advertisement

2015-2016 student handbook changes in Du Quoin schools address cell phones, social media issues, bullying, medicines

The Du Quoin Board of Education approved changes to student handbooks throughout the district which will address cell phones and electronic devices, how students use social media and growing concerns across the nation about bullying.

District 300 has provided a newspaper with the approved changes. Some items are edited for the sake of space. The changes are listed by school in some cases refer to the page number in the handbook.

Du Quoin Elementary School

P. 4 Prohibited Items - Students are not allowed to bring electronic devices, toys, cards, or recreation equipment to school. The school supplies equipment for physical education and outdoor recreation. This rule prevents students from distraction on academic performance and potential damage to personal items. The school is not liable for items brought to school that become lost, stolen or damaged.

P. 5 Cell Phones - Students should not bring cell phones to school. In the unique cases when the student needs to have the cell phone upon dismissal, the phone must be turned off and remain out of sight in the backpack or other belonging during the instructional day. Phones that disrupts instruction will be turned off by the student and turned into the office. Parents will be informed of the disruption and may claim the device from the office. Violations of this rule may result in consequences. The school and employees are not liable for cell phones brought to school that become lost, stolen or damaged.

P. 9 Emergency School Closing - At times during the school year, it may become necessary to dismiss school. Communication to parents in these situations will occur through a variety of notification systems, including but not limited to, School Messenger, DES Twitter and the school website, Parents should provide updated contact information to the school to maintain consistent and timely communication concerning closing and all school activities. Additionally school closings will be announced on WDQN at 1580 AM and WSIL TV Channel 3.

2015-2016 Du Quoin Middle School

Access to Student Social Networking Passwords & Websites - School authorities may require a student or his or her parent or guardian to provide a password or other related account information in order to gain access to the student's account or profile on a social networking website if school authorities have reasonable cause to believe that a student's account on a social networking website contains evidence that a student has violated a school disciplinary rule or procedure.

Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment - Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment are important school goals.

Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, military status, unfavorable discharge status from the military service, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, order of protection status, status of being homeless, or actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy, association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in each of the following situations:

1. During any school-sponsored education program or activity.

2. While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities,

3. Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment.

4. Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a non-school related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the school district or school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of a school.

Bullying includes cyber-bullying (bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication) and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student's or students' person or property;

2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student's or students' physical or mental health;

3. Substantially interfering with the student's or students' academic performance; or

4. Substantially interfering with the student's or students' ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

Examples of prohibited conduct include name-calling, using derogatory slurs, stalking, sexual violence, causing psychological harm, threatening or causing physical harm, threatened or actual destruction of property, or wearing or possessing items depicting or implying hatred or prejudice of one of the characteristics stated above.

Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying. A report may be made orally or in writing to the district complaint manager or any staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking. Anyone, including staff members and parents/guardians, who has information about actual or threatened bullying is encouraged to report it to the district complaint manager or any staff member. Anonymous reports are also accepted by phone call or in writing.

A reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying is prohibited, A student's act of reprisal or retaliation will be treated as bullying for purposes of determining any consequences or other appropriate remedial actions.

A student will not be punished for reporting bullying or supplying information, even if the school's investigation concludes that no bullying occurred. However, knowingly making a false accusation or providing knowingly false information will be treated as bullying for purposes of determining any consequences or other appropriate remedial actions.

2015-2016 Du Quoin High Student/Parent Handbook Policies Changes

Under existing regulations for attending school sponsored dances, add a clause allowing for an exception to the required 90% attendance rate based upon extended and documented medical excuse.

Also state the time periods for the attendance rate and grade check for dance eligibility as follows: Homecoming - mid-term 1st quarter. Sweetheart - mid-term 1st quarter. Prom- mid-term 3rd quarter.

Clarify policy for student changes at the end of the first semester to clearly state that only semester length classes may be changed at the end of the first semester or first week of second semester with parent approval. (Any changes to year-long classes at the end of the 1st semester must be approved by administration.)

Add clause stating that the valedictorian and salutatorian are determined based upon seven completed semesters of course work and must complete the Honors Curriculum for Du Quoin High School- (Students may be disqualified for gross disobedience/ misconduct and/or gross academic failure/neglect).

Amend the academic eligibility requirement for athletic/extra-curricular participation in the following way: Students must pass 6 of 7 classes for the previous semester in order to be eligible for participation in the current semester. (Current IHSA requirement is to pass 5 of 7.)

The committee also discussed the current practices for the random drug testing of students and recommends the following changes to the Random Drug Testing Policy for DHS:

Change the testing method from a urine sample to a saliva test. The saliva test would allow for preliminary testing to occur on site and administered by a school nurse. The saliva test is faster to administer and yields a quick (5-10 minute) preliminary result. Only preliminary positive results would require tab testing thereby creating the additional benefit of reducing cost.

Expand the testing pool to include students who attend school sponsored dances. This practice is not uncommon for schools that randomly test their athletes and extra-curricular participants. There Is a demonstrated need for such testing as drug/alcohol/tobacco related offenses have gone from 5 in 2012-2013/ 7 in 2013-2014, to 11 in 2014-2015. Of the 23 total offenses, 12 involved students involved In athletics or extra-curricular activities. In addition, students have indicated their concerns over classmates being under the influence of drugs while at school sponsored dances. The Illinois Youth Survey, administered to 10th and 12th grade students last year, indicated that 46% of sophomores and 65% of seniors used an illegal substance (including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana) in the previous year.

Athletic Discipline

Any violations of the rules and regulations below shall result in partial or total suspension from participation in a particular sport, all athletics and/or extracurricular activity, including school sponsored dances:

1. Stealing any money, equipment or any other article.

2. The verbal assault on any faculty member.

3. The physical assault on any faculty member or fellow team member/participant.

4. The commission of unexcused absences from either practices or competition.

5. The commission of an offense which is a violation of the rules of the Illinois High School Association.

6. The violations of any rule or rules adopted by Du Quoin High School and outside the scope of this athletic code.

7. Any other conduct not previously enumerated which is, or may be, detrimental to the performance of the team or the reputation of the school.

Student Medication

Taking medication during school hours or during school-related activities is prohibited unless it is necessary for a student's health and well-being. When a student's licensed health care provider and parent/guardian believe that it is necessary for the student to take a medication during school hours or school-related activities, the parent/guardian must request that the school dispense the medication to the child by completing a "School Medication Authorization Form."

No school or district employee is allowed to administer to any student, or supervise a student's self-administration of, any prescription or non-prescription medication until a completed and signed School Medication Authorization Form is submitted by the student's parent/guardian. No student is allowed to possess or consume any prescription or non-prescription medication on school grounds or at a school-related function other than as provided for in this procedure.

A student may possess an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen¨) and/or an asthma inhaler prescribed for use at the student's discretion, provided the student's parent/guardian has completed and signed a School Medication Authorization Form. The school and district shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct as a result of any injury arising from a student's self-administration of medication or epinephrine auto-injector or the storage of any medication by school personnel. A student's parent/guardian must agree to indemnify and hold harmless the school district and its employees and agents, against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of a student's self-administration of an epinephrine auto-injector and/or asthma inhaler, or the storage of any medication by school personnel.