The District recognizes and accepts its responsibility to create, foster, and maintain an orderly and safe class environment, conducive to teaching and to the learning processes. Every member of the school community is expected to cooperate in this central mission. Staff, including administrators and teachers, must use their training, expertise, and authority to create schools and classes where effective learning is possible.
Parents should be aware of their children's activities, performance and behavior in school, and are asked to cooperate and consult with the school to prevent or address problems. Additionally, students are expected to come to school, and every class, ready and willing to learn. Student behavior that is dangerous, disruptive, or unruly or that interferes with the teacher's ability to teach effectively will not be tolerated. Any student who engages in such behavior may be subject to removal from class and placement as outlined below. In addition, the student may be subject to other disciplinary action in accordance with established Board policies and school rules.
This code of classroom conduct applies to all students in grades Pre-K-12.
1. Student Removal From Class
a. Each teacher shall analyze his/her own discipline cases and attempt to apply corrective measures before removing a student from class, when appropriate.
b. A student with a disability may be removed from class and placed in an alternative educational setting only to the extent authorized by state and federal laws and regulations.
c. Dangerous, disruptive, or unruly behavior or behavior that interferes with the ability of the teacher to manage class appropriately and teach effectively may result in removal of a student from class.
Examples of such behavior may include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:
- Possession or use of a weapon or other item that might cause bodily harm to persons in the classroom.
- Being under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances or controlled substance analogs, or otherwise in violation of district student alcohol and other drug policies.
- Behavior that interferes with a person's work or school performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive classroom environment.
- Fighting.
- Taunting, baiting, inciting, and/or encouraging a fight or disruption.
- Disruption and intimidation caused by gang or group symbols or gestures; gang or group posturing to provoke altercations or confrontations.
- Pushing or striking a student or staff member.
- Obstruction of classroom activities or other intentional action taken to attempt to prevent the teacher from exercising his/her assigned duties.
- Interfering with the orderly operation of the classroom by using, threatening to use or counseling others to use violence, force, coercion, threats, intimidation, fear or disruptive means.
- Dressing or grooming in a manner that presents a danger to health or safety, causes interference with work or creates classroom disorder.
- Restricting another person's freedom to properly utilize classroom facilities or equipment.
- Repeated classroom interruptions, violation of rules, confronting staff argumentatively, defiance of authority, making loud noises, or refusing to follow directions.
- Throwing objects in the classroom.
- Excessive or disruptive talking.
- Behavior that causes the teacher or other students fear of physical or psychological harm.
- Physical confrontations or verbal/physical threats.
- Violation of classroom rules as established by the teacher and approved by the building administrator.
- Damage to school property.
- Repeatedly reporting to class without bringing necessary materials to participate in class activities.
- Possession of personal property prohibited by school rules and otherwise disruptive to the teaching and learning of others.
- Repeated use of profanity.
When a student is removed from class, the teacher will first contact the office staff and then send the student to the building administrator and inform him/her of the reason for the student's removal from class. A written explanation of the reasons is preferred to be given to the building administrator by the end of the workday on which the incident occurred and is required within 24 hours of removal.
The building administrator shall inform the student of the reason(s) for the removal from class and shall allow the student the opportunity to present his/her version of the situation. The building administrator shall then determine the appropriate educational placement for the student who has been removed from a class by a teacher.
The parent/guardian of a minor student shall be notified of the student's removal from class as outlined below.
2. Placement Procedures
a. The building administrator or designee shall place a student who has been removed from a class by a teacher in one of the following alternative educational settings:
1) The class from which the student was removed if, after weighing the interests of the removed student, the other students in the class and the teacher, the building administrator determines that readmission to the class is the best or only alternative.
2) Another class in the school or another appropriate place in the school.
3) Another instructional setting.
4) An alternative education program approved by the Board. State law defines this as an instructional program approved by the school board that utilizes successful alternative or adaptive school structures and teaching techniques and that is incorporated into existing, traditional classrooms or regularly scheduled curricular programs or that is offered in place of regularly scheduled curricular programs.
b. The building administrator should consult with other appropriate school personnel as the building administrator deems necessary when making or evaluating placement decisions. A student's parent/guardian may also be consulted regarding student placement decisions when determined by the building administrator to be in the best interests of the persons involved or required by law. When making placement decisions, the building administrator shall consider various factors. Examples of factors to consider are:
- The reason the student was removed from class (severity of the offense).
- The type of placement options available for students in that particular school and any limitations on such placements (costs, space availability, location).
- The estimated length of time of placement.
- The student's individual needs and interests.
- Whether the student has been removed from a teacher's class before (repeat offender).
- The relationship of the placement to any disciplinary action (e.g. if student suspension from school is required as a result of the student's conduct.
- Whether the placement is applicable before and/or after the suspension.
c. All placement decisions shall be made consistent with established Board policies and in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations.
3. Parent/Guardian Notification Procedures
a. The building administrator shall notify the parent/guardian of a minor student, in writing, when a teacher has removed a student from a class. This notification shall include the reasons for the student's removal from class and the placement decision involving the student. The notice shall be given as soon as practicable after the student's removal from a class and placement determination.
b. If the removal from class and change in educational placement involves a student with a disability, parent/guardian notification shall be made consistent with state and federal laws and regulations.
c. If the student removed from a class is also subject to other disciplinary action for the particular classroom conduct (i.e. suspension or expulsion), the student's parent/guardian shall also be notified of the disciplinary action in accordance with legal and policy requirements.
4. Definitions
A "class" is defined as anywhere within or beyond the walls of the school of attendance where the District is responsible and liable for the safety of the child and/or acts in loco parentis.
A "teacher" is defined as any certified instructor, substitute teacher, counselor, nurse, paraprofessional, support staff, or administrator in the employ of the District or acts as the District's designee in authority.
A "building administrator" means a principal of a school or other individual duly designated by the building administrator or District Administrator.
This policy includes staff members who hold a DPI license.
LEGAL REF: Wisconsin Statutes 118.164 and 120.13(1)
118.31
CROSS REF: Policy #411-Rule - Discrimination Complaint Procedures
Policy #446.2 - Student Suspensions/Expulsions
Policy #446.2-Rule - Expulsion Procedures
APPROVED: May 13, 1999
REVISED: April 3, 2003
APPROVED: April 24, 2003
12/21/2004 pw