Code: JK
STUDENT
DISCIPLINE
It is essential for
schools to maintain a safe and orderly environment which supports student
leading and achievement. Good discipline
allows the schools to discharge their primary responsibilities to educate
students and promote good citizenship.
All students are expected to conduct themselves with respect for others
and in accordance with School Board policies, school rules, and applicable
state and federal laws. Disciplinary
action may be taken against students who violate policies, rules, or laws,
and/or whose conduct directly interferes with the operations, discipline or
general welfare of the school.
The Board expects the
following principles to guide the development and implementation of school
rules and disciplinary procedures:
A. Discipline should emphasize positive
reinforcement for appropriate behavior, as well as appropriate consequences for
misbehavior. The focus should be on
providing a school environment where students are engaged in constructive
leading and interactions with others.
B. Expectations for student behavior should
be clear and communicated to school staff, students and parents.
C. Consequences for misbehavior should be in
proportion to the offense, fair and consistently enforced.
D. Parents should be actively involved in the
process of preventing and resolving disciplinary problems at school.
Physical force and
corporal punishment shall not be used as punishment; however State law provides
that "a teacher or other person entrusted with the care or supervision of
a person for special or limited purposes may not be held civilly liable for the
use of a reasonable degree of force against the person who creates a
disturbance if the teacher or other person reasonably believes it is necessary
to: a) control the disturbing behavior;
or b) remove the person from the scene of the disturbance."
Teachers are authorized
to make and enforce rules for effective classroom management and to foster
appropriate student behavior, subject to the direction and approval by the
Principal/designee.
School-wide rules shall
be developed by the building principal with appropriate input from school
staff, students and parents and subject to approval by the Superintendent. Principals shall provide for the suspension
or other serious disciplinary action against students in accordance with Board
policies, administrative procedures and
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Code: JK
Legal Reference: 17-A MRSA § 106
20-A MRSA § 4009
Cross Reference: AC - Nondiscrimination/Equal
JICIA Weapons, Violence
and School Safety
JKB - Student Detention
JKD - Suspension of
Students
JKE - Expulsion of
Students
JKF -
Suspension/Expulsion of Students with Disabilities
First
Adopted: _____________
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