Code of Conduct

The following guidelines and procedures are designed to promote a safe and secure learning environment for staff and students at Bay County Public School Academy. Behavior standards that ensure a safe and secure school setting and delineates the rights and responsibilities of all members of the school community including the students, parents, trustees, employees, volunteers and visitors to the school are included in  the “Code of Conduct”.

Bay County Public School Academy stresses the joint responsibility of all school members particularly that of students, to focus on root causes of behavioral problems and devise problem solving strategies for preventing and minimizing disruptive and otherwise unacceptable conduct. In addition, the code makes clear that the school, while respecting students’ civil rights, will nonetheless maintain the highest standards with regard to conduct toward others.

Bay County Public School Academy complies with all of federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, marital status or handicap.

student rights

The rights of all students are ensured by the Constitution of the United States, the State of Michigan, and by all applicable federal, state, and local statues. These rights, including the right to an education, shall be recognized without regard to race, religion, sex, creed, ability to pay, national origin, disabling condition, or intellectual ability.

• Students have a right to a public education beginning with kindergarten and extending through the twelfth grade.
•  Students have the right to expect a safe school, expect courtesy, fairness and respect from members of the school staff and other students.
•  Students have a right to expect that other students and school personnel will respect their personal property.
•  Students have the right to participate in school activities, subject to qualification requirements and in compliance with Board of Directors’ Policies and Regulations.
•  Students have the right to respectfully express their opinion both publicly and privately, in writing and orally. Students may advocate change in any law, policy, or regulation.

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student responsibility

• Students are responsible to come to school each day prepared to learn and to try their best.
• Students are responsible for treating staff members, other students and themselves with respect and dignity.
• Students do not have the right to interfere with the learning process of others.

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Parent responsibility

• Parents are responsible for making sure your child is clean and dressed in compliance with school rules.
• Parents are responsible for sending their children to school free of communicable diseases and in good health.
• Parents are responsible for ensuring their children attend school on a regular basis and in punctual manner.
• Parents are responsible for helping their children find a quiet and proper place at home to complete homework.

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SCHOOL staff responsibility

• School staff is responsible for showing personal enthusiasm for teaching and learning and genuine concern for each student.
• School staff is responsible for acting professionally toward students, parents, school visitors, and other staff members.
• School staff is responsible for guiding learning activities so students learn to think and reason.
• School staff is responsible to provide opportunities for students to develop socially acceptable skills, attitudes, and behaviors.
• School staff are responsible for providing meaningful schoolwork for students with the expectation that all students can and will be successful.
• School staff is responsible for regularly informing parents of their student’s achievement and behavior and consult with parents whenever necessary.

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CAO/Principal responsibility

• The CAO is responsible for creating the best teaching and learning environment possible for all students.
• The CAO is responsible for creating a safe and caring school environment for everyone.
• The CAO is responsible for establishing rules and regulations for the orderly operation of Bay County Public School Academy.
• The CAO is responsible for maintaining effective communication between school and home and between staff and administration.
• The CAO is responsible for encouraging the recognition of student accomplishments.
• The CAO is responsible for being fair, courteous, firm and consistent in all decisions affecting students, parents, and staff members.
• The CAO is responsible for demonstrating by word and personal example respect for law, self-discipline, and genuine concern for all persons.
• The CAO is responsible for providing leadership by creating a school culture where shared decision making can flourish and where student achievement is maximized.

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Board of directors responsibility

• The Board of Directors is responsible for providing support to school staff and others charged with the responsibility for managing the school.
• The Board of Directors is responsible for maintaining fiscal responsibility related to the school and its operation.
• The Board of Directors is responsible for providing a clear vision for the school.
• The Board of Directors is responsible for becoming acquainted with the school, staff, and students by visiting buildings regularly and attending school activities, board meetings and other events.
• The Board of Directors is responsible for promoting and supporting shared decision making and conflict resolution.
• The Board of Directors is responsible for being fair, courteous, and consistent in making decisions regarding student and staff issues brought before the Board.

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Gross Misconduct

There are certain behaviors that are considered as gross misconduct and are subject to immediate consequences. Consequences will depend on age and frequency of student behavior. The discipline procedures may be bypassed in cases of severe misconduct. The following misbehaviors will result in an immediate referral to the CAO and may result in an immediate suspension from school.

• Insubordinate and disobedient behaviors towards a staff member
• Substance abuse of any kind
• Dangerous and abusive behavior such as fighting, bullying, threats, weapons possession, harassment, fleeing school grounds, loitering.
• Abusive and profane language
• Illegal behaviors such as stealing, arson, gambling, distribution and possession of illegal substances, possession of explosives, forgery, extortion and property damage

As required by State Law, the following incidents that occur on school property must be reported to authorities:

• Armed student or hostage
• Suspected armed student
• Weapons on school property
• Death or homicide
• Drive-by shooting
• Physical assault
• Bomb threat
• Arson
• Sexual assault
• Unauthorized removal of student
• Threat of suicide
• Larceny
• Intruders
• Illegal drug use or overdose
• Drug possession or drug sale
• Vandalism or destruction of property
• Minor in possession of alcoholic liquor or tobacco products.

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Discipline

Discipline is the positive direction of behavior toward established standards of conduct, fully understood and based upon reason, judgment, and consideration of the rights of others. Discipline is from the Latin word “to teach”, thus all discipline is considered a teaching moment. Ideal discipline is self-directed and self-controlled. Schools, community, and parents share the responsibility for helping students develop self-discipline. The following steps will be considered when disciplining a student. Within each step, students may be taught problem solving strategies such as conflict resolution, communication skills and anger management.

• Step One-Teacher redirects behavior
• Step Two-Intervention strategies implemented
• Step Three-Student writes Behavior Contract
• Step Four-If contract is broken, a referral to school principal or assistant principal.

Parent must meet with CAO before a student can return after a suspension. In cases of a suspension, parents will be notified in writing. The steps outlined above are to be utilized on a developmental basis and may vary from grade to grade.  For example, a kindergarten and first grade student are at a different developmental stage in learning behavior then perhaps a fourth or fifth grade student. Consequences for misconduct will be cumulative for one year at the elementary level.

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Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment is illegal. Bay County Academy will use the following discipline techniques to modify and correct inappropriate behavior:

• Individual counseling
• Conflict resolution and problem solving skill classes
• Behavioral contracts
• Parent consultations
• Student assistant teams
• Student service activities
• Time Outs
• After school and lunch hour detentions
• In-school suspensions
• Out of school suspensions
• Expulsions

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Definition of Discipline terms

All the above disciplines are based upon due process procedures that must be followed with respect to student rights.

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Appeal Procedures

Should a parent disagree with disciplinary action of the school other than out-of-school suspensions or expulsions, the parent may appeal as follows:

• Appeals should be made to the CAO by arranging an appointment or by writing the CAO.
• If the parent is dissatisfied with the results of the appeal to the CAO, the parent may appeal to the designee of the Board of Directors. Appeals must be filed in writing, within three school days of receipt by the parent of the CAO’s notice of disciplinary action.

Should the parent disagree with a suspension of ten days or fewer, the parent may appeal the decision of the CAO as follows:

• Appeal must be made in writing by the parent to the designee of the Board of Directors. Such written request must be filed with the CAO within three school days of the notice of suspension, or the right to review and appeal is waived.
• If the parent is dissatisfied with the designee’s decision, he or she may appeal the decision to the Board of Directors by filing a written request of appeal within five school days or the right to further appeal is waived.
• In cases of immediate appeal, if the CAO determines that the student’s presence at school does not create a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disruption, the student may be allowed to continue in school on a regular basis until the appeal is considered.

Following a hearing, should the parent disagree with the Board of Directors’ designee’s decision to suspend a student for more than ten school days, the parent may appeal the decision to the Board of Directors as follows:

• Appeal request must be made in writing to the CAO. Such request must be filed with the CAO within five calendar days of the suspension decision, or the right to appeal is waived.
• If the parent is dissatisfied with a decision of the Board designee, he or she may appeal the decision to the CAO within five calendar days of the designee’s decision or receipt of the decision by the parent of a student or the right to further appeal is forfeited.

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School Jurisdiction

School jurisdiction includes on the school grounds, during, before and after school
hours, on school grounds as either a spectator or a participant at any other time when
school is being used and off school grounds at any school-related activity, function or
event as a participant or a spectator and any misconduct toward any school employee or Board of Director’s member.

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