REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE USE AND POSSESSION OF
ALCOHOLIC RELEVANT NCUJHS SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES
Below are brief synopses of some of the relevant NCUJHS School Board Policies. A complete copy of all NCUJHS School Board Policies is available, upon request, in the front office at NCUJHS (57 Junior High Drive, Derby, VT) or at OENSU (338 Highland Avenue, Newport, VT).
BOARD COMMITMENT TO NON-DISCRIMINATION Board policy C.9: All members of the North Country Union Junior High School community are hereby notified that this district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities.
The following person has been designated Inquiries concerning the application of
to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies may
non-discrimination policy: also be referred to:
Nicole Larose, Principal Dr. Robert Kern, Superintendent
North Country Union Junior High School Orleans-Essex North Supervisory Union
57 Jr. High Drive 338 Highland Avenue
Derby, Vermont 05829 Newport, Vermont 05855
(802) 766-2276 (802) 334-7372
TOBACCO PROHIBITION Board Policy C.10: It is the policy of the North Country Schools/OENSU District to prohibit the use of tobacco on school grounds in accordance with state law. This ban extends to any student, employee, or visitor to the school, and applies at all times, whether or not school is in session. Students are, furthermore, prohibited from possessing tobacco products at all times while under the supervision of school staff or at school sponsored activities. Students who violate this policy will receive the following disciplinary action from NCUJHS:
First offense - Parent contact and one-day external suspension
Second offense - Parent contact and three-day external suspension
Third offense - Parent contact, five-day external suspension, one-year Administrative
Probation, and may be required to appear before the School Board.
Fourth offense - Parent contact, ten-day external suspension and a hearing before the School
Board for consideration of longer term suspension or expulsion.
Suspension under these sanctions may be modified by the administration in the event the student participates in an assessment through Tri-County Services and completes intervention activities as assigned by Tri-County and the Student Assistance Program Counselor. Parents and students are responsible for all costs.
WEAPONS IN SCHOOL Board Policy C.11: It is the policy of the Board to comply with the federal Gun Free Schools Act of 1994, and 16 V.S.A. §1166 requiring school districts to provide for the possible expulsion of students who bring weapons to school. It is further the intent of the Board to maintain a student discipline system consistent with the requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vermont State Board of Education rules.
· This policy refers to any setting which is under the control and supervision of the School District. It includes school grounds, facilities, school-sponsored events whether held on or off of school grounds, and vehicles used to transport students to and from school or school activities.
· This policy does not apply to a law enforcement officer while engaged in law enforcement duties.
· This policy forbids the possession of any weapon, device, instrument, material or substance whether animate or inanimate, which in the manner it is used or is intended to be used, is known to be capable of producing death or serious bodily injury.
· A student is permitted one self-referral during the tenure of their enrollment in the school; thereafter, a self-referral shall be deemed a violation of this policy and treated accordingly.
· SCHOOL POLICY FORBIDS THE POSSESSION OF ANY KNIFE, NO MATTER WHAT ITS SIZE, OR ANY OBJECT FASHIONED AS A WEAPON ON SCHOOL PREMISES.
The possession and/or use of any such weapon will require that the following disciplinary action be initiated in addition to possible legal action:
1. The student and/or staff member will be suspended until a school board hearing can be conducted.
2. The weapon will be confiscated.
3. The administration may recommend a long-term suspension (one full year from date of occurrence) or expulsion.
REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE USE AND POSSESSION OF
ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES AND DRUGS BY STUDENT AND THE PUBLIC Board Policy C.13: The North
Country Union High School District recognizes that problems of alcohol and other drug abuse pervade society. The
district believes that drug abuse and dependency are treatable health problems. While health problems are primarily
the responsibility of the home and community, the school system shares in this responsibility when these problems
interfere with student learning, safety, behavior or maturity.
To this end it is the legal and social responsibility of the School Board to establish policies and encourage administrative action that will protect the right of students to learn and at the same time promote a school environment free from usage, possession or distribution of drugs for other than authorized medical treatment. (It is the intent of this policy that the term "drug" is defined as a mood-altering substance, to include, but not be limited by the following categories: illegal drugs, controlled drugs, over the counter drugs, and alcohol).
A. Education/Prevention Programming
The North Country Union High School District will develop and implement a sequential 7-12 drug abuse prevention education curriculum.
B. Support and Referral Systems and Cooperative Agreements
The School Board and school staff shall work cooperatively with local health agencies, professional specialists and law enforcement officials. Each school within the district (high school and junior high school) will have an in-school process for initial assessment, support, and if necessary, referral to community resources for students affected by their own or another's drug use.
C. Immediate Procedures
Emphasis shall be placed on the welfare/rights of the individual as long as it does not jeopardize the welfare and rights of others.
D. Emergency Procedures
In the event of an emergency involving alcohol or drug abuse, every precaution must be taken to protect the person's health and well being while protecting the health and well being of the remaining school population.
E. Possession, Use, Distribution or Evidence of Consumption
1. It shall be against school policy for any student to possess, procure, purchase, or attempt to possess or purchase, to be under the influence of (legal intoxication not required), or to use or consume, or attempt to use or consume drugs, or what are represented by or to the student to be drugs, or what the student believes are drugs.
ό First offense will result in the student being suspended for five (5) to ten (10) school days and placed on probationary status for a period of at least one-year. Suspension under these sanctions may be modified by the administration in the event the student participates in an assessment through Tri-County Services and completes intervention activities as assigned by Tri-County and the Student Assistance Program counselor. Parents/Guardians and/or students are responsible for all costs incurred for the assessment.
ό In the event of a second offense, there will be a mandatory hearing with the school board for possible long-term suspension or expulsion.
2. It shall be against school policy for any person including a student to sell, supply, or give, or attempt to sell, supply or give drugs or what the student represents or believes to be drugs. First offense will result in the student being suspended for ten (10) school days and a hearing will be scheduled with the school board before the student has served ten (10) days of suspension. After the school board hearing, the student may be suspended for a longer period, up to and including expulsion. The matter will also be referred to the police for appropriate action.
ACCEPTABLE USE OF ELECTRONIC RESOURCES & THE INTERNET Board Policy C.14: The Board supports access to rich information resources by students and staff. This policy complies with the statutory requirements of the Childrens Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and promotes the safe, ethical, responsible, and legal use of District electronic resources including the Internet to support the effective use of these resources for educational purposes. CIPA requires the installation and use of filtering software or services on all computers with access to the Internet to prevent access to visual depictions of obscenity, child pornography or other materials harmful to minors.
ό Access to District electronic resources including the Internet will be available to students and staff who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner and abide by the requirements of this policy.
ό Violation of this policy and the procedures developed in accordance with this policy may result in disciplinary action or referral to local, state or federal law enforcement officials.
1. Consequences will be as follows:
·
First offense
- warning and a letter sent home
· Second offense - 1 week off all computers. A letter will be sent home and a talk with
the Assistant Principal about inappropriate use on the computer will be mandated.
· Third offense - 1 month off all computers
· Fourth offense - all computer privileges will be revoked
Consequences could vary depending on the severity of the violation.
2. NCUJHS must limit the use of Internet to educational sites only. It is a privilege to use the computer.
In the event that a parent or guardian requests that his/her child not be granted access to internet related resources as stated in this policy, the individual school principal or his/her designee must be notified in writing by the parent/guardian
HAZING Board Policy C.19: The policy of this district is that its schools will provide safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environments. Hazing has no place in this school and will not be tolerated. The district has adopted this policy and procedure to prohibit hazing and will ensure the enforcement thereof.
A. The goal of this policy is to create an environment where the rules for student behavior are clearly stated, are understood and accepted by students and staff, and are applied in compliance with due process requirements. This policy is to be applied in conjunction with the school's overall discipline plan developed pursuant to 16 V.S.A. § 1161a.
B. It is the responsibility of each student to contribute to a safe and productive learning environment in the school by demonstrating respect and consideration for fellow students and adults. Students are encouraged to report personally or anonymously to teachers and school administrators acts of bullying.
C. There will be clear guidelines for student behavior. Behavioral expectations, and the consequences of misconduct, will be stated in the student handbook.
A. Desks, lockers, textbooks and other materials or supplies loaned by the school to students remain the property of the school, and may be opened by school employees for cleaning, maintenance or emergencies. When prohibited items are found in the course of routine cleaning or maintenance, or in the case of emergency, they will be confiscated and a report will be made to the Principal who will determine whether further investigation is warranted.
B. School property may also be searched by school employees upon reasonable suspicion on the part of the Principal and/or designee, or Superintendent that a law or school policy is being violated. Searches of school property in the possession of students will not extend to areas or items not reasonably calculated to aid in the enforcement of specific policies or laws.
C. Searches of students' persons, personal effects or vehicles may be conducted if there is reasonable cause to believe that such search will produce evidence of a breach of school policy or law. Search of a student's person will be conducted by a school employee of the same sex and, whenever possible, in the presence of another school employee. A strip search will be conducted only upon probable cause (and will not be carried out by school personnel).
D. School employees are not the agents of law enforcement officials. Search and/or seizure by law enforcement officials on school property may occur when a warrant or other legal basis exists authorizing such search and/or seizure, and when the requirements of the Board's policy on interrogations by law enforcement officers have been complied with.
E. The Principal shall annually provide notice of this policy in age appropriate language in student/faculty handbooks and shall make available upon request a copy of the policy to any student, parent, community member or employee.
The principle of confidentiality underlies all policies and procedures for the collection, maintenance, disclosure and destruction of educational records. The building principal will be the legal custodian of all student records in a given school. The superintendent has overall responsibility for school records throughout the district and for assuring that adequate systems are in place to maintain such records.
A. Annually, the school will notify parents of students currently in attendance, and eligible students (age 18 and over) currently in attendance of their rights under the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. Notice will be given in a manner likely to inform parents and eligible students of their rights. The notice will include a statement that the parent or eligible student has a right to:
· Inspect and review the student's education records;
· Request the amendment of the student's education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy or other rights;
· Consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that the Act authorizes disclosure without consent;
· File with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with requirements of the Act; and
· Obtain a copy of the school's policy and written procedures or protocols related to student records.
B. Disclosure of student information will be made only with the written consent of the parent or eligible student subject to the following exceptions:
· Information may be disclosed to officials of the school in which the student is enrolled who have a legitimate educational interest in the records and require the information to adequately carry out their jobs;
· Information may be disclosed upon request to officials of a school in which the student seeks or intends to enroll;
· Under court order or subpoena;
· To individuals seeking Directory Information: see Section D below;
· In connection with a student's request for financial aid;
· To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency.
C. Review of Student Information
· Parents of students or eligible students may inspect and review the student's records upon request. Parents should submit requests to the principal in writing specifying as precisely as possible the information he or she wishes to inspect. The principal will make appropriate arrangements to meet with the parent(s) for such inspection according to procedures developed by the school's administration.
· If an eligible student or parent believes the education records contain information that is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of any of the student's rights, she/he may request the building principal to amend the record. If the building principal decides not to amend the record as requested, the student or parent may appeal using the district's general appeal process.
· The school district will maintain a record of all requests for and/or disclosures of information from a student's records according to the school's procedures. The district will record, also, all requests for amendment of the record and the disposition of the request(s).
D. Specific Student Information
The following information is designated as "directory information". The school will release directory information without prior written consent unless the parent or eligible student informs the principal in writing that any or all of the information designated below should not be released without prior consent.
* Student's name, address, date of birth, dates of enrollment; * Parent or legal custodian's name and address;
* Student's grade level classification; * Student's diplomas, certificates, awards and
* Student's participation in recognized school activities and sports; honors received.
* Weight and height of member of athletic teams;
D. Specific Student Information
The following information is designated as "directory information". The school will release directory information without prior written consent unless the parent or eligible student informs the principal in writing that any or all of the information designated below should not be released without prior consent.
* Student's name, address, date of birth, dates of enrollment;
* Parent or legal custodian's name and address;
* Student's grade level classification; * Student's diplomas, certificates, awards and
* Student's participation in recognized school activities and sports; honors received.
* Weight and height of member of athletic teams;