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Workforce and Economic Development (WED) Student Behavior, Policy No. 562

Workforce and Economic Development (WED) Student Behavior, Policy No. 562

Printable PDF Board Policy 562

Purpose

The technology center serves long term post-secondary and secondary students and WED students. A discipline code is provided for long term post-secondary and secondary students to inform students of the standards of conduct required of students, and of the consequences that attach to misconduct. School laws that prescribe procedures applicable to secondary students are, in some instances, not applicable to adult students. Accordingly, the technology center has established a separate policy applicable to WED students that explains the standards of conduct and civility expected of WED students and also explains the actions that may be taken when WED students’ conduct violates those standards. WED students are held to standards of conduct that are no less than those which attach to long term students attending the technology center. Educational opportunities available to WED students may be cut-short or terminated in instances where a WED student’s conduct violates the approved standards or when a student, for other reasons, cannot fulfill program requirements essential to successful course completion.

In instances involving a WED student’s dismissal or removal from a course or program, the technology center will utilize procedures that are fair and reasonable. The complete cooperation of students is encouraged to assure that all students have an opportunity to benefit from the educational opportunities available. Conduct which violates policies, rules and practices or which interferes with or disrupts learning must and will be addressed by school administration. This policy explains the technology center’s standards of conduct and describes the procedure that will be used when it is necessary to remove a student from course or program. Removal may involve a short or long period or may involve permanent removal.

References in Policy  

Removal or dismissal refers to taking a WED student out of a course or program for a short period, a long period, or permanently.

Procedures

1.      Immediate Removal of a Student

Whenever an alleged violation of the WED Student Behavior Code is reported to a consultant, developer, or administrator, he or she will ascertain whether the immediate removal of the student is required. This determination will be based on whether the student’s continued presence on campus would create, in the consultant, developer or administrator’s judgment, a dangerous and/or disruptive situation with regard to the continued operation and management of the school system. If dismissal is found necessary, the consultant, developer or administrator shall document the justification in a report and immediately forward it to the director or assistant director, and contact the student.

2.      Decision

Once the evidence has been reviewed, the director or assistant director will summarize the findings in a written report, which will include the decision as to the student’s innocence or guilt and recommended discipline, if applicable.  A copy of this report will be forwarded to the chief officer of instruction.  This decision will be communicated verbally or in writing to the student. The imposition of discipline will commence following the communication of the decision

3.      Appeal

If all or any portion of the director or assistant director’s decision is not agreed to, the student has the right to appeal the decision to the chief officer of instruction. The decision of the chief officer of instruction shall be final.  

4.      Readmission

A dismissed student is eligible to be readmitted upon proper application for readmission. However, the director or assistant director may consider the student’s prior disciplinary and incident record in determining whether to grant a student’s request for readmission.

Notification of Policy

Copies of any procedural regulations and the WED Student Behavior Code shall be available to all adult students, and students are responsible for compliance with the school’s behavior and conduct standards. Questions as to the interpretation of any part of the policy should be presented to the appropriate director or assistant director.

WED Student Behavior Code

The following behaviors at the technology center, while in technology center vehicles or going to or from or attending technology center events will result in disciplinary action, including the possibility of dismissal:

1.      Arson

2.      Altering or attempting to alter another individual’s food or beverage

3.      Assault (whether physical or verbal) and/or battery

4.       Attempting to incite or produce imminent violence directed against another person because of his or her race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender expression or identity, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or genetic information by making or transmitting or causing or allowing to be transmitted, any telephonic, computerized, or electronic message

5.      Attempting to incite or produce imminent violence directed against another person because of his or her race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender expression or identity, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or genetic information by broadcasting, publishing, or distributing or causing or allowing to be broadcast, published, or distributed, any message or material

6.      Academic Misconduct, including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, alteration of academic materials or other academic misbehavior

7.      Complicity in misconduct by others, including, but not limited to, attempting to or encouraging others to commit prohibited conduct. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of prohibited conduct is violative of this policy.

8.      Conduct that threatens or jeopardizes the safety of others

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

10.  Disorderly conduct, including behaving in a disorderly, lewd, indecent manner or breaching the peace on technology center property or in technology center-sponsored activities. Examples include, but are not limited to, obscene language, profanity, inappropriate behavior or gestures, indecent exposure, nonconsensual photography, video, or audio recording of another person on technology center premises or at technology center-sponsored events when recording causes or is likely to cause injury or distress

11.  Disruption of the educational process or operation of the school— as to disruptive behavior in the classroom specifically, engaging in behavior that a reasonable person would view as substantial or repeated interference with the instructor’s ability to teach the class or the ability of other students to benefit from instruction.

12.  Extortion

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

14.  Failure to comply with state immunization records

15.  False reports or false calls

16.  Fighting

17.  Forgery, fraud, or embezzlement

18.  Gambling

19.  Gang-related activity or action

20.  Harassment, intimidation, and bullying, including gestures, written or verbal expression, electronic communication, or physical acts

21.  Hazing (whether involving initiations, admission into, affiliations with, or as a continued involvement in a group or organization or not) in connection with any school activity, regardless of location. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any activity that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student. Likewise, engaging in any action or activity that causes or is likely to cause physical or mental discomfort or distress that may demean, degrade, or disgrace any person, regardless of location, intent or consent of participants is violative of this policy.

22.   Immorality

23.   Inappropriate attire, including violation of dress code

24.  Intimidation or harassment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender expression or identity, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or genetic information, including but not limited to: (a) assault and battery; (b) damage, destruction, vandalism or defacing any real or personal property; or threatening, by word or act, the acts identified in (a) or (b)

25.  Physical or verbal abuse, including, but not limited to, physically restraining, or transporting someone against their will

26.   Possession or distribution of a caustic substance (unrelated to course work)

27.  Possessing, distributing, or viewing obscene materials, including electronic possession, distribution or viewing (sexting)

28.  Possession of synthetic urine, a warmer or any other item with the intent to use that item to tamper with a drug or alcohol test

29.  Possession, without prior authorization, of a wireless telecommunication device

30.  Possession, threat, or use of a dangerous weapon1 and related instrumentalities (i.e., bullets, shells, gun powder, pellets, etc.)

31.  Possession, claimed possession, use, manufacture, distribution, sale, purchase, conspiracy to sell, distribute or possess or being in the chain of sale or distribution, or being under the influence of (a) alcoholic beverages, (b) any mind altering substance, except for medications taken for legitimate medical purposes pursuant to district policy, including but not limited to prescription medications for which the individual does not have a prescription, or medications used outside their intended therapeutic purpose, (c) paint, glue, aerosol sprays, salts, incense and other substances which may be used as an intoxicating substance, or (d) any substance believed or represented to be a prohibited substance, regardless of its actual content.

32.  Possession, claimed possession, or distribution of illegal and/or drug related paraphernalia

33.  Possession, claimed possession, distribution, or claimed distribution of supplements, prescription medicine and/or non-prescription medicine while at school and school related functions without prior administrative approval

34.  Purchasing, selling and/or attempting to purchase or sell prescription and non-prescription medicine while at school and school related functions

35.  Sexual or other harassment of individuals including, but not limited to, students, school employees, volunteers

36.  Theft

37.  Threatening behavior, including but not limited to gestures, written, verbal, or physical acts, or electronic communications

38.  Truancy

39.  Use, possession, claimed possession, distribution or selling marijuana or marijuana-related products in any form. “Marijuana” is defined as provided for in the Technology Center’s policy on Medical Marijuana, Hemp & Cannabidiol (CBD).

40.  Use, possession, claimed possession, distribution, or selling tobacco or tobacco related products in any form, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, loose tobacco, rolling papers, chewing tobacco, snuff, matches, and lighters, and vapor products which includes noncombustible products that may or may not contain nicotine, that employ a mechanical heating element, battery, electronic circuit or other mechanism, regardless of shape or size, that can be used to produce a vapor in a solution or other form. A vapor product also includes any vapor cartridge or other container with or without nicotine or other form that is intended to be used with an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe or similar product or device and any vapor cartridge or other container of a solution, that may or may not contain nicotine, that is intended to be used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, or electronic device. Vapor products not included are any products regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration under Chapter V of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

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

42.  Using racial, religious, ethnic, sexual, gender or disability-related epithets

43.  Use of the school’s technology resources (i.e., computers, electronic mail, internet, and similar resources) in a manner prohibited by policies, in any manner not authorized by school officials, or in violation of law

44.  Vandalism

45.  Violation of board of education policies, rules or regulations or violation of school rules and regulations including, but not limited to, disrespect, lingering in restrooms, running in halls, bringing unauthorized items to school, inappropriate or unauthorized use of cellular phones or other electronic media, name calling, destroying, or defacing school property

46.  Vulgarity

47.  Willful damage to school property

48.  Willful disobedience of a directive of any school official

Students suspended for a violent offense directed toward an instructor shall not be allowed to return to the instructor’s classroom without the instructor’s prior approval. Whether an offense is considered a violent offense, requiring an instructor’s approval as a condition of return to a particular classroom, shall be based on applicable provisions of the Oklahoma school law regarding student suspension and applicable criminal law distinguishing between violent and nonviolent offenses.

In addition, conduct occurring outside of the normal school day or off technology center property that has a direct and immediate negative effect on the discipline or educational process or effectiveness of the school, will also result in disciplinary action, which may include removal from school. This includes but is not limited to electronic communication, whether or not such communication originated at school or with technology center equipment, if the communication is specifically directed at students or technology center personnel and concerns harassment, intimidation or bullying at school.

School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act (OKLA.STAT. tit. 70, § 24-100.2)

The Oklahoma Legislature established the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act with the express intent of prohibiting bullying in all schools. In addition to the prohibition listed in the student discipline code, above, the board has adopted a separate policy prohibiting bullying and outlining the district’s plan to address it.

Dismissal of Students Because of Failure to Meet or Comply with Essential Course Requirements

The technology center’s course offerings include those that incorporate requirements essential to successful completion of the course. An example is the clinical hours a part of and necessary to completion of many health care courses. When a student cannot complete essential course requirements the student may be dismissed from a program for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to conduct, behavior, or other inability to meet mandatory parts of the program. Students dismissed for reasons falling within this part of the policy, will have the same rights with regard to removal as WED students who violate the technology center’s WED Student Behavior Code.

Students Attending the Technology Center by Virtue of a Special Program

In some instances, adult students are participating in programs offered by the technology center as a result of their eligibility established by terms of a federal or state program. In these instances, the programs establish eligibility requirements as well as minimum standards which students must meet in order to remain a part of the program and recipient of program benefits. Student participation and dismissal of the student may be governed by the program criteria. Students have no property interest in these programs and, as a result, those who violate expectations related to attendance, participation, and otherwise fail to meet the obligations which accompany participation, may be removed from the program with notice to the student and the director or assistant director. Whether to allow the student to return to the program and, if so, under what conditions, will be a joint decision of the designated school representatives and the designees for the federal or state program. The student’s dismissal or removal shall include written notice to the chief officer of instruction of the student’s dismissal and the reasons for dismissal.