503.4 (KCSD 550) Good Conduct Policy

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

Participation in school activities is a privilege.  School activities promote additional interests and advance abilities in the students during their school years and for a lifetime.

Students who participate in extracurricular/co-curricular activities serve as ambassadors of the school district throughout the calendar year, whether away from school or at school.  Students who wish to have the privilege of participating in extracurricular and co-curricular activities must conduct themselves in accordance with board policy.

The extra-curricular, co-curricular, school sponsored activities, elected and honorary positions are part of the total educational program which provide youth with unique opportunities to develop desirable qualities such as: principles of justice, fair play, good sportsmanship, respect for rules and authority, respect for others, respect for one's own health and physical well-being, development of leadership, group pride, teamwork, self-discipline, and values of self-sacrifice.  This school district recognizes that rules and regulations concerning the decorum and conduct of the student body will vary with the times and mores of the community. It is the policy of this school district that participation in any extracurricular or co-curricular activity is a privilege. Therefore, certain kinds of conduct shall be deemed inappropriate to the generally accepted standards acceptable to the school district.

All extracurricular and co-curricular activities are covered under Board Policy 550, including but not limited to:  athletics, cheerleading, drill team, instrumental and vocal music performances*, drama productions, speech contests, FCCLA, National Honor Society, Trapshooting, Camera Club, all co-curricular clubs (e.g. Art Club, Science Club), all honorary and elected offices (e.g. Homecoming Court members**, class officer, student government officer or representative), state contests and performances for cheerleading and drill team, or any other activity where the student represents the school district outside the classroom.

*If the student is required to perform as part of a grade (e.g. band or chorus), and that student violates the Code of Conduct, the student may either be allowed to participate or withheld from participation but without any impact on the student's grade for the course.

**To be eligible to be part of any honorary or elected office (Homecoming Court, class officer, student government officer, club officer) a student cannot be serving a Code of Conduct (550) suspension at the time of the election.  A student that is determined to have violated the Code of Conduct (550) after being selected as a member of the Homecoming Court will be removed immediately.

In view of the above statement, coaches or sponsor as employees of the Knoxville Community School District will enforce the following policies and procedures relative to standards for participation in extracurricular and co-curricular activities through the calendar year both in and out of school.

DETERMINATION OF VIOLATION

A student violates this policy (550) when the student is:

  1. Found to have committed a public offense by a court of law, or
  2. Formally charged with a criminal offense or ticketed by law enforcement (excluding minor traffic violations),
  3. Admits to violating one of the standards described in this policy, or
  4. Observed by the coach, sponsor, or law enforcement personnel, engaging in a violation, or
  5. When the administration receives credible information to support a determination that the student violated the Code of Conduct

 

STANDARDS AND SANCTIONS—ATHLETICS

ARTICLE I

Athletes or team personnel (managers, statisticians, video personnel as examples) who are found guilty of use, possession, or purchase of any controlled substance, drugs, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, e-cigarettes, vapor products and look-alikes will be  subject to a Good Conduct violation; "use" includes having the odor of alcohol or tobacco on one's breath.  

Athletes or team personnel that engage in any act that would be grounds for arrest or citation in the criminal or juvenile court system, excluding minor traffic offenses, regardless of whether the student was cited, arrested, convicted, or adjudicated for the act(s) will be subject to a Good Conduct violation.  

Athletes or team personnel that are suspended (in or out) from school for a total of five or more days total during the school year will be subject to a Good Conduct violation.  Any additional incidents in a school year that results in a suspension (in or out) will be considered another violation of this Good Conduct policy. If in subsequent school years, a student again accumulates five days of suspension, the sanction will move to the next level.

*NOTE: Each act may be considered a separate violation even if a series of acts occur on a single occasion.  All aggravating and mitigating circumstances will be considered when making a determination.

A.    Upon the establishment of guilt, first offense of any of the above during their middle school/high school career, the student shall be suspended for 33% of the contests in his or her sport or activity.

B.    Upon a second offense during their middle school/high school career, a student shall be suspended for 66% of the contests in his or her sport or activity.

C.    Upon a third offense during their middle school/high school career, the student shall be suspended from all sports/activities for one calendar year.  

D.    Upon a fourth offense during their middle school/high school career, the student will be suspended from participating in athletics/activities for the rest of his/her middle school/high school career. A student may petition the activities director and/or the principal for reinstatement after serving a minimum of one calendar year of ineligibility.  If reinstatement is considered, the student will have to complete all stipulations before a final decision is reached.

In the event a student regains their eligibility for softball or baseball, that student may begin playing in contests immediately and will not need to wait until the end of all spring state tournaments. 

 

ARTICLE II

This policy is not to be construed as the only policy governing those involved in athletics.  The individual coach may have rules and regulations over and above these and may enforce them.  Also, students involved in both athletics and co-curricular activities (including elected and honorary offices) will have sanctions enforced in both areas with each violation.  When students are participating in multiple sports at the same time, the percentages of ineligibility for the 1st and 2nd offenses will be applied to each sport they are participating in.  

NOTE:  When a student athlete participates at more than one level of competition in a sport (e.g. junior varsity and varsity) the period of ineligibility is measured against the higher level of competition at which the student athlete participates.  The period of ineligibility will be served at that level of competition and will include all other games/meets in the interim at any level of competition. If the higher level of competition plays an abbreviated schedule (e.g. sometimes only a few games may be scheduled at the junior varsity level in a sport which generally schedules several more games) the period of ineligibility will be measured against the full schedule of the lower level competition.

 

STANDARDS AND SANCTIONS—STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN CO-CURRICULAR (NON ATHLETIC EXTRACURRICULAR) ACTIVITIES

ARTICLE I

Students who are found guilty of use, possession, or purchase of any controlled substance, drugs, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, e-cigarettes, vapor products and look-alikes will be subject to a Good Conduct violation; "use" may be established by having the odor of alcohol or tobacco on one's breath.

Students that engage in any act that would be grounds for arrest or citation in the criminal or juvenile court system, excluding minor traffic offenses, regardless of whether the student was cited, arrested, convicted, or adjudicated for the act(s) will be subject to a Good Conduct violation. 

A student that is suspended (in or out) from school for a total of five or more days during the school year will be subject to a Good Conduct violation.  Any additional incidents in a school year that results in a suspension (in or out) will be considered another violation of this Good Conduct policy. If in subsequent school years, a student again accumulates five days of suspension, the sanction will move to the next level.

Each act may be considered a separate violation even if a series of acts occur on a single occasion.  All aggravating and mitigating circumstances will be considered when making a determination.

A.    Upon the establishment of a violation, first offense of any of the above during their middle school/high school career, the student will have a period of three weeks of nonparticipation when the organization is active and include at least one performance.  The instructor/sponsor will decide if the student is to attend practice.

B.    Upon a second offense during their middle school/high school career, the student will have a period of nine weeks of nonparticipation when the organization is active and include at least two performances.  The instructor/sponsor will decide if the student is to attend practice.

C.    Upon a third offense during their middle school/high school career, the student will have a period of one calendar year of nonparticipation when the organization is active.  The instructor/sponsor will decide if the student is to attend practice.

D.  Upon a fourth offense during their middle school/high school career, the student will be suspended from participating in athletics/activities for the rest of his/her middle school/high school career. A student may petition the activities director and/or the principal for reinstatement after serving a minimum of one calendar year of ineligibility.  If reinstatement is considered, the student will have to complete all stipulations before a final decision is reached.

 

ARTICLE II

This policy is not to be construed as the only policy governing those involved in athletics or co-curricular activities.  The individual sponsor or coach may have rules and regulations over and above these and may enforce them. Also, students involved in both athletics and co-curricular activities (including elected and honorary offices) will have sanctions enforced in both areas with each violation.

 

PERIOD OF SUSPENSION--ATHLETICS

Suspension shall begin immediately if the activity is in season.  If the period of suspension is longer than the remaining season, it will carry on to the next season or the next activity in which the student participates.  The amount of remaining ineligibility will be based on the percentage of ineligibility completed during the current season. Periods of ineligibility will carry to the post season tournament series if the period of ineligibility has not been completed.  The student will be eligible again when the required number of playing dates has been satisfied.

If the violation occurs prior to the season, the suspension will begin on the first day of scheduled contests for his/her next immediate season.  Students must continue to practice during the period of suspension, but may not dress for games. Scrimmage dates against other schools will not count for ineligibility.  Students cannot participate in scrimmages against other schools, but scrimmage dates do not count towards ineligibility.  

The period of suspension will be determined on the basis of the number of regular season playing dates.  The number of playing dates will be divided by the length of the suspension and a date of eligibility will be established.  The term contest used in this Code will be interpreted as playing dates. Students that are serving ineligibility for the state’s No Pass-No Play academic rule and also have Good Conduct ineligibility will serve those punishments consecutively, not concurrently.  

*NOTE: Any athlete regaining his/her eligibility in a sport must complete the full season in that sport unless he or she is unable to do so because of an injury.  The student must finish the season in ‘good-standing’ with their coach for the ineligibility to fully go away.  

 

APPEALS PROCESS

Any student who is found by the Activities Director to have violated the Good Conduct Rule (550) may appeal to the Principal.  Written contact with the Principal asking for appeal must be within three (3) school days of the Activities Director’s decision.  A student may seek further review of the Principal decision by the school board by filing a written appeal with the board secretary within three (3) school days following the Principal’s decision or by 4:00 PM on the Friday before the next regularly scheduled board meeting, whichever is sooner.  The board will hear the appeal no later than the next regularly scheduled board meeting.  

*NOTE:  A student is still required to submit a written appeal request by 4:00 PM on the Friday before the next regularly scheduled board meeting even if the Principal’s decision is made on Thursday or Friday.  

The review by the board will be in closed session unless the student’s parent (or the student, if the student is eighteen or older ) requests an open session.  The grounds for review by the school board are limited to the following: the student did not violate the Good Conduct Rule (550) or the penalty is in violation of the Handbook Rule or Board Policy.  

The student shall be suspended from activities while his/her case is pending.

*NOTE: If the Principal is part of the initial ruling/determination that a Good Conduct violation occurred - the appeal should go to the Principal’s direct supervisor.  

OTHER PROVISIONS

EVALUATION AND TREATMENT

A student who has a second violation of the alcohol, drug or tobacco provision of the Code of Conduct Policy - if the 1st violation was also for violating the alcohol, drug or tobacco provision of the Code of Conduct Policy -  may elect to seek an evaluation and, if recommended, treatment from a recognized substance abuse care provider. All evaluations and treatments will be at the student's parent/guardian expense.  If the student seeks the evaluation and agrees to waive confidentiality to allow the care provider to report back to the superintendent or designee regarding recommendations for treatment or follow-up care, the student's athletic suspension for the second violation may be reduced from 66% of a season to one-third (33%)of a season.  This reduction is not available for first or third, or subsequent violations. The student's co-curricular suspension for the second violation may be reduced from nine weeks and at least two performances to five weeks and at least one performance.

 

ADMISSION PRIOR TO INVESTIGATION (SELF-REPORT)

If a student comes forward to a coach, administrator, or activity sponsor of Knoxville Community School District to admit (self-report) within 72 hours of violating the Code of Conduct and the admission is prior to being questioned by the administration, or prior to any other report being made to the administration regarding the alleged conduct, (the student’s athletic suspension may be reduced up to one half of the original penalty for a first offense).  

 

BEHAVIOR AGREEMENT FOR 3RD VIOLATION OFFENDERS

A student who has committed a 3rd violation of this Good Conduct policy may seek to reduce the penalty by entering into a Behavior Agreement.  The Agreement shall be in writing and shall include, but not be

limited to, an oral apology for the student's behavior to affected parties, restitution

where appropriate, and a presentation before students in the elementary and/or

middle schools regarding the inappropriateness of the student's behavior. Presentation materials must be approved by all administrative parties in advance of the presentation.  The degree of reduction of the penalty in such situations shall rest with the administrator, but in no event shall the reduction exceed one-third (4 months) of the penalty.

 

TRANSFER STUDENTS

If a student transfers in from another Iowa school or school district and the student has not yet completed a period of ineligibility for a violation of the Code of Conduct in the previous school or school district, the student will be subject to the Knoxville Community School District Code of Conduct and its consequences and will be penalized based on the length of suspension already served in his/her previous district.

 

SCHOOL CONSEQUENCES

If a student commits a violation of the Code of Conduct while on school grounds or at a school event or activity off school grounds, that student may receive school consequences (e.g. detention, suspension) as outlined in the Behavior Expectations section of the student handbook in addition to the sanctions described in this policy.

In the event that a situation occurs which is not specifically covered in this code, the Principal or the designee will provide a ruling based upon the intentions of the code.  

If a student engages in conduct that would be considered a felony under the criminal code, the student may be suspended indefinitely from any extracurricular or co-curricular activities.

If a student commits a violation of the Code of Conduct policy while at a school dance, they will be subject to a Good Conduct violation and they will also have a 1 year ban on attending school dances.  

KNOXVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL/KNOXVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

This policy applies to both Knoxville Middle School and Knoxville High School activities.  Once a student’s 8th grade year is done, their Good Conduct record resets and they start their high school career with a clean slate.  Students that just completed 8th grade are considered high school students for Good Conduct policy tracking purposes the minute their 8th grade school year ends.  Eighth grade students that are participating in high school baseball or softball are considered high school students when those seasons begin.

 

 

Approved:   7/15/2019                             Reviewed:                     Revised: