Code of Conduct Article II: Essential Partners

Article II. Essential Partners

Providing a safe and orderly school environment involves a partnership of parents and school personnel. The following are expectations of each.

A. Parents

1. Recognize that the education of their child(ren) is a joint responsibility of the parents and the school community
2. Send their children to school ready to participate and learn
3. Ensure their children attend school regularly and on time
4. Ensure their children are absent only for legal reasons
5. Insist their children be dressed and groomed in a manner consistent with the student dress code.
6. Help their children understand that in a democratic society appropriate rules are required to maintain a safe, orderly environment
7. Know school rules and help their children understand them
8. Convey to their children a supportive attitude toward education and the District
9. Build positive relationships with teachers, counselors, other parents, and their children’s friends
10. Help their children deal effectively with peer pressure
11. Inform school officials of changes in the home situation that may affect student conduct or performance
12. Provide a place for study and support teachers’ requirements to complete school assignments
13. Initiate parent/student/teacher/counselor/psychologist conferences, as necessary, as a way to resolve problems
14. Maintain ongoing and frequent communication with school personnel
    1. Contact the teacher regarding their child’s progress
    2. Contact the counselor regarding their child’s personal adjustment, future plans, and their class schedule, as appropriate
    3. Contact the administrator regarding their child’s behavior and unresolved concerns

B. Teachers

1. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex or any other legally protected status, which will strengthen each student’s self-concept and promote confidence to learn
2. Are prepared to teach
3. Demonstrate interest in teaching and concern for student achievement
4. Know school rules, and enforce them in a fair and consistent manner
5. Communicate to students and parents:
   a. Course objectives and requirements
   b. Marking/grading procedures
   c. Assignment deadlines
   d. Expectations for students
   e. Classroom discipline plan
6. Communicate regularly with students, parents, counselors, psychologists, and other teachers concerning student growth and achievement
7. Initiate parent/student/teacher/counselor/psychologist conference, as necessary, as a way to resolve a problem
8. Confront issues of bullying, discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function
9. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting
10. Report incidents of bullying, discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to a teacher’s attention in a timely manner

C. Counselors/Psychologists

1. Assist students in coping with peer pressure and emerging personal, social and emotional problems
2. Initiate teacher/student/counselor/psychologist conferences as necessary and parent/teacher/student counselor/psychologist conferences, as necessary, as a way to resolve problems
3. Review educational progress and career plans with each student
4. Report information to a school administrator which might impact a safe, orderly school environment
5. Encourage students to benefit from the curriculum and extracurricular programs
6. Participate in crisis management
7. Refer students and/or parents to appropriate human service agencies outside the school
8. Assess student social and emotional behaviors
9. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, regardless of actual or perceived race, color,weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex or any other legally protected status, which will strengthen each student’s self concept and promote confidence to learn
10. Confront issues of bullying, discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function
11. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting
12. Report incidents of bullying, discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to a counselor’s/psychologist’s attention in a timely manner

D. Principals

1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting teaching and learning
2. Ensure that students, staff, and parents have the opportunity to communicate regularly with the principal
3. Evaluate all instructional programs on a regular basis
4. Support the development of, and student participation in, appropriate extracurricular activities
5. Be responsible for enforcing the Code of Conduct and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly
6. Ensure regular communication with law enforcement agencies
7. Initiate parent/student/teacher/counselor/psychologist conferences, as necessary, as a way to resolve a problem
8. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex or any other legally protected status, which will strengthen each student’s self-concept and promote confidence to learn
9. Confront issues of bullying, discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function
10. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting
11. Report incidents of bullying, discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to a principal’s attention in a timely manner

E. Superintendent

1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting teaching and learning
2. Review the policies of the Board and state and federal laws relating to school operations and management with District administrators
3. Ensure that staff and parents have the opportunity to communicate with the superintendent
4. Work to create instructional programs that minimize problems of misconduct and are sensitive to student and teacher needs
5. Work with District administrators, when appropriate, in reinforcing the Code of Conduct to ensure that cases are resolved promptly and fairly
6. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex or any other legally protected status, which will strengthen each student’s self-concept and promote confidence to learn
7. Confront issues of bullying, discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function
8. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting
9. Report incidents of bullying, discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to the superintendent’s attention in a timely manner

F. Board of Education

1. Adopt, review at least once a year, and modify as appropriate, the Code of Conduct
2. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex or any other legally protected status, which will strengthen each student’s self-concept and promote confidence to learn
3. Confront issues of bullying, discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function
4. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting
5. Report incidents of bullying, discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to a Board member’s attention in a timely manner

G. All other School Employees (instructional and non-instructional)

1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting teaching and learning
2. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex or any other legally protected status, which will strengthen each student’s self-concept and promote confidence to learn
3. Confront issues of bullying, discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function
4. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting
5. Report incidents of bullying, discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to the superintendent’s attention in a timely manner