Duplin County Schools Key Policies

Rationale:  It is the hope of the Board of Education that all students follow rules, thereby remaining in school.  However, certain violations in accordance with North Carolina G.S.115C-45, the Board desires to offer due process to all students with respect to suspension.

• Short-term Suspension- Suspension from school, school activities, and school grounds for up to and including ten(10) days.

• Long-term suspension- Suspension from school, school activities, and school grounds for more than ten (10) days up to the remainder of the school year.  

• Expulsion- A 365-day exclusion from the Duplin County Schools, which shall occur if the student is at least fourteen(14) years of age and whose continued presence constitutes a clear threat to the safety and health of other students or employees.

 

NOTES:  In any case of any in-school suspension, the student shall be assisted by the in-school suspension coordinator to make up any missed work and tests.  In the case of any suspension from school (student not attending an in-school suspension program), the student will be allowed to make up all graded assignments.  If the student is considered a threat to the school environment, the suspension or expulsion will remain in place until after the appeals proceedings.  If the action is found in error, the student shall immediately be reinstated, count present, and be given the opportunity to make up work and expunge all references to the case from the record.  After investigation, a student shall be given the chance to present his defense and have all witnesses questioned.  In each case, the student, parent, or guardian should be notified in writing of the decision.

PROCEDURE

1. SHORT-TERM SUSPENSION:

   1. The principal or his designee will investigate with written documentation.

   2. Conference with a student by the principal or his designee.  Discuss the findings of the investigation with a student and/or parents.  At this point, the student may be asked to remain home or denied school bus privileges until he returns with his parents, or he may be suspended depending upon the principal’s and school rules.  The parents are to be notified by the principal or his designee immediately by telephone or visit and written notification.

   3. The student or parent may appeal to the principal for a short-term suspension.

 

2. LONG-TERM SUSPENSION:

   1. In the event a student is to be considered for long-term suspension/expulsion, his case will be reviewed and processed by the Superintendent who will render a decision.

   2. The parent may submit a written appeal of the Superintendent's decision to the Duplin County Board of Education.  

      1. This written appeal must be filed in the superintendent's office within five(5) days of receiving notification of the superintendent's decision.

      2. The appeal will be heard by the Duplin County Board of Education at the next regularly scheduled meeting.  

      3. The school and parent will be notified the following school day of the Board's decision.

      4. If the action is found in error, the student shall immediately be reinstated, counted present (if he has been absent as a result of the alleged violation), given the opportunity to make up work and test, and all references to the case expunged from his record.  The Board's decision may be appealed to the court system.

The Duplin County Board of Education recognizes the value of interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities in promoting leadership and team skills, practicing democratic principles, and encouraging the lifelong learning process.  Students are encouraged to participate in opportunities available at the school, including interscholastic athletics and student organizations.  All activities are open to all students attending that school unless a restriction is justified and has been approved by the principal.  The principal shall ensure that students and parents are notified of the various opportunities for participation in extracurricular activities.  The principal shall establish any rules necessary for school and student-initiated extracurricular activities.

1. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY REQUIREMENT:  Participation in extracurricular activities, including student organizations and interscholastic athletics, is a privilege, not a right, and may be reserved for students in good academic standing who meet behavioral standards established by the Board and the school.  Participation in extracurricular activities may be restricted if a student (1) is not performing at grade level as provided in policy 3400, Evaluation of Student Progress; (2) has exceeded the number of absences allowed by policy 4400, Attendance; (3) has violated the student conduct standards found in 4300 series of policies; or (4) has violated school rules for conduct.  Students not present in school will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities (including but not limited to athletics, clubs, prom, etc.).  School administrators choosing to exercise the authority to restrict participation based upon any of the reasons provided in this paragraph shall provide this policy and any additional rules developed by the superintendent or the principal to all parents or guardians and students.  The grievance procedure provided in policy 1740/4010, Student and Parent Grievance Procedure, may be utilized by parents or students who believe that a student has been aggrieved by a decision made pursuant to this policy.

 

B.   SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

1. Extracurricular activities may be used as a component of an at-risk student's intervention plan.  The intervention plan may include providing for or restricting the student’s participation in extracurricular activities.  If the plan restricts the student's participation, the plan must include other intervention strategies designed to improve student performance.

2. Students with disabilities must be accorded the legal rights required by federal and state law.

3. School administrators shall facilitate the inclusion and participation of transitioning military children in extracurricular activities, to the extent they are otherwise qualified, by:

   1. providing information about extracurricular activities to transitioning military children.

   2. waiving application deadlines

Hazing - To harass by abusive and humiliating tricks.  Usually by way of initiation, sports teams, locker room harassment, etc.  

Bullying - is a form of harassment.   Bullying means the repeated intimidation of others by the real or threatened infliction of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or through real or threatened attacks on the property of another.  Bullying is deliberately hurtful behavior repeated often over a period of time or on isolated occasions, where somebody deliberately intimidates or harasses another.  These repeated intimidations may be verbal, written or electronically transmitted.

1.  Bullying may include by is not limited to a pattern/frequency of:

   1. Name-calling

   2. Physical abuse: hitting, pushing, pinching, or kicking

   3. Teasing

   4. Taking away personal possessions i.e., gym bags, tennis shoes

   5. Receiving abusive messages

   6. Being forced to hand over money or possessions.

   7. Being attacked in any way due to religion, gender, sexuality, disability, appearance, racial or ethnic background.

2. Consequences:  The first violation of this policy may result in short-term (10 days or less) suspension.  Counseling by the guidance counselor, Dispute Settlement Center, school resource officer, and or social worker is required.  After investigation, depending upon the severity, the violation may result in long-term suspension.  The second violation of this policy shall result in long-term suspension for the remainder of the school year; however, the superintendent may assign the offending student to an alternative placement.  Students and parents have the right to submit any complaints of discrimination, harassment, or bullying through the complaint procedure established in policy JCD (Complaints and Grievous).

The principal of your school is now required by law to report the following acts to law enforcement immediately after he/she becomes aware of them:

• Assault resulting in serious injury

• Assault involving the use of a weapon

• Assault on school personnel (not resulting in serious injury)

• Bomb threats

• Burning of school building

• Death by other than natural causes

• Kidnapping

• Possession alcoholic beverage

• Possession of a controlled substance in violation of the law

• Possession of a firearm or powerful explosive

• Possession of a weapon (excluding firearms and powerful explosives)

• Rape

• Robbery with a dangerous weapon

• Robbery without a dangerous weapon

• Sexual assault (not involving rape or sexual offense)

• Sexual offense

• Taking indecent liberties with a minor

The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for all the school children of Duplin County.  The parents and communities of Duplin County have entrusted to the schools the care of their most precious natural resource, their children.  Because the Board of Education understands the importance of maintaining the trust and confidence of the people of Duplin County, it must ensure that our schools provide an environment for learning which is alcohol and drug-free.  It acknowledges its concern for the well-being of all students and the intent to protect the integrity of the school program by enforcing a policy, which protects the majority and seeks avenues to help students who may be at risk with drugs.  However, the Board will not tolerate any use of alcohol and drugs or their possession on school property and the policy will be enforced in a fair manner for all students.

1. Student Voluntarily Seeks Help:  If a student voluntarily, under his own volition, seeks out a school official to seek help for drug, alcohol, or substance related problems, then the school official is obligated to seek help with no recourse of punitive action by the school official.

2. Student Becomes Suspect:  A student becomes suspect of substance abuse when reported by other students, faculty, staff, or school administrators.  When a student becomes a suspect, a school employee will remain with the student until the individual has been turned over to the school administrator.

3. Student Apprehended:  The school administrator and the school employee work together to escort the student to the office.  (This ensures student safety and prevents the chance for the student to dispose of the substance if it is finally determined that he/she had it in the first place).

4. Student Confronted:  The student is told why he/she is suspect.  An opportunity is given to the student to respond to the charge.

5. Student Search:  A search is performed if there is reasonable suspicion (smelling alcohol or marijuana scent on a student by a staff member or observing bizarre behavior are grounds for reasonable suspicion) to believe the student is involved in illegal substance abuse on school property or at a school function and the student has denied any involvement.  A search is performed using a school administrator and one other school employee.  Girls will only be searched by female staff.  Boys will only be searched by male staff.  The search is conducted in privacy.  Students are asked to voluntarily cooperate with the search.

6. If NO Illegal Substances Are Found, the student is released with an explanation of why he/she was suspected.

7. Determination of Disciplinary Action:  The determination of discipline will include the following process:

   1. Discussion with parents, students, and law enforcement.

   2. Consider the amount of involvement--user or dealer.

   3. Consider the amount of drugs in possession.

   4. Is this the first time?

   5. Cooperation of students and parents.

   6. Is the violation a misdemeanor or felony?

8. Disciplinary Action

   1. First Offense:

9-12:  Suspension for up to 10 days, confiscation and referral to law enforcement agencies and counseling sessions.

2. Second Offense:

9-12:  Suspension for the remainder of the school year, confiscation, and turnover to local law enforcement agencies and counseling sessions.  Whether the intent is to sell, distribute, on the person, or intake is irrelevant to the school disciplinary action, the law enforcement, through their determination of intent, will be responsible for criminal charges.