CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES

Students who involve themselves with illegal controlled substances (including alcohol) and participate in school activities are not appropriately fulfilling their responsibilities to properly represent their school and set good examples for others. Therefore, the following policy has been developed for school administrators to follow when controlled substance problems are encountered:

1. DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN TOWARD STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES-- (The possession, use, sale, or distribution of any controlled substance or paraphernalia shall be prohibited on school grounds or at any school activity while a student is enrolled in Fort Smith Public Schools.)

The activity program acts as an extension of the school curriculum and is an integral part of the educational program. Participation in activities helps prepare student for responsible roles in society, allows students the privilege of representing their school, and affords these students the opportunity to set good examples for others to follow.

2. DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN TOWARDS STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AT SCHOOL OR WHILE PARTICIPATING IN A SCHOOL ACTIVITY AND ARE INVOLVED IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES --

3. DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN TOWARD STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES BUT NOT AT SCHOOL OR WHILE PARTICIPATING IN A SCHOOL ACTIVITY AND ARE INVOLVED IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES --

*The administration reserves the right to recommend long term suspension or expulsion when the offense is serious enough to warrant the more severe penalty.

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DRESS CODE FOR SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

(REVISED SUMMER 2004)

In order to enhance high standards and promote the teaching and learning process in our schools, we must encourage neatness, cleanliness, and decency in personal dress and appearance of all students and school personnel. In view of that, all students and school personnel will be expected to be dressed and groomed to present a respectable image in keeping with current styles and good taste during the school day and at school activities.

General:

1. Students will be expected to wear school clothing and not recreational apparel to school.
2. Styles must not infringe on the rights of others or pose a hazard to personal safety.
3. State health laws require that shoes be worn at all times.
4. Hair must be neat and clean.

Specific Prohibitions:

1. Clothing styles that are revealing to the point of disruption or distraction. Examples include but are not limited to the following:

a. Spaghetti straps.
b. Any type of strapless apparel.
c. Shirts, blouses or tops that expose any part of the midriff.
d. Any type of spandex apparel or clothing that is tight to the point of being inappropriately revealing.
e. Low-cut attire, bare backs, halter tops, mesh attire, or shirts, tops or blouses with open sides, tank tops, see through clothing, etc.
f. Underwear cannot be exposed.

2. Clothing or body art that advocates poor standards or character and citizenship. Items in this category include:

a. Advertisements for alcohol, drugs or tobacco.
b. Displays of excessive violence. Slogans associated with death, suicide or killing are included.
c. Suggestive language, slogans or sexual connotations.

3. Clothing, drawings, body art, or items that denote or suggest membership in public school fraternity, sorority, secret society or organization, or gang.

4. Short skirts. Skirt length must be equal or longer than the extended fingertips when the arms and hands are extended straight at the sides.

5. Shorts or skorts.

a. Girls will be permitted to wear skirts, jeans, long slacks, or capri pants.
b. Boys will be permitted to wear jeans or long slacks. All jeans or slacks must be at least ankle length.
c. Shorts or skorts may be worn at activities before or after school, practices, rehearsals, or workouts at the discretion of the sponsor. All other dress code policies will follow.

6. All clothing must be worn in the manner in which it was intended. Clothing with straps, suspenders, etc., must be worn with all straps properly fastened.

7. Clothing resembling sleep wear, such as pajamas, house shoes, slippers, etc. is prohibited.

8. Clothing with rips, tears or holes is prohibited.

9. Hats or other head coverings are prohibited on campus except at athletic events or outdoor activities. Bandanas are prohibited at all times.

10. "Sagging" or "bagging" is prohibited.

11. Gloves of any kind are prohibited.

12. Sunglasses (worn in the building) are prohibited.

13. Any type of chain, including wallet chains, dog chains or collars, or studded apparel are prohibited.

14. Students will not be allowed to bring backpacks or tote bags to school. Girls' purses must be no larger than a standard notebook.

15. Trenchcoats or overcoats cannot be worn during the school day.

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF DRESS CODE

1st Offense Student given 3 days detention and sent home to change clothing or parents bring acceptable clothing for the student. Parent notified.
2nd Offense Student assigned in-school suspension. Parents notified.
3rd Offense Student suspended. Parents notified.

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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The Board of Education believes that student activities sponsored by the school district program are a vital part of the total education program and should be used as a means of developing wholesome attitudes and good human relations as well as knowledge and skills. The Board further recognized that not all the district's goals and objectives can be met in formal classroom study. Therefore, the district's extracurricular programs will provide opportunities for student participation in activities designed to meet their leisure, recreational, social, and emotional interests and needs.

Extracurricular/noninstructional activities are defined as any school-sponsored activity which is not part of a course of study including, but not limited to pep rallies, intramurals, club, athletic teams, cheerleaders, drill teams, and similar groups.

Student activities in the Fort Smith Public Schools will be governed by the following guidelines:

1. Student activities shall be scheduled for practices, meetings, performances, etc., outside the school day as much as is practical.

2. To participate in activities such as athletics, cheerleaders, drill teams, or similar organizations, a student must pass four core subjects the previous semester (Students with less than a 2.0 GPA the previous semester may participate on a probationary status if the student is actively participating in the school's academic improvement program. A student may not participate in two consecutive semesters of probation). Honor societies and other select activities may establish higher academic requirements for participation.

3. All students participating in activities governed by the Arkansas Activities Association shall meet applicable standards for the particular activity.

4. Students shall not miss a class more than 10 times in a year because of extracurricular/non-instructional activities. Any exception to this provision can only be made with the approval of the principal.

5. Students shall not be eligible to participate in any athletic event or other extracurricular/non-instructional activity while on suspension.

6. Interruptions of academic classes should be kept to a minimum.

(This policy is adopted as partial fulfillment of the requirements specified in Standard for Accreditation, Arkansas Public Schools.)

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SUSPENSION (OUT OF SCHOOL)

Suspension from school is a penalty which may be used for chronic or serious infractions of school rules. The following guidelines will be used when suspending a student:

1. Length of suspension will be determined by school authorities and will reflect the offense committed.

2. Parents will be notified in writing of the action taken.

3. A student on suspension will not be allowed to participate in or attend any school activity at or away from school.

4. A student on suspension will not be allowed on school property unless accompanied by a parent on official business. Violation of this regulation will result in the student being prosecuted for trespassing and will also result in additional days of suspension.

5. When students have been notified that they are suspended from school, they shall remain away from all school district premises and any school district activities, in town or out of town, until the principal or designee reinstates them. Suspended students may return to school premises when accompanied by their parent or guardian for a student/parent/principal conference.

6. A student will not be allowed to make up any work missed during the suspension.

7. A student will be admitted back to school on the day following the end of the suspension after a satisfactory solution to his conduct is agreed on by parents and administrators in conference.

TYPES OF ACTION FOR WHICH A STUDENT MAY BE SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED

1. Repeated truancy.

2. Excessive tardiness.

3. Excessive absences.

4. "Cutting" class.

5. Fighting.

6. Smoking, possessing or using tobacco products.

7. Disrespect toward teachers or other school employees.

8. Possession, use, sale or under influence of alcoholic beverages.

9. Possession, use, sale or under influence of a controlled substance. Controlled substance literature or paraphernalia is prohibited.

10. Possession or use of firearms or weapons on campus.

11. Possession of fireworks or other explosive devices are prohibited on campus.

12. Possession of pornographic or sexually explicit material.

13. Persistent violation of school regulations.

14. Hazardous or reckless driving in parking areas, school grounds, or access roads.

15. Profanity.

16. Open displays of affection or immoral conduct.

17. Willful refusal to follow reasonable instructions.

18. Stealing food from cafeteria.

19. Being in parking lot without permission.

20. Extreme dress that is disruptive to class. ("Sagging", costumes, etc.)

21. Chains on billfolds, etc.

22. Destruction or defacing of school property.

23. Forging, falsifying, or possessing school forms or using forged notes or excuses.

24. "Any person who shall abuse or insult a public school teacher while such teacher is performing normal and regular or assigned school responsibilities shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be liable to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,500." (ACA 6-17-106 of 1995).

25. Fraternity/Sorority Activity School Policy: Prohibits as a breach of discipline the display, publication or announcement in any manner, on school property and in school facilities and with relation to any part or facet of the school program, membership in a national high school fraternity or sorority. This is intended to include within the prohibition, at school or in connection with school activities, the wearing of fraternity or sorority insignia; the assembling of groups based on fraternity or sorority membership; influence or attempted influence upon school affairs or activities by pupils as members of fraternities or sororities; or communications orally or in writing in any manner of membership or any other fact regarding fraternities or sororities.

26. Gang Activity Policy: Prohibits as a breach of discipline the display, publication or announcement in any manner, on school property and in school facilities and with relation to any part of facet of the school program, membership in any gang. This is intended to include within the prohibition, at school or in connection with school activities, the wearing of gang insignia, colors, or clothing; the assembling of groups based on gang membership; influence or attempted influence upon school affairs or activities by pupils as members of gangs; or communications orally or in writing in any manner of membership of any other fact regarding gangs.

27. Cheating on tests or other assignments.

28. Possession of a beeper or any electronic paging device or laser light of any kind.

29. Use of cellular phones or I-Pod's during the school day. All cell phones and I-Pod's should be turned off during the school day.

30. In-school suspension (SDC) violations.

31. Sexual harassment.

IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION (STUDENT DISCIPLINE CENTER)

In an attempt to provide an alternative to out-of-school suspensions, Southside has instituted the use of SDC (Student Discipline Center.) This is a means of preventing a student from being regularly suspended from school and will give him/her the opportunity to carry on their regular work and be in attendance.

The following guidelines will be used when a student is assigned to SDC. A student can only be assigned to SDC 3 times per semester.

1. Students will attend the Student Discipline Center the entire school day.

2. If a student causes a problem to SDC, he/she will be sent back to the assistant principal for additional disciplinary action.

3. Once a student has been assigned to SDC he/she must attend the required number of days. If he/she refuses, he/she will not be able to attend school (unexcused absences) until he/she decides to meet the SDC requirement.

4. If a student is sent to the assistant principal from a particular teacher's classroom for a disciplinary reason and is assigned to SDC, he/she will be kept out of that class for that day and then assigned to SDC the following day.

5. Requests for class assignments for students who have been assigned to SDC will be put in the teachers' boxes by the end of the school day. Class assignments must be given to the SDC teacher at the beginning of first period the following day.

6. Students must attempt to complete all assignments by the end of the school day. If they do not complete them, they must have them completed by first period of the next day. Each day the seventh period SDC teacher will make a list of those students not completing their class assignments. This list will be given to the first period SDC teacher the following day. If students have not completed their assignments by the start of first period, they will be assigned an additional day of SDC.

7. Attendance in SDC will mean non-participation in extracurricular activities during school hours for that day or days. (This does not include those activities held after school -- 3:10 p.m.).

8. Work study program students will be expected to stay in SDC the entire school day when they are assigned.

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ARTICLES PROHIBITED IN THE SCHOOL

The following articles are hazardous to safety or disruptive to classes and are prohibited in the school (including but not limited to:)

1. Tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco (snuff), chewing tobacco, lighters, matches, etc.
2. Water pistols.
3. Sling shots.
4. Knives or weapons.
5. Firecrackers, smoke bombs, rockets, etc.
6. Horns and other noisemakers.
7. Cap guns, laser pointers or laser lights of any kind.
8. Radios, tape players, CD's.
9. Drug paraphernalia and literature.
10. Beepers, cellular phones or paging devices.
11. Pornographic or sexually explicit material.
12. Backpacks.
13. Playing cards of any kind.
14. Chains on billfolds.
15. Use of skateboards and other similar devices are prohibited on school property. Violators will be prosecuted.
16. No pets of any kind are allowed on school property or at any school activity without the express permission of the building principal.

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CHEATING POLICY

All students need to develop the character qualities of honesty and integrity. Students need to "pass" on their own efforts and ability and through study and commitment to hard work. To do anything less is not acceptable.

Students found cheating will be given a zero on whatever assignment is involved. A referral will be sent to the assistant principal's office and the parent will be notified.

The second referral, whether by the same or different teacher, will result in suspension from school. A second referral in the same class will also result in dismissal from that class with an "F" for the semester.

A third referral will lead to a 10-day suspension and recommendation for expulsion from Southside High School.

Cheating compounded by the theft and/or profiteering will be dealt with by dismissal from the class and suspension from school.

The following represents a partial list of the actions that will be considered cheating:

DURING A QUIZ OR TEST --

DURING OTHER SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS --

THEFT AND/OR PROFITEERING INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO --

BEHAVIOR NOT COVERED ABOVE--

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