CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT
Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools
The items in this Code are applicable to all students when properly under the authority of school personnel during a school activity, function, or event whether on property owned, rented, or maintained by the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education or property owned, rented, or maintained by another party. Additionally, the provisions of this Code shall apply to students if the prohibited act(s) takes place while on properties immediately adjacent to school property, within the line of sight of school property, on school transportation, or if the act affects the operation of the schools. The Code also applies to any student misconduct, regardless of where it occurs, directed at a district official or employee or on the private property of that official or employee.
Students and parents will annually receive at the opening of the school year, or upon entering during the year, written information on the rules and regulations to which students are subject while in school or participating in any school-sponsored activity or event. The information will include the types of conduct that will make students liable to suspension or expulsion from school or other forms of disciplinary action. Parents will receive a copy of the student code with the written mandate that compliance is required for all students. Parents will also be informed of the conduct expected of students.
Violation by a student of any one or more of the following rules of conduct may result in disciplinary action(s), which may include detention, deprivation of privileges, parental contact, referral to legal authorities, suspension of driving privileges, emergency removal, disciplinary removal, suspension, expulsion and/or permanent exclusion. A student may be suspended pending the outcome of expulsion proceedings.
The Student Code of Conduct is made available to students and parents and is posted in a central location within each building.
A. Academic Dishonesty
A student shall not engage in any act of cheating, plagiarism, or academic dishonesty, including but not limited to the removal and/or changing of any school records.
B. Arson
A student shall not attempt to act or act in the burning or attempted burning of any item on school property
C. Assault
A student shall not engage in any act or threatened act of physical violence or force causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical harm to another. Acts of harassment and hazing are considered assault as well. Any assault situation may lead to police involvement.
D. Complicity
A student shall not actively or passively aid, abet, and/or otherwise encourage others to violate the rules contained in the Code of Conduct.
E. Damage to Property
A student shall not cause or attempt to cause damage to either school property or private property, through improper use or otherwise, on school premises or during school activities conducted on or off school grounds. Restitution will be made by the student(s).
F. Disrespect/Disobedience
A student shall not be disrespectful toward or disobedient to any authorized staff person at any time.
G. Disruption of School/Disorderly Conduct
A student shall not cause any disruption of any classroom activity, or the operation of the school or the educational process and shall not engage in any act that is potentially harmful to the health, welfare and safety of the student himself, other students or staff.
H. Distribution or Sale of Unauthorized Materials
A student shall not distribute or sell unauthorized materials on school property.
I. Dress or Appearance
A student shall not dress in an obscene or suggestive manner or in any fashion that, in the judgment of the staff and/or administration, disrupts the educational process. See-through or mesh garments, midriff blouses or shirts, tank tops, spaghetti straps, exposure of undergarments of any type, spiked jewelry, chains, cleavage, low-riding pants, hats, and clothing with obscene or suggestive statements or symbols are prohibited. Also prohibited is any apparel that advertises or promotes sex, drugs or alcohol. Shoes must be worn at all times. Coats and hats should be placed in lockers and not worn/carried during the school day.
J. Excessive Displays of Affection
Students shall not engage in excessive displays of affection on school property.
K. Failure to Serve School Discipline
Refusing to serve an in-school suspension, misbehavior while serving school discipline, failure to report for an assigned detention, and walking out of the principal's or assistant principal's office while discussing or receiving discipline will not be tolerated. The student may be required to serve the original consequence in addition to further disciplinary action.
L. False Alarms
A student shall not give false alarm of fire, bomb, or other hazard.
M. Fighting
A student shall not engage in any fight or other act of violence or force that causes harm or threatens to cause harm to another person. Fighting may lead to police involvement.
N. Gambling
A student shall not engage in any gambling activities, such as playing or gambling for money or other stakes.
O. Hazing
A student shall not participate in hazing or other degrading or disgraceful acts.
P. Insubordination/Defiance
A student shall not refuse to comply with reasonable requests, orders and directions of teachers, substitute teachers, teacher aides, administrators or other authorized personnel during any period of time when the student is properly under the authority of school personnel. Insubordination includes but is not limited to: disobedience or disrespect toward any staff member not serving assigned detentions not following school rules or proper procedures not following assigned schedule/being in unauthorized area chronically tardy to school or class repeated misbehavior after warning
Q. Intimidation/Harassment/Menacing
A student shall not intimidate, insult, or in any manner abuse verbally or in writing any student or staff member. This includes harassment based upon race, religion, national origin, sex or disability.
R. Loitering
A student shall not loiter or delay in any way that may cause disruption of some activity or function.
S. Misuse of Vehicles on School Property
A student shall not violate the prescribed rules and regulational process and shall not engage in any act that is potentially harmful to the health, welfare and safety of the student himself, other students or staff.
T. Narcotics, Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs, and Paraphernalia
A student shall not use, sell or distribute, possess, buy, be under the influence of, or smell of, alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, or narcotics on school property or at any school sponsored event at any time. A student shall not use, possess, offer to sell or distribute, or buy counterfeit or look-alike drugs. Possession of any type of drug paraphernalia is similarly prohibited.
U. Participation in Extra-curricular Activities
A student participating in extra-curricular activities shall not violate the rules and regulations contained in the Student Code of Conduct or in the Athletic Code of Conduct.
V. Prescription or Non-prescription Drugs
A student shall not use, sell or distribute, buy, or possess prescription or non-prescription drugs without following the procedures for use of such drugs at school.
W. Profane, Obscene or Vulgar Language/Gestures
A student shall not use profane, obscene or vulgar language or gestures at school, on school buses or while engaged in or present at any school sponsored event or activity.
X. Prohibited Articles
Any object that in the judgment of the administration disrupts or interferes with the educational process or endangers the health, welfare or safety of students or staff is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to gambling and gambling related items, CD/MP3 players, headphones, personal pagers and TV sets, telephones, and other electronic communication devices. These electronic devices may be confiscated if seen by a staff member.
Y. Punctuality and Tardiness
All students are expected to be on time for school and for each class, unless illness or a delayed school bus prevents timely attendance at school.
Z. Repeat Offenses
A student shall not repeatedly fail to comply with school rules and regulations or directions of teachers, student teachers, teacher aids, principals, or other authorized school personnel. Repeated violations may result in increased severity of the consequence per occurrence.
AA. School Buses
A student shall not violate the prescribed rules and regulations for student conduct on school buses.
BB. Sexual Harassment
A student shall not sexually harass another student. Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to:
- sexual flirtation, touching, advances, or propositions
- verbal or physical abuse of a sexual nature
- graphic or suggestive comments about an individual's dress or body
- the use of sexually degrading words to describe an individual
- displaying sexually aggressive objects or photographs
- sexually explicit or obscene jokes
CC. Shakedown/Strong Arm/Extortion
A student shall not force another person to give money or articles of value.
DD. Theft
A student shall not attempt to act or act in taking or acquiring of the property of others without their consent.
EE. Tobacco
A student shall not possess, smoke, smell of, or otherwise make use of tobacco and/or tobacco related paraphrenalia of any kind in the school building, on school buses, at school sponsored activities, or on school property or within sight of school property, at any time.
FF. Truancy
A student shall not be absent from school without parental and school approval.
GG. Vandalism
A student shall not attempt to act or act in a way that results in the destruction or defacement of school or private property.
HH. Weapons and Dangerous Instruments
A student shall not bring to school, to any interscholastic competition or extracurricular event/activity on or off school property, or possess, handle, transmit, or conceal any object capable of injuring him or others. This includes but is not limited to, explosives, pyrotechnic devices of any kind, and other dangerous weapons or ordnances, including objects made, constructed, or altered so that to a reasonable person the object appears to be a firearm
The following offenses, as defined on the previous pages, shall result in automatic suspension with a possible recommendation for expulsion unless mitigating factors significantly outweigh the necessity for punitive measures.
- False Alarms
- Damage to Property
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Arson
- Assault
- Hazing
- Fighting
- Shakedown/Strong Arm/Extortion
- Weapons and Dangerous Instruments
- Tobacco
- Narcotics, Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs, and Paraphernalia
- Prescription or Non-prescription Drugs
The following offenses may result in a recommendation for expulsion for one calendar year.
- False Alarms
- Damage to Property
- Arson
- Assault
- Hazing
- Weapons and Dangerous Instruments
Student Handbooks
Disciplinary procedures and codes of conduct may be developed by building administrators, appear in their respective handbooks, and be approved by the Board of Education.
2007 -2008 - Number of verified incidents of bullying and other forms of aggressive behavior were 67.
2008-2009 - Number of verified incidents of bullying and other forms of aggressive behavior were 36.
Adoption date: September 10, 1990
Revision date: August 18, 1997
Revision date: August 20, 2001
Revision date: August 4, 2003
LEGAL REFS.: R.C. 3313.20; 3313.66; 3313.661; 3313.664; 3313.665
