Nebo School District Safe School Environment Policy

The Board recognizes a responsibility to provide a safe environment where students and employees are free from unlawful and violent acts.

The Nebo School District Board of Education will not tolerate acts of violence, use or possession of a weapon, hazing, assaultive, demeaning or criminal behavior, or gang activity in or about Nebo District schools, school grounds, or school activities, including transportation.

A student may be suspended, expelled or Board released from school when the Administration has determined that he/she represents a threat to the health and/or safety of other students and/or employees by:

A. Possessing, using, selling or attempting to sell any firearm, facsimile of a weapon, knife, exploseve, chemical/weapon.device, martial arts weapon or other dangerous object. A student who is found to have brought a weapon (as defined under section 921 of title 18, United States Code, attached) to school or to a school-supervised activity or to be in possession of such a weapon while at school or when involved in any school-supervised activity shall be expelled from school for a period of not less than one year. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee may modify the expulsion requirement for a student on a case-by-case basis.

B. Causing or attempting to cause personal harm, damage to either personal or school property and/or disrupting school activities or transportation. Such actions include but are not limited to the following:

(1) Arson - The willful and malicious burning of any part of a building or its contents.

(2) Burglary - Breaking, entering, or remaining in a structure without justification during the hours where premises are closed to the public.

(3) Stealing/larceny - The intentional unlawful taking and/ or carrying away of property belonging to or in the lawful possession or custody of another.

(4) Battery/Fighting -The unlawful and intentional touching or striking of a District employee/volunteer/student with the intention of causing bodily harm to that individual. The encouragement of others to do so would also constitute battery.

(5) Criminal Mischief - Vandalism, graffiti or destruction of school property or the property of others.

(6) Intimidation - Engaging in behavior that prevents or discourages another student from exercising his/her right to an education through threats, coercion or force.

(7) Verbal abuse - Using harassing, vulgar, or derogatory remarks towards another student, school employee or volunteer.

C. Gang signing, wearing of bandannas, headgear, chains, or any article of clothing or jewelry bearing any gang symbols, names, initials, insignia or anything else which signals gang affiliation and/or is worn for the purpose of signifying gang membership.

D.Involvement in illegal activities, disrupting normal school proceedings, or inciting other students to disrupt school proceedings.

E. Bringing pagers and cellular phones to school. Exceptions to this must be approved by the administration.

F. Bringing laser lights and laser pointers to school, to school functions and activities or on any district vehicle being used to transport students. Exceptions to this must be approved by the administration.

No student, classified as disabled under the provisions of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, shall be suspended or expelled repeatedly or for an extended period of time under this policy where the misconduct is a manifestation of that student’s disability.

DISCIPLINE

School administrators have the authority to enforce school and district policies anywhere on school property, and at school sponsored activities, whether at home or away.

If a student chooses to engage in any of the activities as outlined in the Nebo School District Safe School Environment Policy, the student will be subject to disciplinary actions which may include administrative meeting, parent conference, suspension, referral to juvenile court or referral to appropriate law enforcement agency. The consequence of the behavior being determined by the severity of the act.

A written notice will be sent to parents when a student is referred to the administration for discipline. A copy of this notice will be given to the referring teacher, and a copy placed in the students file.