1.22 Student Code of Conduct

The Board of Education of the Broken Arrow School District adopts the following policy regarding student behavior and code of conduct.

General Expectations

The Board of Education recognizes that students maintain rights of citizenship while in attendance at Broken Arrow Public Schools.  The school is a community with rules and regulations.  Those who enjoy the rights and privileges it provides must also accept the responsibilities that inclusion demands, including respect for and obedience to school rules.  This code of conduct is adopted in keeping with the district mission, "To provide all members of the school community an environment that assures intellectual, social, physical, and character development appropriate for citizenship in an ever-changing world."  The expectations herein are specified to insist that a safe learning climate is maintained for the student body and that each student is assisted in developing responsibility and self-control.

I.         Student Code of Conduct

Each Broken Arrow Public Schools’ student is personally responsible as a citizen of the school community to maintain a safe and positive learning climate by:

Being respectful to other students, school staff, and visitors.
Doing one’s best in lessons and extra-curricular activities.
Using self-control at school and at all school activities.
Respecting school property and using materials properly.
Respecting the property of others.
Using appropriate language.
Being a good citizen at school and in the community.
Following all school rules.
 
II.        Access to Student Conduct Policy and School’s Student/Parent Handbook

Access to this policy is available via the school’s student/parent handbook and the internet at the District’s website, www.ba.k12.ok.us.  Students are provided a copy of the school’s student/parent handbook to take home at the beginning of each school year.    Each school’s administration and/or staff reviews the contents of the school’s student/parent handbook with the students at the beginning of each school year.

III.      Expectations of Parents

Parents are expected to support the code of conduct by reading the school’s student/ parent handbook and discussing the expressed expectations with their child, by contacting the school when problems arise, and by working with school officials when disciplinary action is indicated.

IV.      Safe School Committee and Annual Review

The Safe School Committee, in collaboration with the staff, shall review the student/ parent handbook, this policy, and site discipline plan annually.  This policy and the review process are designed to promote good behavior and the continual development of a student conduct code that promotes good student behavior.  A recommendation will be made to the principal regarding suggested changes.  The school will devote time each year to discussing the Code of Conduct, student/parent handbooks, and disciplinary procedures with students.

V. Scope of Policy

This policy applies to students while at school, at a school-sponsored activity, in transit to a school-sponsored activity, or on a school vehicle.

For the purposes of this policy, "school" includes all school district property; the entire school campus, parking lots, athletic fields, district vehicles, vacant district property, and district buildings. "School" also includes off-district property when the student is on the property for the purpose of participating in a school or district-sponsored event or is participating in an event in which the student is representing the district. "School" covers all transportation, lodging and meal locations, event sites, and all other locations where a student is present while participating in or attending a district or school sponsored event. "School Activity" includes attendance at or participation in any district or school sponsored activity, function, or event, or any other event in which a school or district sponsored teams or district students are participating as representatives of the district, regardless of whether the event is on district property or off district property.

VI.      Conduct Outside the School Day or Off School Property

Conduct occurring outside of the normal school day or off school property that has a direct and immediate negative effect on the discipline, educational process, or effectiveness of the school may result in disciplinary action as provided in this policy.  For example, discipline will be enforced for inappropriate conduct occurring off school property that is a continuation of plans or threats made on school property.

VII.     Prohibited Student Conduct, Activities, and Behaviors

Students are prohibited from engaging in the following conduct, activities, and behaviors.  Discipline for violating the prohibitions may include in-school disciplinary consequences, alternative program placements, other disciplinary options and/or out-of-school long-term and/or short-term suspension.

1.     Arson.

2.     Cheating.

3.     Conduct that threatens or jeopardizes the safety of others.

4.     Cutting class or sleeping, eating or refusing to work in class.

5.     Disruption of the educational process or operation of the school.

6.     Extortion.

7.     Failure to attend assigned detention, alternative school or other disciplinary assignment without approval.

8.     Failure to comply with state immunization requirements.

9.     Failure to return to school property belonging to the school or others.

10.  False reports or false calls that adversely affect school operations, regardless of where the report or call is made and to whom the report or call is submitted.

11.  Fighting, including physical acts and threats made in retaliation against the person who initiated a fight.

12.  Forgery.

13.  Gambling.

14.  Hazing or unapproved initiations in connection with any school activity.

15.  Immorality.

16.  Inappropriate behavior or gestures.

17.  Inappropriate public behavior.

18.  Behavior that a reasonable student should recognize is inappropriate behavior even though such behavior may not be specifically described in this policy.

19.  Indecent exposure.

20.  Obscene, vulgar, profane, and/or lewd language or gestures.

21.  Physical or verbal abuse.

22.  Plagiarism.

23.  Non-accidental physical harm inflicted upon another.

24.  Possession, control over, or use of a caustic substance.

25.  Possession or control over or use of lighters or matches or other instruments that can burn objects.

26.  Possession or use of a wireless telecommunication device without proper authorization.

Board of Education Policy 1.16 offers additional guidance for students and parents concerning wireless telecommunication devices and is made available for students and parents in the school’s student/parent handbook and via the internet at www.ba.k12.ok.us.

27.  Possession, control over of obscene, vulgar, lewd, or profane material.

28.  Possession, control over, threat of use, or use of a dangerous weapon, explosive devices or related instrumentalities (i.e., bullets, shells, gun powder, pellets, etc.).

29.  Purported or represented possession, control of, or ready access to a dangerous weapon, explosive device or related instrumentalities although in fact the student does not possess, control, or have ready access to these objects.

30.  Use of an object not normally considered to be a weapon in a manner to inflict harm upon another or the threat to use the object in a manner that would inflict harm upon another.

Board of Education Policy 1.15 offers additional guidance related to the above item numbers 28, 29, and 30 for students and parents and is made available to parents and students in each school’s student/parent handbook and via the internet at www.ba.k12.ok.us.

31.  Possession, control over, use, sale, distribution, conspiring to sell or possess, or being in the chain of sale or distribution of tobacco in any form.

32.  Profane, vulgar, and/or lewd acts.

33.  Sexual harassment of individuals including, but not limited to, students, school employees, volunteers.

Board of Education Policy 1.18 offers additional guidance related to sexual harassment for students and parents and is made available to students and parents in the school’s student/parent handbook and via the internet at www.ba.k12.ok.us.

34.  Theft or possession of stolen property.

35.  Threatening behavior (whether involving written, verbal or physical actions).

36.  Truancy.

37.  Use or possession of missing or stolen property if the property is reasonably suspected to have been taken from a student, a school employee or the school.

38.  Unacceptable attire. This includes clothing with profane, vulgar, and/or lewd words, pictures, or symbols; clothing that sponsors or positively promotes the possession, use, or sale of low-point beer, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, controlled dangerous substances, illegal or illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia; tank tops; halter tops; half tops; half shirts; see-through garments; or split skirts which do not comply with the dress code.

Board of Education Policy 1.1 offers additional guidance related to the student dress code for students and parents and is made available to students and parents in the school’s student/parent handbook and via the internet at www.ba.k12.ok.us.

39.  Using, being under the influence of, possessing, having control of, furnishing, distributing, selling, conspiring to sell, distribute or possess or being in the chain of sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages, low-point beer (as defined by Oklahoma law, i.e., 3.2 beer), illegal or illicit drugs, and/or drug paraphernalia. The term illicit drugs includes steroids and prescription and over-the-counter medications being used for an abusive purpose, i.e., when they are not used in compliance with the prescription or directions for use and are not being used to treat a current health condition of the student.  Possession of a controlled dangerous substance(s) while selling, conspiring to sell, distributing, being in the chain of sale or distribution, or with the intent of furnishing illegal or illicit drugs or other mood-altering substances as defined in the Uniform Control Dangerous Substances Act.

40.  Using, appearing to be under the influence of, possessing, having control of, furnishing, distributing, or selling any substance purported or represented to be a controlled dangerous substance, an illegal drug, or an illicit drug, although in fact the substance is not in fact a controlled dangerous substance, an illegal drug, or an illicit drug.

41.  Using, being under the influence of, possessing, having control of, furnishing, distributing, selling, conspiring to sell, distribute or being in the chain of sale or distribution of "mood altering substances," which include paint, glue, and aerosol sprays used or intended to be used for abusive purposes, caffeine pills, over the counter stimulants, and other similar substances.

Board of Education Policy 1.15 offers additional guidance related to the above item numbers 39, 40, and 41 for students and parents and is made available to parents and students in each school’s student/parent handbook and via the internet at www.ba.k12.ok.us.

42.  Using racial, ethnic or sexual epithets 

43.  Vandalism.

44.  Violation of the Board of Education policies, rules or regulations or violation of school rules and regulations, including those provided in the school’s student/parent handbook.

45.  Willful damage to school property 

46.  Willful disobedience of a directive of any school official.

47.  Bullying, Harassment, and intimidation.

BULLYING, HARASSMENT, AND INTIMIDATION DEFINED

Bullying, harassment, and intimidation means any gesture, written or verbal expression, or physical act that a reasonable person should know will harm another student, damage another student’s property, place another student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or damage to the student’s property, or insult or demean any student or group of students in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student. "Harassment, intimidation, and bullying" include, but are not limited to, a gesture or written, verbal, or physical act. 

VIII.   Violent Offense Directed Toward a Classroom Teacher

Students suspended for a violent offense directed toward a classroom teacher shall not return to the teacher's classroom without the teacher's prior approval.  Whether or not an offense is considered a violent offense under this stipulation shall be based on applicable provisions of the Oklahoma school law regarding student suspension and applicable Oklahoma criminal law distinguishing between violent and nonviolent offenses.

Source: Broken Arrow Board of Education Policy Replacement Adopted November 4, 1996; Revised November 3, 1997, revised October 19, 1998, Policy Title Replaced and Revised Policy adopted November 1, 1999, Revised July 22, 2002, Revised September 16, 2002; Revised May 14, 2007.