Board Policies5000 Students
| The Board believes that all students have the right to a public education in a safe and positive environment that fosters the maximum opportunity for learning. An effective school discipline and safety program is necessary to ensure a learning environment free of disruptions. The Board shall adopt, and the Superintendent shall implement and maintain, an effective school discipline and safety program. The discipline and safety program should reflect community standards of school behavior and safety that are developed with the collaboration of students, parents, guardians, community members, teachers, school administrators, and the site council in each school. Not less than once every three years, the District's discipline and safety program shall be reviewed and revised if appropriate. The review process shall make available the opportunity for collaborative input by students, parents, guardians, community members, staff, and the site council in each school. Policies reflecting standards of student behavior, including those identifying prohibited student conduct and penalties, should be reviewed to determine consistency with community standards, including the basic requirements for respect and honesty. The Board desires to give all administrators, teachers, and other employees the authority they need to implement and enforce the discipline and safety program. Personnel should adhere to lines of primary responsibility so that appropriate decision-making may take place at various levels in accordance with Board policy and administrative regulations. In fulfilling duties and responsibilities in student discipline and safety, all employees shall comply with Board policies, administrative regulations, and local, state, and federal laws. Employees will not be formally disciplined for enforcement of student discipline and safety rules so long as the enforcement is reasonable, lawful, and in compliance with Board policies and administrative regulations. The seriousness of some issues may require the interviewing of students without prior parental permission. The Board further desires to give all students the opportunity to learn in an environment in which they feel safe. Should any school be identified as persistently dangerous under state law, students attending that school will be provided the opportunity to transfer to the parent's choice of one of two or more safe schools within the District. Informed parental choice will be facilitated by timely notice of the meaning of the persistently dangerous designation and the intervention steps the District plans to utilize to make the school safe. Additionally, any student who is the victim of the violent criminal offense that occurred on the grounds of the student's school will be provided the opportunity to transfer, consistent with state law. Legal Reference: UNITED STATES CODE ALASKA STATUTES ALASKA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE |