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The Board of Education is committed to safeguarding the rights given to all students under state and federal law. In addition to those rights, all district students have the right to:

1. A safe, healthy, orderly and civil school environment
2. Take part in all district activities on an equal basis regardless of age, race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability
3. Present their version of the relevant events to school personnel authorized to impose a disciplinary penalty as in connection with the imposition of the penalty, and
4. Access school rules and, when necessary, receive an explanation of those rules from school personnel

B. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

All district students have the responsibility to:

1. Contribute to maintaining a safe and orderly school environment that is conducive to learning and to show respect to other persons and to property
2. Be familiar with and abide by all district policies, rules and regulations dealing with student conduct
3. Attend school every day unless they are legally excused and be in class, on time, and prepared to learn
4. Work to the best of their ability in all academic and extracurricular pursuits and strive toward their highest level of achievement possible
5. React to direction given by teachers, administrators and other school personnel in a respectful, positive manner
6. Work to develop mechanisms to control their anger
7. Ask questions when they do not understand
8. Seek help in solving problems that might lead to discipline
9. Dress appropriately for school and school functions
10. Accept responsibility for their actions
11. Conduct themselves as representatives of the district when participating in or attending school-sponsored extracurricular events and to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct, demeanor, and sportsmanship

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RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (continued)

II. ESSENTIAL PARTNERS

A. PARENTS

All parents are expected to:

1. Recognize that the education of their children is a joint responsibility of the parents and the school community
2. Send their children to school ready to participate and learn
3. Ensure their children attend school regularly and on time
4. Ensure absences are excused
5. Insist their children be dressed and groomed in a manner consistent with the student dress code
6. Help their children understand that in a democratic society appropriate rules are required to maintain a safe, orderly environment
7. Know school rules and help their children understand them
8. Convey to their children a supportive attitude toward education and the district
9. Build good relationships with teachers, other parents and their children’s friends
10. Help their children deal effectively with peer pressure
11. Inform school officials of changes in the home situation that may affect student conduct or performance
12. Provide a place for study and ensure homework assignments are completed

B. TEACHERS

All district teachers are expected to:

1. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, which will strengthen students’ self-concept and promote confidence to learn
2. Be prepared to teach
3. Demonstrate interest in teaching and concern for student achievement
4. Know school policies and rules, and enforce them in a fair and consistent manner
5. Communicate to students and parents:
a. Course objectives and requirements
b. Marking/grading procedures
c. Assignment deadlines
d. Expectations for all students
e. Classroom discipline plan

6. Communicate regularly with students, parents and other teachers concerning growth and achievement.

C. GUIDANCE COUNSELORS

Counselors are expected to:

1. Assist students in coping with peer pressure and emerging personal, social and emotional problems
2. Initiate teacher/student/counselor conferences and parent/teacher/student/counselor conferences, as necessary, as a way to resolve problems
3. Regularly review with students their educational progress and career plans
4. Provide information to assist students with career planning
5. Encourage students to benefit from the curriculum and extracurricular programs

C. BUILDING PRINCIPALS

Building principals are expected to:

1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting active teaching and learning
2. Ensure that students and staff have the opportunity to communicate regularly with the principal and approach the principal for redress of grievances
3. Evaluate all instructional programs on a regular basis
4. Support the development of and student participation in appropriate extracurricular activities
5. Be responsible for enforcing the Code of Conduct and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly

D. SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

The superintendent of schools is expected to:

1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting active teaching and learning
2. Review with district administrators the policies of the Board of Education and state and federal laws relating to school operations and management
3. Inform the Board of Education about educational trends relating to student discipline
4. Work to create instructional programs that minimize problems of misconduct and are sensitive to student and teacher needs
5. Work with district administrators in enforcing the Code of Conduct and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly

E. BOARD OF EDUCATION

Students are the focal point of all district operations and must receive the primary attention of the Board of Education and all staff members.

The Board of Education and district staff shall work together to achieve the following goals:

1. to tailor the learning program to each student's learning styles, interests, and aspirations

2. to protect and observe the legal rights of students

2. to enhance the self-image of each student by helping him/her feel respected and worthy through a learning environment that provides positive encouragement through frequent success

4. to provide an environment in which students can learn personal and civic responsibility for their actions through meaningful experiences as school citizens;

5. to promote faithful attendance and good work

6. to collaborate with students, teachers, administrators, parent organizations, school safety personnel and other school personnel to develop a Code of Conduct that clearly defines expectations for the conduct of students, district personnel and visitors on school property and at school functions

7. to adopt and review at least once every year the district’s Code of Conduct to evaluate the code’s effectiveness and the fairness and consistency of its implementation

A. STUDENT RIGHTS