The Hudson School Board had a second policy reading for its revised policy related to student conduct during its most recent meeting.
Under general policy it states “The School Board is committed to promoting a safe, healthy, orderly, and supportive school and learning environment. To achieve that for all, it is important for students to conduct themselves in a manner fitting to their age level and maturity, and with respect and consideration for other students, district personnel, and other members of the community. Students are expected and required to maintain appropriate behavior that allows teachers and staff to perform their professional duties effectively and without disruption while on School District property or on property within the jurisdiction of the School District (including vehicles); and/or while attending or engaged in school activities.”
“Expectations for student conduct and standards of behavior shall be communicated through written Board policies, as well as district and/or school rules. Those policies and rules should be considered in the Student Expectations and the District Student Behavior Standards at each school,” the policy states.
“Student conduct that causes material or substantial disruption to the school environment, interferes with the rights of others, presents a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, or visitors, and/or violates the Student Expectations or classroom rules is prohibited,” the policy states. “Response to violations, however, should be designed to maximize student academic, emotional and social success, while at the same time assuring safety of all students, staff, and school visitors. With this objective, the Board endorses adoption of a Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavioral Health and Wellness (“MTSS-B”) as the framework for the District Student Behavior Standards. District personnel who interact with students are expected to utilize progressive disciplinary measures, and to place emphasis on educating students so they may grow in self-discipline. Suspensions and expulsions shall be administered consistent with the applicable District Student Behavior Standards and Board policy JICD.”
Under student code of conduct it states, “The School Board delegates to the Superintendent, in consultation with the appropriate building principal and counselors, the responsibility of adopting and implementing these Student Expectations and District Student Behavior Standards with such age-appropriate rules and regulations for each school as he/she deems necessary to implement the objectives of this policy, and reflects the three-tiered support prevention of framework of MTSS-B: school-wide approaches; targeted supports for at-risk students; and individualized services for highest-needs students.”
“The Student Behavior Standards for each school shall be submitted to the School Board for review each year, either separately or with the applicable student handbook,” the policy states.
The policy goes on to state in part, “Consistent with the Board’s statutory authority, and other Board policies regarding review of administrative rules, regulations and procedures, the School Board retains the authority to modify, supersede, or suspend any provision of the District Student Behavior Standards.”
“The District Student Behavior Standards shall include:
- A graduated and age-appropriate system of supports and intervention strategies, such as:
- parent conferences
- counseling
- peer mediation
- instruction in conflict resolution and anger management
- parent counseling and training
- community service
- rearranging class schedules.
- Graduated and age-appropriate disciplinary consequences such as:
- restriction from extra-curricular activities
- temporary (same day) removal from class or activity
- detention
- temporary reassignment/in-school suspension
- out-of-school suspension
- expulsion
- Provisions describing how and when short term suspensions of up to 5 days, short term suspensions up to 10 days, long term suspensions up to 20 days, and/or expulsion should be imposed.
All temporary (same day) removal from classrooms or activities, restriction from activities, detentions, suspensions, and expulsions shall comport with applicable laws, regulations, and Board policy JICD. - Information regarding RSA 193:13, 193-D, this policy, Board policy JICD, and other Board policies or district/school rules regulating student conduct on and off-campus. Except where the complete text of a statute, regulation, or policy is required, the Code of ConductStudent Expectations, and District Student Behavior Standards should include age-appropriate language. E.g., summaries for elementary grade levels.”
The Board unanimously approved the revised policy.