6145

Instruction

Extra-Class Activities

Preston Public Schools shall provide, within budgetary limitations, active student opportunities for participation in extra class activities including interscholastic athletics, clubs, music and drama organizations, and other student activities and programs.

Participation in such programs and activities is a privilege and not a right.  Any student whose behavior during these programs and/or activities is unacceptable may be restricted by school district administrators from participation for up to a maximum of one school year.  Depending upon the particular circumstances in each instance, restriction may involve student exclusion only from a certain activity or activities for a specified period of time; or that he or she may not attend school sponsored social functions, sports activities, dramatic or music programs, or other activities, in the evenings or on weekends, or some other degree of appropriate restriction.

To ensure student constitutional rights and due process protections, the Principal shall conduct a hearing to allow students to contest charges which can lead to suspension of student activity privileges.  These hearings shall be in addition to the informal administrative hearings required prior to a possible earlier suspension from school for the same behavior or actions, and shall follow procedural guidelines set forth in 1-5 below:

A.  Written notice of charges shall be supplied to the student and his/her parents/guardians.

B.  The hearing officer shall ascertain the facts, and if the facts indicate the student's guilt, shall further determine the designated punishment, if any, including student suspension from interscholastic, extra-curricular, and/or co-curricular activities.

C.  Parents/guardians shall be requested to be present at the hearing.

D.  A record shall be kept of the hearing.

E.  Administrative decisions from the hearing on student suspension from school activities, including the duration of the imposed suspension if awarded, shall be reduced to writing and reviewed with the Superintendent of Schools.  Following such review, written decisions, reflecting any changes from such review with the Superintendent, shall be sent to the student and his/her parents/guardians.

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-220  Duties of boards of education.

10-221  Boards of education to prescribe rules.

10-233e Notice as to disciplinary policies and action.

Policy adopted:  11/9/09