Cartersville School System
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES
Adopted by the Cartersville City Board of Education: April 11, 2011

It is the purpose of the Board of Education to operate the schools in a manner that will provide an orderly process of education and will provide for the welfare and safety of all students. The school's primary goal is to educate, not to discipline; however, when the behavior of an individual student conflicts with the rights of others, disciplinary actions may be necessary for the benefit of that individual and the school as a whole.

Students shall be governed by the policies, regulations, and rules of the district which are applicable in the school; on the school grounds; at a school activity whether on campus or away from school; on a school bus or other transportation provided by the school; or any other location covered by these procedures. The Superintendent shall provide for the establishment and administration of procedures necessary for expected student conduct and discipline. The policies governing discipline are designed to be age-appropriate, in proportion to the severity of the behavior leading to consequences, and considered with prior discipline history and other relevant factors.
Such governing rules shall be published and disseminated to school personnel, students and parents. Parents are encouraged to be familiar with the policies, rules and regulations of this school system and their individual schools and to be supportive of them.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. Students who attend or participate in any activity conducted for the benefit of students, whether school sponsored or supported by private organizations such as booster clubs, sports organizations or similar groups, without regard to whether the event takes place on or off school property,
are subject to this student discipline code and school rules.
2. Students under out-of-school suspension or expulsion are not allowed on school campuses or at school functions.
3. School administrators and School Resource Officers have the authority to conduct a reasonable search of students, their possessions, their lockers, and their automobiles when on school property.
4. Corporal punishment is not permitted in the Cartersville City School System.
5. Disciplinary cases involving possible criminal conduct may be reported to appropriate law enforcement agencies.
6. Students are to notify an administrator or staff member when illegal items are found in the school or on the school campus. Students are not to pick up or handle illegal or
suspicious items.
7. When a PreK to Grade 5 student is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the disposition will be left to the discretion of the school administrator, unless otherwise specified in law or policy.

AUTHORITY OF PRINCIPAL
The principal is the designated leader of the school and with the staff is responsible for its orderly operation. In cases of violations not covered by prescribed disposition in this Code, the principal may enact measures which he or she believes are in the best interest of the school and student involved.


DISCIPLINE APPEALS
Any disciplinary matter involving punishment of five days out-of-school suspension or less, or any punishment less severe, cannot be appealed beyond the school principal. Any disciplinary matter involving punishment of seven days out-of-school suspension or less cannot be appealed beyond the Superintendent. (Policy JCE)

STUDENT OFFENSES AND DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES

Offense #1: Weapons and Dangerous Instruments

Offense #2: Activating Any Fire Alarms/Bomb Threats Under False Pretense

Offense #3: Narcotics, Alcoholic Beverages, and Stimulant Drugs

Offense #4: Assault or Battery on a School Employee, Classmate, or Others

Offense #5: Property Damage

Offense #6: Use of Profane, Obscene, or Fighting Words or Gestures

Offense #7: Gang-Related Clothing [Board Policy JCDB]

Offense #8: Rude or Disrespectful Behavior and/or Refusal to Carry Out Instruction of Faculty or Staff
(Including being in unauthorized or undesignated area)
Disposition: Discretion of school administration

Offense #9: Classroom Interference* and School Disturbances

Offense #10: Conduct on Bus [Policy JCDAD-R]

Offense #11: Smoking/Possession or Use of Tobacco Products

Offense #12: Inappropriate Public Displays of Affection
Disposition: Discretion of school administration

Offense #13: Gambling
Gambling activity on school property or while attending an activity under school supervision is prohibited.
Disposition: Discretion of school administration

Offense #14: Campus Parking and Traffic Violation

Offense #15: Absences and/or Truancy
A student shall not be absent from school or any class or other required school function during school hours except as permitted under school attendance policies and Georgia law.

Offense #16: Conduct Outside of School [O.C.G.A. 20-2-751.5(c)]
Any conduct outside of school hours or away from school which may adversely affect the education process or endanger the health, safety, morals, or well being of other students, teachers, or employees within the school system may be punishable.
Disposition: Penalty may range from immediate short-term suspension to a recommendation that student appear before a Disciplinary Hearing Tribunal, which may result in expulsion

Offense #17: Felony [O.C.G.A. 20-2-751.5(c)]
A student who has been arrested, charged, or convicted in a court with a felony or an offense which would be considered to be a felony if the student were an adult, or is charged with an assault upon another student, or violation of the drug laws or sexual misconduct of a serious nature and whose presence at school is reasonably certain to endanger other students or staff or cause substantial disruption to the educational climate may be disciplined or excluded from school.
Disposition: Range from suspension to expulsion

Offense #18: Bullying [O.C.G.A. 20-2-751.4]
For the purposes of this policy, the term "bullying" as defined by state law means:
1) any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another person, when accompanied by an apparent present ability to do so; or
2) any intentional display of force such as would give the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm; or
3) any intentional written, verbal, or physical act, which a reasonable person would perceive as being intended to threaten, harass, or intimidate
Disposition:
1st Offense: Discretion of school administration; Notification of parent.
2nd Offense: Suspension.
3rd Offense: Ten-day suspension with a recommendation for expulsion.

Offense #19: False Accusation [O.C.G.A. 20-2-751.5(a)]
A student shall not falsify, misrepresent, omit or erroneously report information regarding instances of alleged inappropriate behavior by a teacher, administrator or other school employee toward a student. Such false accusation is prohibited both on & off school grounds and hours.
Disposition: Discretion of school administration

WEAPONS [O.C.G.A. 16-11-127.1]
It is unlawful for any person to carry, possess or have under their control any weapon or explosive compound (excluding fire-works) within a school safety zone, en route to or from school, or at a school building, school function or on school property or on a bus or other transportation furnished by the school.

The term "weapon" means and includes any pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, as defined in Section 921, Title 18, of the United States Code, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, any other knife having a blade of two or more inches, straight-edge razor, razor blade, spring stick, metal knucks, blackjack, club or other bludgeon weapon, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain, or any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, or any weapon of like kind, and any stun gun or taser. School Disposition: Expulsion for not less than one calendar year and referral for criminal charges which upon conviction carries fines and/or mandatory prison sentences.


GEORGIA’S DRUG LAW
Georgia law clearly mandates certain severe penalties against students and/or adults who engage in drug-related activities at or near school property. Violators face imprisonment and/or fines. It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance or marijuana in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any school property.
Any person who violates or conspires to violate this law is guilty of a felony and upon a first conviction, imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $20,000, or both. Students who plan to go to college, if convicted under this law, would be barred or denied from receiving state grants, scholarships, or any federal monies for college.


SCHOOL BUS RULES AND REGULATIONS
Rules of student behavior included in this Code are applicable to school buses as well as:
1. Students must be at their assigned bus stop at least two minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
2. Students are permitted to load and unload only at their approved bus stops.
3. Each driver shall have the right to designate a place on the bus for each student.
4. Students shall not stand in or operate the door.
5. Students must keep their heads, hands, bodies and possessions inside the bus at all times.
6. Materials such as band instruments, book bags, etc. shall be held by students.
7. Objects are not to be thrown or tossed inside the bus or out bus windows.
8. Students are not permitted to get off the bus while it is in motion. No stops will be made except for scheduled loading and unloading.
9. Students shall not write, cut, scratch, deface or otherwise vandalize buses.
10. No smoking, use of profane language or misbehavior will be tolerated on buses.
11. While on a bus, students are prohibited from any of the following:
a) acts of physical violence
b) bullying or threatening others
c) physical assault or battery
d) verbal assault
e) any other unruly behavior
12. Students are prohibited from using any electronic device on the bus that might interfere with the bus equipment or the driver’s operation of the bus. Devices include, but are not limited to cell phones, pagers, radios or disc players without headphones, or any similar device.
13. Students shall not use mirrors, lasers, flashes or any other reflective devices.
14. Students 2nd Grade and below are not to be dropped off if an adult is not at the bus stop to pick up the student. Students who do not have an adult present at the bus stop will be returned to the school and placed in the after-school program at cost and parents notified.
15. Drivers are to be respected and their instructions followed at all times.
16. Students are expected to exhibit appropriate behavior at bus stop areas while waiting for the bus to arrive and after disembarking from the bus. Any misbehavior at bus stops may be subject to disciplinary consequences.


Electronic Communication Devices
Students are not permitted to use an electronic communication device during school hours except for health or other unusual reasons approved by the Board of Education. Any student found in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action under Offense #9 of this Code.


SUSPENSIONS and EXPULSIONS
Suspension precludes a student from all normal school operations, activities, and functions for the time of the suspension. A student in In-School Suspension (ISS) is also suspended from all school sponsored activities for the days he/she is in ISS. Suspension removes a student out-of-school for not more than 10 consecutive days. Long-term suspension is removing a student for more than 10 days but not beyond the current quarter or semester. Expulsion is suspension for more than 10 days which goes beyond the current term, and may be permanent.
Students under suspension may not attend any school-related activity on or off school grounds during the time of suspension. An assignment of suspension ends on the morning of the next day after the suspension is completed or the morning after the last day of the school year if the suspension is at the end of the academic year.
For overall academic progress students are expected to do the work missed during a suspension. Students shall not be penalized in their academic grade for the first suspension of a full credit period (semester for grades 9-12 and year for grades 3-8) if the student makes up the work in the time allotted by policy and arrangements with the teacher. For subsequent suspensions in a full grading period, a student may receive a grade of no higher than “70” on graded work missed during an out-of-school suspension and made up within the time allotted by this policy and arrangements with the teacher(s) except for final examinations and long-term assignments. If the student fails to make up the work, the teacher may assign a grade of “0” for each assignment not completed. Long term assignments such as research projects and papers assigned before a suspension and due during the suspension may be turned in on the day the student returns from suspension without penalty. Long term assignments made during a suspension are due on the assigned due date.

Parental Notice
Parents and guardians are encouraged to inform their children of the consequences, including potential criminal penalties, of underage sexual conduct and crimes for which a minor can be tried as an adult.



SEXUAL HARASSMENT
It is the policy of the Board of Education to maintain a learning environment that is free from harassment. It shall be violation of this policy for any member of the district staff to harass a student through conduct or communications of a sexual nature as defined as the following. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other inappropriate oral, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when made by a member of the school staff to a student or when made by any student to another student constitutes sexual harassment when:
1) submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, as a term or condition of an individual's education;
2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic decisions affecting that individual; or
3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic or professional performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive academic environment.

Sexual harassment, as defined above, may include but is not limited to the following:
1) Verbal harassment or abuse
2) Pressure for sexual activity
3) Repeated remarks to a person with sexual or demeaning implications
4) Unwelcome touching
5) Suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one's grades, job, etc.

Any person who alleges sexual harassment by a staff member or student in the school district may complain directly to a principal, guidance counselor, or other individual designated to receive such complaints. Filing of a complaint or otherwise reporting sexual harassment will not reflect upon the individual's status nor will it affect future employment, grades, or job assignments. The right to confidentiality, both of the complainant and of the accused, will be respected consistent with the Board's legal obligations, and with the necessity to investigate allegations of misconduct as necessary. All allegations of sexual harassment shall be investigated. The Principal or his/her designee shall initiate immediate and appropriate corrective or disciplinary action in cases where it is determined that sexual harassment has occurred. A substantiated charge against an employee shall subject such person to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge or termination. Because sexual harassment can be considered a form of child abuse, the principal or designee may notify proper authorities. A substantiated charge against a student shall subject that student to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.

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It is the policy of the Cartersville City Board of Education not to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, marital status, religion or national origin or handicap in its educational programs, activities or employment policies.