Student Code of Conduct
Dalton Public Schools Student Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct--Spanish
Interscholastic/Extracurricular Activities
Effective June 1, 2011
RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE:Participation in interscholastic/extracurricular activities in Dalton Public Schools is a privilege. Students participating in these activities are considered school leaders. They serve as role models who represent the school, and, more importantly, its character. With leadership comes additional responsibility. Student participants must adhere to high standards of conduct and if these high standards are violated the district may withdraw the privilege to participate in interscholastic/extracurricular activities. The purpose of this document is to establish the minimum behavior expectations. Consequences for violating the behavior and conduct expectations provided in this document may be enforced without the requirement of a tribunal or other due process hearing. The determination of consequences will be made in accordance with the process outlined below.
SECTION A – GUIDANCE
GENERAL PROCEDURES
Time in Effect: Except as specifically provided, the following behavioral expectations and prohibitions apply 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, in and out of the specific extracurricular season, and on or off school grounds.
Notification: All secondary (6-12) student participants will be given a written copy of the behavior expectations and the Dalton Public Schools Student Code of Conduct at the beginning of each season and will attend a review of the expectations presented by the head athletic coach or activity sponsor and the athletic director.
Reporting Requirement by Parent/Guardian/Student: Any behavior, including arrest involving law enforcement, must be reported to the school administration or head coach/sponsor as soon as possible, but no later than the next scheduled extracurricular activity for which the student is expected to participate. Failure to report an arrest or the behavior will result in possible additional consequences.
Investigation and Consequence Determination: Head coaches/sponsors should investigate Student Behavior and Conduct Expectations violations and submit the findings to the school administration within a reasonable time period. Every effort will be made to determine consequences within 30 days of the initial report of an offense, with the exception of situations where pending adjudication through the district tribunal process or court system is deemed necessary in making an appropriate determination. Unless otherwise specified, periods of suspension from activities do not include preseason workouts and other preseason activities. Such student’s ability to participate in preseason activities will be determined by the principal’s designee in consultation with the head coach/sponsor. During the student’s period of suspension the student may have contact with the team during team activities as determined by administration and coaching/sponsor staff. Whether students may attend and dress out for competitions will be determined by the school administration in consultation with coaches/sponsors.
A student cannot attempt to evade the intent of these conduct and behavior expectations by joining a new sport or activity specifically to allow his/her suspension days to be served before another sport or activity begins or resumes. If a student athlete participates in a sport in which he/she had not been previously involved, he/she must complete the season of the new sport in good standing for the suspension days to count. Transferring from one school in the district to
another does not relieve the student from the consequences for a violation of these expectations. Should a student choose to transfer outside of the district, the designated school administrator or the school athletic director will contact the new school to inform its administration of the
violation and the resulting penalty. Dalton Public Schools may also honor consequences from other private or public school systems if notified by appropriate school officials. A single incident may involve more than one offense addressed in these guidelines. In all
instances, the highest applicable consequence level will be applied.
SECTION B – UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DEFINED
LEVEL I – GENERAL MISCONDUCT
A student who commits the following offenses may be suspended or permanently dismissed
from the team or activity. The head coach/sponsor in conjunction with the school administration
will determine consequences for the following:
1. Any violation of the Dalton Public Schools Student Code of Conduct.
2. Hazing or degradation of individual dignity;
3. Missing practice, rehearsal or activities (unless excused by the coach, teacher or sponsor);
4. Truancy and/or skipping classes;
5. Acting in an unsportsmanlike manner when representing the school;
6. Violating curfew as established by the head coach/sponsor;
7. Any act at school or away from school, which results in any discipline by school administration; or
8. Any act at school or away from school which, in the opinion of the principal reflects in a negative manner on the school, athletic program, or activity.
LEVEL II – TOBACCO
Tobacco in any of its forms or methods of use, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, or snuff, shall not be used by students.
1. The first offense will result in suspension from all extracurricular activities for 2 school days.
2. The second offense will result in suspension from all extracurricular activities for 5 school days and the student must sit out 10 percent of games, matches, performances, or competitions. [Refer to endnote on calculating number(s) of games, etc., to be missed as a percent of the regular season.]
3. The third offense will result in suspension from all extracurricular activities for 10 school days and the student must sit out 20 percent of games, matches, performances, and competitions.
4. The fourth offense will result in suspension from all extracurricular activities for 45 school days.
LEVEL III – MISDEMEANOR
A student who is arrested for, charged with, or found guilty of a misdemeanor shall receive consequences as outlined below. Minor offenses that result in fines alone may be dealt with as a violation of the provisions of Level I – General Misconduct. Any misdemeanor that is charged in conjunction with a felony will be dealt with as a violation of the provisions of Level 5 – Felony.
1. First and Subsequent Offenses
Minimum suspension from extracurricular activities for 1 school day up to a maximum of permanent suspension from extracurricular activities.
2. Drug, Alcohol or DUI
Any student who is charged with a misdemeanor alcohol/drug offense or a misdemeanor DUI will receive consequences as outlined in Level IV – Alcohol/Illegal Drugs/Inhalants, below.
If a student produces proof that misdemeanor charges are completely dismissed or the student is found not guilty, the consequences may be lifted. If a student has been arrested or charged with an offense, but the matter has been expunged, sealed, removed from a student’s record, treated as a “first offender” action, or the behavior has not been prosecuted, that student should present or obtain documentation as required by the school to determine the circumstances of the matter. The principal’s designee and the head coach/sponsor will decide whether these circumstances are sufficient to adjust or eliminate the student’s consequences.
LEVEL IV – ALCOHOL/ILLEGAL DRUGS/INHALANTS
The district administration believes very strongly that using or possessing over-the-counter drugs or products to become intoxicated; the illegal use or possession of alcohol; using or possessing illegal drugs; or, using or possessing prescription drugs in an unauthorized manner at any time is a serious offense. Such use or possession by extracurricular participants is banned.
All misdemeanor driving under the influence (DUI) offenses will be dealt with according to this section. All felony DUI offenses will be dealt with under Level V - Felony, below.
Offenses are cumulative at the high school level.
1. The first offense will result in:
a. Suspension from other extracurricular activities for a minimum of 25 calendar days;
b. Suspension from a minimum of 20 percent of the regular season contests or performances, excluding practice; and,
c. Enrollment in and completion of an alcohol or other drug education program acceptable to school administration.
d. The student may be required to submit to random drug testing as required by the school administration and the head coach/sponsor. Drug testing will be paid by the parent(s)/guardian(s).
Rule of Suspension for First Offense: If the student has not completed his/her suspension by the end of the season during which the consequence was determined, the remaining days will be completed during participation in the next affiliated GHSA or organizational activity.
Suspension Determination: Refer to endnote on calculating number(s) of games, etc., to be missed as a percent of the regular season.
2. The second offense will result in suspension from extracurricular activities for a minimum of 1 calendar year beginning on the first day of the suspension. The student will not be permitted to participate in preseason activities or practice.
3. The third offense will result in permanent suspension from extracurricular activities, including preseason activities and practices.
Reduced Consequences for Self-Reporting: Any parent/guardian or student athlete/extracurricular participant who, prior to any charges by the school district or law enforcement, chooses to proactively report the use of tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs, illegal drugs, or other intoxicants under Student Behavior and Conduct Expectations and completes a documented appropriate alcohol or other drug education program will be eligible for consideration of reduced consequences. Upon successful completion of the program and affirmation of adherence to the Student Behavior and Conduct Expectations, the student may be eligible for immediate participation in any sport or extracurricular activity. However, should the student later be charged with any Level II – Tobacco through Level V – Felony offense, the prior self-reported behavior and remediation shall count toward the cumulative number of offenses.
LEVEL V – FELONY
Guidelines:
1. A student who is arrested for or charged with a felony or charged with an act that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult shall be automatically suspended from interscholastic/extracurricular activities for a period of time to be determined by the principal’s designee in consultation with the head coach/sponsor;
2. A student’s participation in preseason activities will be determined by the principal’s designee in consultation with the head coach/sponsor;
3. All felony DUI offenses will be dealt with according to this section.
Duration:
1. The student shall remain suspended from extracurricular activities for a period of time to be determined by the principal’s designee in consultation with the head coach/sponsor. The following judicial actions may determine consequences:
a. The charges are completely dismissed;
b. The charges are reduced to a misdemeanor in which case the student may be subject to penalties outlined in Level III - Misdemeanor or Level IV – Alcohol/Illegal Drugs/Inhalants, above, for alcohol offenses;
c. The student is found not guilty; or,
d. The student serves his/her consequences as outlined below.
2. Once the student successfully completes the consequences assigned by the school administration or the judge and agreed to by the student, including probation or diversion, the student may be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities. Evidence that the
Student Behavior and Conduct Expectations – Effective June 1, 2011 5
probation period has expired, fines have been paid, and/or community service has been completed may be required.
3. If the student produces proof that the charges are completely dismissed or the student is found not guilty, these consequences may be lifted. If a student has been arrested or charged with an offense, but the matter has been resolved without legal/criminal consequence, expunged, sealed, removed from a student’s record, treated as a “first offender” action, or the behavior has not been prosecuted, the student should present or obtain documentation as required by the school to determine the circumstances of the matter. These circumstances may not be sufficient to eliminate the student’s consequences but will be considered by the principal’s designee and head coach/sponsor in making a final determination.
ENDNOTE
Calculating Suspension from Games, Matches, Performances, or Competitions
If a student is suspended from extracurricular activities for a percentage of games, matches, performances, or competitions (hereafter referred to as games), the regular season schedule will be used as the base number of games. However, a suspension will extend to playoff games if the suspension has not been completed. Whenever the suspension cannot be completed during the season in which the suspension is begun, the remainder of the suspension will be carried out in the next GHSA-sanctioned or organizational activity. Each team’s regular season games will be used independently to determine the number of games to be missed as a result of the suspension.
Example: A student is a member of Team X and Team Y. Team X’s regular season is 10 games and Team Y’s regular season is 20 games. An offense and resulting suspension occurs during Team X’s season which requires 20 percent of games to be missed. The student must sit out 2 games. There is only one game left on the schedule for the season and therefore only half, or 50 percent of the suspension can be served. The student also is on Team Y. This team has 20 regular season games on its schedule and therefore 20 percent equals 4 games. Since half of the suspension has already been served the student must sit out 2 games to begin the season to complete the suspension.
In situations where the regular season and suspension percentage work out to partial games (15 games x 10 percent = 1.5) the student will be suspended for the equivalent number of quarters, halves, or innings, etc., to complete the suspension.