person(s) at the school building. Students are also expected to be punctual in arriving at school and to each of their classes. Excessive and/or unexcused tardiness and/or absenteeism, regardless of the reason, may result in loss of credit and/or discipline, although students will not be suspended or expelled due to tardiness or absences.

7. Bomb Threats – Students will not threaten to bomb or damage any District facility or property.

8. Burglary – Students will not enter or remain unlawfully in a District building with intent to commit a crime (including, but not limited to, theft of property) on the premises.

9. Cheating and Plagiarism – Students will not intentionally deceive or attempt to deceive school officials in the preparation or completion of any school assignment, assessment, examination, or project. Cheating includes knowingly submitting the work of others as a student’s own work without proper attribution (i.e., plagiarism). Students are also prohibited from assisting or facilitating cheating by other students.

10. Checking out of School – Students will not leave school for the day unless excused by the school office.

11. Commercial Activity – Students will not sell or offer for sale goods or services on District property or at school-sponsored events unless as part of an authorized group or activity.

12. Criminal Behavior – Students who involve themselves in criminal acts on District property, off District property at school-sponsored events, or off District property when such acts have a detrimental effect upon the maintenance and operation of the schools or the District are subject to corrective action by the District as well as potential prosecution under the law.

13. Damage to Property and Vandalism – Students will not intentionally cause physical damage to the property of the District, school personnel, or other students. Any student who defaces or otherwise injures school property, or property belonging to a school contractor, employee, or another student, may be suspended pursuant to RCW 28A.635.060. If a student loses or willfully cuts, defaces, or injures property of the District, a contractor of the District, an employee, or another student, the District may withhold the grades, diploma, and transcripts of the student until the student or his or her parents/guardians pay for the damages. If the student is suspended, the student may not be readmitted until the student or his or her parent/guardian has made payment or until directed by the superintendent. When the student and parent/guardian are unable to pay for the damages, the District will provide a program of voluntary work for the student in lieu of payment of monetary damages. Upon completion of the voluntary work, the grades, diploma, and transcripts of the student will be released. The parent/guardian of such student will also be liable for damages as otherwise provided by law.

14. Dangerous Behavior – Students will not engage in behavior which a reasonable person would know creates a risk of injury to another person or property.

15. Defiance – Students will obey the lawful instructions of school personnel.

16. Disruptive Conduct – Students will not engage in conduct that materially and substantially interferes with the educational process. Disruptive conduct may include, but is not limited to, the following examples:

a. Occupying a school building or school grounds in order to deprive others of its use;

b. Blocking the entrance or exit of any school building or room in order to deprive others of passing through;

c. Preventing students from attending a class or school activity;

d. Blocking normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic on a school campus; and

e. Interfering seriously with the conduct of any class or activity.

17. Disruptive Dress and Appearance – Students will not dress or appear in a manner that presents a health or safety hazard, creates a reasonable expectation of damage to school property, or creates a material and substantial disruption of the educational process. Pursuant to Policy 3224, such dress includes clothing displaying messages determined by the building principal to be libelous, obscene, profane, or demeaning to any race, religion, sex, or ethnic group, sexual orientation, or disability, or which advocate the violation of the law.

18. Electronic Information Systems – Students will comply with the acceptable use rules in Policy 2022 when using District electronic information systems such as email, computer devices, computer networks, and the Internet. Unauthorized, illegal, or inappropriate use of the District’s electronic information systems is prohibited.

19. Explosives – Students will not possess, use, threaten to use, or attempt to possess or use objects tending or serving to explode with force or violence, including, but not limited to, firecrackers, bullets, and pipe bombs.

20. Extortion, Blackmail, and Coercion – Students will not obtain or attempt to obtain money or property by violence or threat of violence. Students also will not coerce or attempt to coerce someone to perform an action, or refrain from acting, by force or threat of force.

21. False Accusations and Defamation – Students will not make false statements about school personnel or other students, including untrue charges of wrongful conduct.

22. False Alarms and Fire Apparatus – Students will not set off false alarms, discharge or steal fire extinguishers, or damage alarm systems.

23. Fighting – Students will not quarrel with one or more other students involving physical contact. Students who are found to have promoted or incited a fight will be subject to the same corrective action as those who are involved in the fight.

24. Gambling – Students will not risk or bet objects of value on the outcome of an event, a game, or chance, or assist or facilitate gambling by other students.

25. Gang Activity – Students will not engage in gang activity or display symbols of gang affiliation. A “gang” means a group that consists of three or more persons; has identifiable leadership; and on an ongoing basis, regularly conspires and acts in concert mainly for criminal purposes. Gang symbols include the use of hand signals, handwriting, and/or the presence of apparel, jewelry, accessories, graffiti, or manner of grooming which by virtue of its colors, arrangement, trademark, symbol alteration, or any other attribute, denotes membership in a gang.

26. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying/Cyberbullying – Students will not participate in, conspire to participate in, or conspire for others to engage in “harassment, intimidation, and bullying/cyberbullying” (HIB) as defined in Policy 3207 and Procedure 3207P. In general, HIB means any intentionally written message or image, including those that are electronically transmitted (e.g. sexting), or a verbal or physical act that physically harms a student or damages his or her property; has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education; is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school. HIB includes messages, images, and verbal or physical acts shown to be motivated by any characteristic in RCW 9A.36.080 (race, color, national origin including language, sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, creed, religion, age, veteran or military status, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability) or other distinguishing characteristics. Prohibited HIB can include, but is not limited to, slurs, rumors, jokes, innuendoes, demeaning comments, drawings, cartoons, pranks, gestures, physical attacks, threats, or other written, oral, or physical actions.

27. Hazing – Students will not participate in, conspire to participate in, or conspire for others to participate in acts that injure, degrade, or disgrace—or tend to injure, degrade, or disgrace—other people. Hazing may also constitute prohibited harassment, intimidation, and bullying/cyberbullying (HIB), as discussed above and in Policy 3207 and Procedure 3207P.

28. Identifying Self – Students will, upon request, identify themselves to proper school authorities in the school building, on school grounds, or at school-sponsored events.

29. Inappropriate Display of Affection – Students will not engage in overt displays of affection or sexually oriented actions that violate standards of acceptable social conduct in an educational setting.

30. Inappropriate Language or Conduct – Students will not engage in vulgar, profane, or obscene language or conduct. In addition, students will not engage in expression that constitutes a material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school, as discussed in Policy 3220.

31. Lasers and Similar Devices – Students will not possess or use lasers and similar devices without prior authorization from appropriate school officials.

32. Littering – Students will not throw, drop, deposit, or discard litter on public property.

33. Loitering – Students will leave the school campus at the official close of the school day unless permission to remain has been granted by an appropriate school official.

34. Motor Vehicle Violations – Students who choose to drive motor vehicles to school must: (a) observe all rules of safe driving on and around school property; (b) park in the area designated by school officials; and (c) comply with any registration procedures that may be required by school officials. Refusal to adhere to these conditions may result in the loss of the privilege of parking on school property and/or other corrective action.

35. Robbery – Students will not steal from a person by force or threat of force.

36. Theft – Students will not wrongfully obtain or exert unauthorized control over the property of the District or another person (i.e., steal).

37. Tobacco, Nicotine Products, and Delivery Devices – Students will not possess, use, distribute, sell, or solicit or facilitate the sale of tobacco products, nicotine products, and delivery devices, in accordance with Policy 4215. Tobacco products and delivery devices include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, snuff, smoking tobacco, smokeless tobacco, nicotine, electronic smoking/vapor devices (i.e., e-cigarettes), and vapor products.

38. Trespass – Students will not enter District buildings or property where students or members of the public are not allowed or refuse to leave such areas when ordered by school officials.

39. Violation of Suspension – Students will not enter upon any real or personal property that is owned, leased, rented, or controlled by the District during the terms of any suspension from school without the prior express approval of an appropriate school official.

40. Weapons and Other Dangerous Devices – Students will not possess, use, display, or transmit any object that is or reasonably appears to be a dangerous weapon or related device. Such objects include, but are not limited to: firearms, ammunition, incendiary or explosive devices, clubs, knives with blades of at least three (3) inches in length, other cutting or stabbing instruments brought or possessed with the intent to cause bodily harm or to instill fear and/or intimidate by their mere presence on school property or at school-sponsored events, chemical inhalants, metal knuckles, and look-alike items or replicas displayed or represented as real weapons. Any exception to this rule requires explicit permission from an appropriate school official.

Pursuant to RCW 9.91.160, persons over eighteen (18) years of age, and persons between fourteen (14) and eighteen (18) years of age who have written parental permission, may possess personal protection spray devices (i.e., mace or pepper spray) on school property. No one may deliver such a spray device to anyone under fourteen (14), or to anyone between fourteen (14) and eighteen (18) who does not have written parental permission. Personal protection spray devices may only be used in self-defense as defined by state law. Possession, transmission, or use of a spray device under any other circumstances will be treated as a violation of the District’s rule prohibiting weapons.

Pursuant to RCW 9.41.280, any student who possesses a dangerous weapon (as defined in that statute) on school premises, District transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public schools may be immediately expelled. Law enforcement and parents will be notified.

In addition, pursuant to RCW 28A.600.420, any student who is determined to have carried a firearm onto, or to have possessed a firearm on, school premises, District transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public schools will be expelled from school for not less than one year, unless the superintendent modifies the expulsion on a case-by-case basis. For purposes of this rule, “firearm” means a firearm as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921 and RCW 9.41.010. In addition, a student may be suspended or expelled for up to one year if the student acts with malice and displays an instrument that appears to be a firearm on school premises, District transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public schools. This paragraph does not apply to any student while engaged in military education authorized by school authorities in which rifles are used but not other firearms; involved in a convention, showing, demonstration, lecture, or firearms safety course authorized by school authorities in which the rifles of collectors or instructors are handled or displayed but not other firearms; or participating in a rifle competition authorized by school authorities.

 

Adopted: February 8, 2010

Amended: June 8, 2015

Amended: June 10, 2019