The students served in the West Des Moines Community School District are highly motivated and respectful of the rights of others. They recognize the importance of education and display this through their compliance with necessary rules and policies relative to their behavior while in school.
However, in any school setting, it is realistic to acknowledge that situations will arise which are in conflict with established rules and policies. In that event, students may be disciplined for conduct, acts or behaviors which disrupt the orderly and efficient operation of the school or school activity, conduct which disrupts the rights of other students to obtain their education or participate, or conduct which interrupts the maintenance of a scholarly, disciplined atmosphere.
- Refusal to conform to school policies,
rules or regulations.
- Conduct which disturbs the orderly,
efficient and disciplined atmosphere and operation of the
school or school-related activity.
- Refusal to comply with directions from
teachers, administrators or other school personnel.
- Physical attack or threats of physical
attack to students, teachers, administrators or other school
personnel.
- Possession of weapons, firearms, contraband,
dangerous objects or look alikes.
- Extortion.
- Criminal or illegal behavior.
- Theft or robbery.
- Damaging, altering, injuring, defacing
or destruction of any building, fixture or tangible property.
- Causing a fire or explosion, or placing
any burning or combustible material, or any incendiary or
explosive device or material, in or near any school property,
whether or not any such property is actually damaged or
destroyed.
- Threatening to place or attempting to
place any incendiary or explosive device or material, or
any destructive substance or device in or about the school
premises or premises where a school-sponsored activity will
be held.
- Fighting or engaging in disruptive or
violent behavior at school or at school events.
- Making noise in the vicinity of the school
or school-sponsored activities, which disrupts the orderly,
efficient and disciplined atmosphere of the school or the
school-sponsored activity.
- Abusive epithets, threatening gestures,
or harassing behaviors to other students, teachers, administrators
or other school personnel.
- By words or action initiating or circulating
a report or warning of fire, epidemic or other catastrophe
knowing such report to be false or such warning to be baseless.
- Obstructing school premises or access
to school premises or premises where a school activity is
being held.
- Possessing or consuming alcoholic liquors
or beer on school property or while attending a school activity.
- Possession of a controlled substance
or controlled substance look-alike.
- Use of tobacco or any controlled substance.
- Gambling.
- Documented conduct detrimental to the
best interest of the school district.
- Harassment or Bullying as described in Policy Code No. 502.2.
This discipline policy will govern students while on school premises; while on school owned and/or operated school or chartered buses; while attending or engaged in school sponsored activities; while away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficiency, management and welfare of the school.
Students who violate policies, rules or regulations of the school district, or who have documented cases of conduct detrimental to the best interest of the school district, may be suspended or expelled from school or otherwise punished as provided by this policy.
The principal or designee(s) will have the authority to suspend students temporarily. Such suspension may be for a period not to exceed ten (10) school days. A suspended student will be given opportunity to make up work and receive credit on the same basis as other absentees. A day of suspension will be counted as an absence. The initiative to make up work must be made by the student.
The principal or designee(s) may impose a range of penalties based upon professional judgment and the
facts and circumstances of each situation. Consequences may range from warning, counseling, reprimand, detention, in‑school suspension, loss of privileges, suspension from school, suspension from participation in activities, or recommendation for expulsion.
The Board of Education, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, may expel a student from school for violation of the policies, rules or regulations of the school district or for documented cases of misconduct detrimental to the best interest of the school district. The Board may also expel any child whose presence in school may be injurious to the health and/or safety of others or to the welfare of the school.
The Superintendent may assist a student who is expelled to maintain their educational progress or participate in an alternative form of educational programming.
Any student who possesses a dangerous weapon while on school property will be suspended and may be recommended for expulsion to the Board of Education. Any student who brings a firearm to school, or knowingly possesses a firearm at school will be automatically expelled from school by the Board of Education for a period of not less than one year. The superintendent may, at his/her discretion, recommend to the Board of Education to modify the one‑year mandatory expulsion requirement on a case‑by‑case basis.
All school officials will be responsible for promptly reporting to the local law enforcement agency any dangerous weapon or firearm found or possessed on school property.
Dangerous Weapon: Any instrument or device designed primarily for use in inflicting death or injury upon a human being or animal, and which is capable of inflicting death upon a human being when used in the manner for which it was designed. Additionally, any instrument or device of any sort whatsoever which is actually used in such a manner as to indicate that the student intends to inflict death or serious injury upon another, and which, when so used, is capable of inflicting death upon a human being, is a dangerous weapon. Dangerous weapons include, but are not limited to, any offensive weapon, pistol, revolver, or other firearm, dagger, razor, stiletto, switchblade knife, or knife having a blade exceeding five inches in length.
Firearm: A firearm means (a) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or can readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (b) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; (c) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (d) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm.
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The following
information is not part of the official Board Policy
503.1, but is included as an additional resource:
The discipline policy takes a strong stand against possession
of weapons, dangerous objects or “look alikes” on school grounds or at school sponsored activities. A student found to be in possession of “look alikes” or ANY type of weapon is subject to out-of-school suspension for up to ten days and for possible recommendation for expulsion. Federal and state law require school districts to expel, for not less than one year, a student who is in possession of a firearm on school grounds. (See exception noted under “Firearms and other Dangerous Weapons” section).
Threats
Any student who writes or talks about using weapons or about injuring or killing another student, staff member or any other person must expect such statements to be taken seriously. Staff and administration will always consider such talk or writing as a serious threat, and the situation will be investigated. If the information is substantiated, if someone did make such threats or statements, the student(s) who are involved will be disciplined per district and/or building policy. Such students will be referred to the appropriate personnel. |
If a special education student's suspensions, either in or out of school, equal ten days on a cumulative basis, a staffing team will meet to determine whether the IEP is appropriate.
Students who have not been identified as special education students may be referred for evaluation after the student's suspension to determine whether the student has a disability and is in need of special education.
If the student has been identified as a child requiring special education, the Board will not suspend or expel the student without complying with requirements of law relating to special education. In such cases, the IEP team will determine if the behavior is a manifestation of the student’s disability. A student eligible for special education will not be expelled or have a long-term suspension imposed if the behavior is a manifestation of the disability. If the behavior is not a manifestation of the disability, a long-term suspension or expulsion may be imposed, but an appropriate alternative program will be provided. The Board will be provided pertinent special education records when considering the suspension or expulsion recommendation.
Readmission after suspension may be made by the principal when the conditions of the suspension have been met, but readmission after expulsion will be in the manner prescribed by the Board of Education of the school district. A student will be eligible for readmission after expulsion at the beginning of the school year or at any such other time as is determined by the Board.
Following the suspension of a special education student, an informal evaluation of the student's placement will take place. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be evaluated to determine whether it needs to be changed or modified in response to the behavior that led to the suspension.
If a special education student's suspensions, either in or out of school, equal ten days on a cumulative basis, a staffing team will meet to determine whether the IEP is appropriate.
Students who have not been identified as special education students may be referred for evaluation after the student's suspension to determine whether the student has a disability and is in need of special education.
If the student has been identified as a child requiring special education, the Board will not suspend or expel the student without complying with requirements of law relating to special education. In such cases, the IEP team will determine if the behavior is a manifestation of the student’s disability. A student eligible for special education will not be expelled or have a long-term suspension imposed if the behavior is a manifestation of the disability. If the behavior is not a manifestation of the disability, a long-term suspension or expulsion may be imposed, but an appropriate alternative program will be provided. The Board will be provided pertinent special education records when considering the suspension or expulsion recommendation.
Upon the request of school officials of a school to which a student seeks to transfer or has transferred, school officials of the West Des Moines Community School District will provide an accurate record of any suspension or expulsion actions taken, and the basis for those actions taken, against the student under sections 279.9 (alcohol, tobacco, and controlled substances), 280. 19A (alternative school students/drop outs), 282.3 (exclusion of students “whose presence in school has been found to be injurious to the health of other pupils”), 282.4 (suspension and expulsion statute), and 282.5 (generic suspension/expulsion) of the School Code of Iowa.
~~ Updated 4-13-09 |
