Student Conduct and Discipline
Students shall conduct themselves in a responsible and appropriate manner; shall act with due respect for the authority given by the Board to all District employees; shall act with due respect for the education purpose underlying all school activities; shall act with respect for the widely shared use of school property; and shall act with due regard for the rights and welfare of other students. All employees of the district share responsibility for supervising the behavior of students and for seeing that students meet the standards of conduct which have been or may hereafter be established by the Board and District administration.
Students are expected to be accountable for their own behavior going to and from school; in classrooms, hallways, and lunchrooms; on the playground and school buses; and at school-sponsored activities. Students are expected to fulfill their classroom obligations, respect the rights of others, respect the worth of others, and respect both school property and the property of others. The administration reserves the right to determine all disciplinary action. A student may be suspended from school or bus service for gross misconduct. In order that students know what behavior is expected of them, the following guidelines are offered. Parents are encouraged to review these with their child(ren):
For reasons of safety, it is expected that all students:
Go directly to and from school
Cross all streets carefully, at crosswalks, with patrols when present
Maintain reasonable rules of conduct
Walk on sidewalks only; do not “cut through” private property
Specific school rules for management of behavior will be distributed by the school.
Please note that there is video/audio monitoring on every Geneva school bus. The same rules of conduct set forth in the Guidelines for School Bus Riders apply to school field trips while riding a Geneva bus or a charter bus. The way the students conduct themselves while riding the bus is of extreme importance:
- Wait at the designated school bus stops until the bus comes to a complete stop.
- Respect private property where bus stops are located.
- Do not lower bus windows below the safety line as marked on each window pillar.
- Always keep hands and head inside the bus.
- Do not throw anything out of the bus windows.
- Assist in keeping the bus clean; do not eat or drink on the bus and be careful not to mark or tear bus seats.
- Remember that loud noises on the bus divert the driver’s attention and could be the cause of an accident.
- Always remain seated, avoid blocking the bus aisle, and sit facing the front of the bus.
- Do not touch any of the bus controls or equipment unless directed to do so.
- Do not exit from the back door unless during an emergency or drill. In the case of an emergency, follow the procedures as practiced in the evacuation drills.
- Sit only up to three students per seat and allow other students to fill seats that are not at capacity.
- Remember that bus drivers may assign permanent seats if they choose.
- There will be some limited medical exemptions.
“Bullying,” includes cyber-bullying and is defined as: any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
- Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property
- Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health
- Substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance, or
- Substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the school
Bullying, as defined herein, may take various forms, including but not limited to harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive.
“Cyber-bullying” means bullying using technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photoelectric system, or photo optical system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. “Cyber-bullying” includes the creation of a web page or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section. “Cyber-bullying” also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section.
“Restorative measures” means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that (1) are adapted to the particular needs of the school and community, (2) contribute to maintaining school safey, (3) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate, (4) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society, (5) serve to build and restore relationships among students, families, schools, and communities, and (6) reduce the likelihood of future disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students’ behavioral health needs in order to keep students in school.
Should a student be suspended, efforts will be made to reengage the student appropriately and effectively upon their return, such as a re-entry meeting with parents and student, assignment of a staff mentor, establishment of a check-in process, counseling services, and/or regular communication with parents/guardians.
Bullying based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender-related identity or expression, unfavorable discharge from military service, association with a person or group with one or more of the actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in the school district.
No student shall be subjected to bullying:
- During any school-sponsored education program or activity
- While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities.
- Through the transmission of information from the school computer, a school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment; or
- Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a non-school-related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by a school district or school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of a school. This item applies only in cases in which a school administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred and does not require a district or school to staff or monitor any non-school-related activity, function, or program.
The district provides appropriate notification and "due process" as required in all issues involving suspensions and expulsions.
Articles Not Permitted at School
The following items are NOT permitted at school:
- Skateboards, scooters, roller skates, rollerblades, and roller shoes
- Personal sports equipment
- Unapproved personal electronic devices
- Alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances, related paraphernalia, or lighters
- Any item which might be dangerous to oneself or others, such as knives, fireworks, guns, or any other item which may be considered a weapon
- Any item which would distract from learning or disrupt the classroom or the school
- Any prescription or non-prescription medication, including herbal remedies
If a search produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the school or district’s policies or rules, evidence may be seized and impounded by school authorities and disciplinary action may be taken, when appropriate, evidence may be transferred to law enforcement authorities.
To maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning, students are expected to dress appropriately both in school and at all school activities. For purposes of hygiene, shoes or footwear must be worn at all times during the school day. The wearing of hats, bandannas, or other headgear is prohibited, unless cited as a religious need and approved by principal after discussions with parent.