DBS CODE:  5131

STUDENTS:

Conduct:

Areas of Responsibility:

1.  Board of Education:  The Board of Education holds the certificated personnel responsible for the proper conduct and control of pupils while legally under the supervision and jurisdiction of the school.  The superintendent shall act as the agent of the Board of Education to ensure that student conduct policy and procedures are followed.

2.  Principal:  The principal shall implement necessary procedures and rules and regulations to render effective the policies of the Board of Education relating to standards of student behavior.  The principal may involve representatives of all areas of school personnel, pupils, parents and citizens of the community.

3.  Teachers:  Teachers shall be responsible for the instruction of pupils in rules and regulations of proper conduct, as well as be responsible for proper and adequate control of pupils.  The responsibility and authority of any teacher extends to all pupils of the school district under the assigned supervision of the teacher and to other pupils so situated as to be subject to the teacher’s control.

4.  Parents:  Parents shall be expected to cooperate with school authorities regarding the behavior of their children.  Parents shall be held responsible for the willful misbehavior of their children.

Pupil Behavior:

Pupils shall be properly instructed in rules and regulations of acceptable conduct; they shall then be responsible for understanding and complying with the standards of behavior described therein.  Any pupil who fails to comply with these laws and rules concerning pupil behavior is liable to suspension, exclusion, expulsion or other appropriate disciplinary action.

Notification of Behavior Code:

During the first quarter of the regular school term, the administration shall notify the parent or guardian of minor pupils registered in the district of the availability of rules of the district pertaining to student discipline.   Parents of transfer students will be notified of the availability of rules at the time of registration.

The principal of each school shall take steps to insure that all rules pertaining to the discipline of pupils are communicated to continuing students at the beginning of each school year and to transfer students at the time of their enrollment in the school.

Complaint Procedures

Students should report cases of misconduct to the school administration.  The administration shall, in a timely manner, investigate all complaints.  Matters that require disciplinary action shall require notification to parents of the student who is disciplined.  In cases when appropriate, parents of the student wronged shall also be notified.

In cases of suspension the administrator shall notify the superintendent in writing.

Parents of either the disciplined student or the aggrieved student may appeal the administrator's decision to the Superintendent of Schools.  The superintendent shall review the case to determine if policy was followed and/or the investigation was conducted thoroughly and fairly.

(c.f. 5114 - Suspension/Expulsion)

(c.f. 5144 - Discipline/Punishment)

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

52-572 Parental Liability for torts of minors. Damage defined.

Adopted:  March 24, 1980

July 9, 2009