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SUMTER SCHOOL DISTRICT
2012-2013

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CODE OF CONDUCT FOR
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
It is the opinion of the board that acceptable student behavior,
including the following criteria, is to be expected from all students.
Respect to peers, faculty and staff exhibited through
actions and speech
Pride in personal and school property exhibited by taking
care of the physical building and respecting the property
rights of others
Desire and effort toward educational achievement are to
be priorities as exhibited by following teacher/staff
direction; reporting to class promptly and consistently;
and being prepared to work without interfering with
instruction
Obedience to all laws, discipline code, rules and
community norms

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The board believes that all students should receive fair
and consistent discipline when school rules are violated.
Therefore, this definitive code on student discipline was
developed with the assistance of parents/legal guardians,
students and administrators from Sumter School District.

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Category I Offenses
Aggravated assault
Alcohol/liquor law violation
Arson
Bomb threat
Bribery
Burglary
Computer violation
Contraband
Contract violation
Disturbing school
Drug distribution
Drug possession
Drug violation
Embezzlement
Extortion
Fire alarm
Fireworks
Forced sexual offense
Fraud
Gang activity
Harassment
Homicide
Indecent exposure
Intimidation
Kidnap/abduction
Non-forcible sexual offense
Other offense

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Category I Offenses
Pornography
Probation violation
Prostitution
Robbery
Sexual harassment
Simple assault
Threat
Vehicle theft
Weapons
Category I Actions –
Grades Pre-K - 12
Referral to the hearing officer
Suspension until the hearing before the
hearing officer (which is usually
scheduled within 10 school days and no
more than 5 school days after
parent/legal guardian notification
See administrative actions addendum
Students with identified disabilities—
notify school psychologist; see
discipline for students with identified
disabilities addendum

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Category II Offenses
Bite/pinch/spit
Bullying*
Computer violation
Contraband
Cyberbullying*
Driving violation
Fighting*
Fireworks
Forgery
Gang activity*
Hit/kick/push
Inappropriate physical contact
Larceny/theft
Leaving school
Loitering
Obscene gesture
Other offenses
Possession, sale, distribution
or electronic transmissions of
obscene writings, drawings,
photographs or videos—all
media (e.g. CD/DVD, cell
phones or external USB drives)
Profanity
Property misuse
Refusal to obey
Simple assault*
Stolen property
Threat
Vandalism

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Category II Actions
Grades Pre-K - 12
1st offense: 1-5 class days out-of-school suspension and an
intervention agreement
2nd offense: 3 - 5 class days out-of-school suspension
3rd offense: 5 - 7 class days out-of-school suspension
4th offense: recommendation for expulsion
The following aggressive offenses: *Bullying, Cyberbullying,
Fighting, Gang Activity and Simple Assault and any combination of
these five offenses MAY result in a Recommendation for Expulsion
with the 2nd
Offense.

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Category III Offenses
Aiding others
Bite/pinch/spit
Bus violations
Bullying
Cheating
Confrontation/altercation
Contraband
Cutting activity
Cutting class
Cutting school
Detention violation
Dishonesty
Disrupting class
Dress code
Failure to comply with
disciplinary action
Forgery
Gambling
Hit/kick/push
Horse play
ID violation
Inappropriate affection
Larceny/theft
Leaving class
Loitering
Major disruption

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Category III Offenses
Obscene gesture
Off limits
Other offense
Parking violation
Phone violation
Profanity
Refusal to obey
Running
Stolen property
Tardy
Throwing objects
Tobacco
Unauthorized device
Urination
Vandalism

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Category III Actions
Grades 6 - 12
1st
and 2nd
offenses: in-school suspension and
guidance referral
3rd
offense: 1 - 3 class days out-of-school suspension
and Intervention Agreement
4th
offense: 3 - 5 class days out-of-school suspension
5th
offense: 5 - 7 class days out-of-school suspension
6th offense: recommendation for expulsion

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Category IV Offenses Category IV Actions
Bus violation
Detention violation
Excessive noise
Failure to complete school work
Inappropriate affection
Inappropriate language
Inappropriate materials
Leaving class
Littering
No form returned
Off limits
Other offenses
Unauthorized device
Grades 6 - 12
1st
- 3rd offense :
administrative detention and
third offense guidance
referral
4th offense: in-school
suspension and Intervention
Agreement
5th offense: 1 - 5 class days
out-of-school suspension

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ADMINISTRATIVE actions - Categories I-IV
Administrator must do the following:
 give rudimentary hearing
 oral notice of charges to student
 explanation of evidence against student
 student given opportunity to tell his/her version

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ADMINISTRATIVE actions - Categories I-IV
 required notification to parent/legal guardians
 required payment of damages, if applicable
 make referral to guidance counselor or counseling program (required for Category
III and Category IV offenses)
 consider a possible referral to outside agency
 consider a possible referral to law enforcement agency
 require the student to make up class work missed while on suspension in
accordance with the district's make-up policy
 require conference with parent/legal guardian when student's behavior results in
suspension
 inform the parent/legal guardian that the hearing officer will conduct hearings in
accordance with state law and in compliance with board policies (JKE and JKE-R)
 investigate alcohol or drug related offenses; see procedures for investigation (JICH
and JICH-R); guidelines for drug/alcohol related offenses as provided by the school
intervention program

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TRANSPORTATION
The preceding student discipline code
applies to student behavior en route from
the bus stop to and from the school and
back to the bus stop on a bus or other
school vehicle.
In addition to discipline procedures
outlined in the code, principals may add
or substitute the following sanctions:
 3 class days suspension from buses
 5 class days suspension from buses
 7 class days suspension from buses
 10 class days suspension from buses
 recommendation for permanent bus
suspension.
Parent/Legal guardian notification is
required for a bus suspension.
Grades 2 - 12
1st
offense:
warning/parent/legal
guardian conference
2nd
offense: 3 class days
bus suspension
3rd
offense: 5 class days
bus suspension
4th
offense: 7 class days
bus suspension
5th
offense: 10 class days
bus suspension
6th
offense:
recommendation for
permanent bus
suspension*

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TRANSPORTATION
*At the end of the first semester, principals may
recommend strict probation if the student has been
suspended from the bus for more than 45 days. If the
student on strict probation receives one referral, the
student will receive permanent suspension from the
bus for the remainder of the school year.

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Electronic communication
devices
The board believes that the possession of electronic devices
by students during the school day may have an adverse effect
on classroom instruction. Electronic communications
devices are defined as a telecommunications device, to
include mobile telephones, that emit an audible signal,
vibrate, display a message or otherwise summons or deliver a
communication to the possessor.
Therefore, any student who is in possession of a electronic
communications device as outlined in the district’s policy
and the guidelines as noted below is subject to discipline as
provided under the district’s code of student conduct.

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GUIDELINES FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES OFFENSES
Possession of electronic communications devices including
beepers, cell phones, digital phones, and laser lights
(Category III) (Code 330)
1st Offense: School personnel will confiscate the cell
phone and immediately turn it in to an administrator to be
kept in a locked, secure place. The phone will be
returned to the parent/legal guardian (no exception)
pending a parent conference. The conference may be
held as soon as the next school day. The student will
receive a discipline referral. It will be written on the
referral and verbally told to the parent/legal guardian that
any cell phone taken a second time will be confiscated and
returned one year from the date of confiscation. The
discipline for the first offense will be temporary removal
from class and/or in-school suspension.

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GUIDELINES FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES OFFENSES
2nd Offense - School personnel will confiscate the cell
phone and immediately turn it in to an administrator to be
kept in a locked, secure place. The student will receive a
discipline referral with a written explanation on the
referral and a verbal explanation to the parent/legal
guardian reminding him/her that because it is the second
offense, the phone will be returned one year from the
date of confiscation. The phone will be kept at the
school in a secure location by the principal or assistant
principal with the student’s name and 2nd offense on a
label on the phone. Neither school nor district
personnel will be responsible if phone is lost or
damaged. The discipline for the second offense will be
temporary removal from class and/or in-school
suspension.

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GUIDELINES FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES OFFENSES
NOTE: If a student’s behavior and actions result in
a “refusal to surrender unauthorized items” to
any school administrator or staff person, a Category
II consequence will apply and be handled
accordingly. The consequence will be an out-of-
school suspension.

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Question & Answer
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