Behavioral Policy

School Behavior Code

Student behavior must take into account the rights of others as well as the effective operation of the school.

Many school behavioral problems can be eliminated by effectively intervening before punishment becomes necessary. WRCC staff makes a concerted effort to discuss problem areas with students before these problems interfere with school performance. Students may at any time seek to make an appointment with guidance and/or other support staff to talk out problems.

Academic Honesty

We expect all students to be honest in their conduct in classes, in shops, and in the completion and the presentation of their work product. Academic dishonesty in academic work includes, but is not limited to:

Plagiarism, defined as the presentation of the writings, ideas, or thoughts of another person as one's own work in the preparation of a paper, laboratory report, examination, oral presentation, or other document; assigned or unassigned. It may include using another student's disk in the completion of an assignment.

Plagiarism: A student who knowingly plagiarizes is subject to the following sanctions.

Dishonest Conduct or Cheating: A student who knowingly cheats shall be subject to the following sanctions:

First Offense: The work in question receives a 0, the student's parents are informed, a report is placed in the student's file to be destroyed in a year if there are no further incidents, and the student is required to read and study the plagiarism policy and demonstrate they know its content and meaning.

Second Offense: Same as above, plus, parents; student, teacher, Guidance Coordinator, and Director meet to discuss the offense. If parents do not attend the meeting, the grade for the marking period is withheld, and becomes a failing grade two weeks after the end of the marking period.

Third Offense: Parents are informed and student receives a failing grade for the course.

Explanation of Disciplinary Consequences

The formal Behavioral Policy at WRCC consists of teacher detainment or prescribed penalty, office detention, discipline letters, internal or external suspension and expulsion. Students at WRCC may also be assigned to internal after-school suspension and/or Saturday detention at their home school. Notwithstanding the following, the WRCC shall comply with all federal and state mandates regarding suspension and expulsion of students with disabilities or with special education needs. Where school procedures, as outlined below, vary from state and federal laws and regulations concerning students with disabilities or special education needs, federal and state laws shall prevail. The BUHS and WRCC administration works hand in hand to maintain a safe and productive educational environment for all students and staff.

A teacher detainment is warranted for minor student misbehavior which takes place within the confines of the shop or classroom setting and which disrupts the supervised learning environment. Teacher detainment consists of student detainment, loss of break privilege, loss of classroom privilege or other prescribed teacher monitored penalty employed to avoid office detention consequences. The teacher detainment concept is strongly advocated within career and technical schools. It encourages a productive, cooperative and responsible working relationship between instructional supervisor (employer) and student trainee (employee).

An office detention is the keeping of a student during school or after school hours for an infraction of school rules. Records of such detentions will be filed in the student's temporary record file. Failure to report for detention will result in internal suspension.

A discipline letter is a written communication to a student's parent/ guardian informing them of the student's misbehavior.

An in-school suspension (ISS) is a temporary severing of a student from school activities after a hearing. An in-school suspension will involve assignment to a designated area for remedial activity. The student may have the option to meet with his/her guidance counselor during this period of suspension. The measure will be used when appropriate and at the discretion of the school administration. Home school after-school suspension as well as Saturday detention hours can be issued in lieu of in school suspension at WRCC and BUHS.

An outside-school suspension (OSS) is a temporary loss of a student's membership in the school community after a hearing. Students will be notified of the reasons for the suspension and will have the opportunity to be heard. A temporary severing of a student's membership from the school community denies the student permission to be on school grounds or to participate in school sponsored activities during the time of the suspension.
In most cases, external suspension from WRCC is reciprocal with the home high school and all rules and regulations will apply. Students that have served more than 9 days of OSS from WRCC and/or their home high school are required to attend a WRCC re-admittance conference with the WRCC Administration prior to their WRCC class.

Removal from WRCC program. A denial of re-admittance is a severing of the student's membership from WRCC upon recommendation of the Director/Assistant Director. In all cases, students removed from a WRCC program return to the jurisdiction of their local school system.

Specific Offenses and Consequences

Certain behaviors are prohibited for students. The behaviors, as well as their consequences are outlined as follows:

• Students who threaten or intimidate any student for the purpose or intent of obtaining money or other items of value will provide restitution and will be suspended and may be expelled.
  
  
• Students who use or are in possession of any of the following, including but not limited to fire crackers, stink bombs, guns, gunpowder, weapons, smoke bombs or the like will be suspended and may be expelled.
  
  
• Infractions of the policy on possession of knives will result in confiscation of knife and outside school suspension. Students may be removed from their program and referred to their home school for further disciplinary action for carrying knives to school.
  
  
• Students who verbally or physically assault a staff member will be externally suspended for up to five (5) and/or may be recommended for removal from the program.
  
  
• Students who do not follow the tobacco use/no smoking rules will be penalized according to the "Prohibition Against Smoking" section in this handbook.
  
  
• Students involved in repeated harassment activity of others will be suspended for up to 5 days or removed from the program depending on the seriousness of the harassment.
  
  
• The fire alarm boxes located in and around the school serve an important and serious function. Any intentional misuse or other act that results in a false alarm will result in a three (3) day external suspension of the offending student. In addition, a fine may be assessed when the name of the offender is forwarded to the responding fire department. The availability of these services is crucial to insure the safety of our students and staff, and its misuse encumbers the system to the detriment of others in need.
  
  
• Students, who destroy, vandalize, steal, or deface WRCC or other student's property will be responsible for restitution and will be suspended from school. The length of the suspension will be determined by the seriousness of the act and the police maybe notified.
  
  
• Students who fight or otherwise willfully (as judged by school authorities via hearing), cause injury to others will be suspended. School authorities will set the length of the suspension after viewing all the pertinent facts. Factors to be considered include but are not limited to: degree of injury inflicted to other parties, behavior that led to the fight, cooperation with supervising personnel and self-defense factor.
  
  
• Students who engage in a riot, disorderly conduct involving three or more persons that results in or threatens to cause an injury or damage to school or other persons, or which materially and substantially disrupts any school activity) will be suspended.
  
  
• Students who seriously disrupt the educational program will be suspended.
  
  
• Students who use vulgarity or profanity (non-threatening) towards staff members will be suspended.
  
  
• Students who use obscene gestures will be suspended.
  
  
• The incitement of classroom disturbances, including but not limited to constant tardiness, public display of affection, and other acts distracting from the learning situation which cannot be handled in individual classes, may result in a student's being referred to the Director/Assistant Director for suspension consequences.
  
  
• Pornographic material will be confiscated and the parents notified. Any student accessing pornographic Internet sites will be suspended. Students distributing pornographic materials will receive suspension. In the case of other materials that detract from the educational process, the student will be asked to remove the materials from the classroom to his/her locker. A parent or guardian at their request can retrieve materials that are confiscated.
  
  
• Students who call in representing themselves as someone else (i.e. their parents, someone else's parents, etc.) will receive a suspension. Students who forge notes or other information will suffer suspension consequences. Any student who refuses to identify or misrepresents himself/herself to staff will be suspended.
  
  
• Skateboards, roller blades and the like are prohibited at WRCC. First offense will result in confiscation for the day and subsequent offenses will result in confiscation and suspension.
  
  
• Students who bring pets/ animals including but not limited to mice, lab rats, hamsters, birds, frogs, and snakes of any kind will be suspended. Instructors may occasionally request (in advance) exceptions to this rule for instructional purposes.
  
  
• Students who gamble in any form will be suspended.
  
  
• Students are not allowed in the halls during shop time without a pass. It is the student's responsibility to have a pass. If the teacher fails to issue a pass, the student may not leave the room.
  
  
• Students who cut an academic class or shop will be confronted by their assigned instructor for disciplinary follow-up. Repeat offenders will be called by the Director /Assistant Director and/or the sending school administration for disciplinary consequences.
  
  
• Public display of affection is inappropriate and disruptive to the educational process in the school setting and subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to suspension.

PLEASE NOTE: Any student who shall aid, urge, encourage or abet any other student to commit any of the offenses prohibited by any provision of this Behavioral Policy shall be subject to the same penalties identified in this handbook.

Any student on external suspensions is not permitted on school grounds and is not allowed to participate in any school-sponsored activity. If reported on school grounds, the student will be asked to leave, and if he/she does not comply, the police will be notified and a trespassing violation will be filed.

In most cases, external suspension from WRCC is reciprocal with the home high school and all rules and regulations will apply.

Office Detention

Office detentions will be served in a single setting after school at the home school or during A.M. or P.M. session at WRCC on specified days as determined by the Director/Assistant Director in collaboration with home school administration. Certain individual student situations may necessitate special advance arrangements with the Director/Assistant Director for meeting office detention obligations. Students who fail to serve office detentions on the day specified on the discipline form or within a prearranged time frame will not be allowed to report to their shop until the obligation is met.

In order to receive credit for serving the detention, a student must: remain quiet, bring class work, a book or magazine, and not sleep or rest head on desk. Violation of any of the above will result in student's loss of credit for serving, being asked to leave, and with the detention to be satisfactorily served the following day or within the time frame stated until the obligation(s) is met. Student athletes, students with outside employment, and students participating in the Cooperative Education program must likewise make arrangements to meet the detention obligation within the allowable time frame.

Students who fail to meet their detention obligation(s) within the two-day deadline must report to the Director/Assistant Director in lieu of attending classes or shop, and the detention must still be served in order for the student to be eligible to return to regular classes. Due to the attendance policy, it is strongly advised that students serve in a timely manner to minimize loss of class/shop hours.

Internal School Suspension

The Director/Assistant Director may assign a student to internal school suspension after the policy regarding student suspension procedure has been followed. The Director/Assistant Director will determine assignment to internal school suspension and will work with the BUHS administration.

Outside School Suspension Procedures

The Director/Assistant Director may suspend a student out of school. When an out of school suspension is imposed the following procedures, and other procedures required by law, will be followed:

Prior to suspension, an informal hearing before the Director/Assistant Director will be held. At this hearing, the student will be informed of the reason(s) for the suspension, and will be given an opportunity to respond. In an emergency situation which requires the immediate removal of a student, the informal hearing will be held as soon as possible after the suspension.

The Director/Assistant Director will make every attempt to notify the parent/guardian and the home school administration about the suspension and state the reason(s) leading to it. If the suspension is imposed during the school day, the parent/guardian may be required to transport the student home. It is expected under normal circumstances that there will be a conference with the parent/guardian before re-admission to WRCC.

A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian and the home school administration confirming the suspension. This notification shall contain the reason(s), the number of days of suspension, the re-admittance date, and the date and time of a re-admittance conference if applicable.

Removal from WRCC Program

The following procedures, and any other procedures required by law, will be used when a recommendation is made to remove a student from his program. This procedure is typically relevant for the student that has demonstrated chronic violations of the behavioral expectations and has been externally suspended for 9 or more days in the current semester. Removal may also be recommended after any major offense noted above.

Verbal and written warnings of pending removal from a program will be issued a the time of a suspension that will result in the need for a re-admittance conference with WRCC administration. Written notice of intent to take action will be served upon the student and parent/ guardian and the home school administration by certified mail.

The decision to remove a student from a WRCC program will be made at a hearing before the Career Center Director. The student, parents, and home school representatives will be invited to participate. The hearing shall be scheduled as soon as possible following the suspension and before the student is scheduled to return to WRCC classes.

Alcohol/Drugs (Controlled Substances)

The use possession of, or being under the influence of controlled substances including but not limited to alcohol, marijuana, and/or un-prescribed drugs, or the possession of drug paraphernalia by students at WRCC, or at a school sponsored activity is strictly forbidden. Any infraction of this restriction calls for an immediate hearing with the Director/Assistant Director to officially determine the details of the incident. Students may be suspended, removed from the WRCC program, or referred to law enforcement officials for possession of, or being under the influence of a controlled substance.

The following student activities involving illegal substances will result in the following school action:

• The student suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol is sent either by staff or through contact with the Director/Assistant Director to the office for an evaluation. If there is basis to the report as determined by the administration, the student will be detained in the office until being sent home under parental/guardian supervision. The Guidance Department at the home school is notified for the appropriate follow-up. The administration member should inform the student that there is no confidentiality protection under the law.
  
  
• The student found to be or admitting to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol student is immediately sent to the General Office. The Director/Assistant Director contacts a parent/guardian to remove the student from school for external suspension for up to three (3) days. The student is required to meet with the counselor for initial screening and appropriate follow-up. Students guilty of using an illegal substance for a second time will be externally suspended for up to five (5) days. In addition, the student and the student's parent/legal guardian will be required to meet with a counselor in order to implement an on-going program with the counselor and any identified treatment center program. Any subsequent offenses will result in removal from the WRCC program and possible further disciplinary action by the home school.
  
  
• If the student is in possession of drugs or alcohol the person reporting the incident contacts the Director/Assistant Director who ascertains validity of the report. The student is sent home for an external suspension for up to five (5) days. Prior to the end of the suspension, the Director/Assistant Director conducts a meeting with the student, counselor, and parent/guardian to discuss appropriate follow-up. Any student guilty of carrying an illegal substance a second time will be externally suspended for up to an additional five (5) days in accord with suspension procedures and may be removed from the WRCC program. Subsequent offenses will result in removal from WRCC program and referral to the home school for disciplinary action. The police will be notified and the contraband turned over to the police.
  
  
• The student selling or distributing illegal substances, including alcohol will be externally suspended for five (5) days and will be removed from the WRCC program. Due process procedures for expulsion will be strongly recommended to the home school administration.
  
  

Role of the Director/Assistant Director

As the immediate administrative authority within the school, the Director/Assistant Director is responsible for the welfare of the students. It is, therefore, critical that he/she be informed of any serious rule infractions occurring in the school. The Director/Assistant Director will notify the police department only when evidence is presented which is irrefutable and not when there is only suspicion or hearsay evidence.

Police Investigation and Interrogations

In the event that a request is made by law enforcement official to interrogate a pupil during the school day or on school property or during the school supervised activity, such requests shall be granted subject to the following conditions:

• Permission to interrogate shall be obtained first from the Director, or if not available within a reasonable amount of time, the Directors' designee.
  
  
• The Director may grant permission to interrogate a student 18 years of age or older.
  
  
• The Director will contact the parent/guardian of any student under 18 years of age and request their presence at WRCC before the interrogation may take place. Permission to interrogate will be denied if the parent/ or guardian of a student under 18 years of age objects.
  
  
• The Director will be present during any interrogation taking place in WRCC or on its campus.
  
  
• A student may not be released to the custody of any person other than his/her parents/legal guardian, unless placed under arrest by legal authority.

Prohibition Against Smoking

Vermont General Law clearly states that school policies

"shall prohibit the use of any tobacco products on school grounds, the school facilities or on school buses by any individual, including school personnel."

Smoking rooms (for teachers and/or students) smoking areas, etc. are not permitted, and the prohibition is intended to apply to any activity held on school property.

No individual will be allowed to use any form of tobacco products while on school property or on a school bus.

We recognize the importance of cooperation by students and school personnel in implementation and compliance with this law. To this end, we generally request that all students refrain from having any tobacco products, lighters or matches on their person when entering the bus transporting them to WRCC.

Please note that all of the WRCC property, including the parking lot and auxiliary structures are subject to this prohibition. In addition students that are participating in a program related off site activity (building project, clinical site, landscaping job, etc.) are prohibited from smoking and will be subjected to the consequences outlined above.

HARASSMENT

It is the policy of the Windham Regional Career Center to maintain a safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environment. The WRCC prohibits any form of unlawful harassment as defined below on the basis of a student's race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation or disability, perceived or actual. It is a violation of this policy for any student, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel through conduct or communication unlawfully to harass a student on the basis of the characteristics stated above.

Definition - Unlawful harassment as used in this policy and the procedures implementing it includes verbal or physical conduct based on a student's race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation or disability which has the purpose of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Examples of behaviors which would be unlawful harassment, if unwelcome and sufficiently severe, pervasive or persistent to interfere with a student's ability to participate in or benefit from school programs, include but are not limited to the following:

• Physical aggression or force, the threat of physical aggression or force, demeaning comments or behavior, racial, sexist or ethnic slurs, mimicking, jokes, gestures, name-calling, graffiti, stalking, sexual advances, use of nicknames emphasizing stereotypes, comments on manner of speaking, negative references to customs, and derogatory comments regarding surnames.
  
  
• Sexual harassment is a form of unlawful harassment and means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
  
  
  • Submission to that conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a student's education.
    
    
  • Submission to or rejection of such conduct by a student is used as a component of the basis for decisions affecting that student; or
    
    
  • The conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with a student's educational performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment.

Examples of sexual harassment include: unwanted sexual advances; suggestive or lewd remarks; unwanted hugs, touches, kisses; pornographic posters, cartoons or drawings; requests for sexual favors; unwelcome sexual jokes and banter; and/or retaliating for complaining against sexual harassment.

Applicability - This Student Anti-Harassment Policy shall apply to behavior that occurs on the Windham Regional Career Center Campus, school buses, WRCC work sites, and WRCC sponsored events (including athletic events or school trips) regardless of the location of the event. Upon receipt of a complaint or report of unlawful harassment, the Windham Regional Career Center shall conduct and complete an investigation or, where applicable, an informal resolution process in accordance with procedures adopted under this policy.

False Reporting Prohibited - A person who knowingly makes a false report or complaint may be subject to the same action that the WRCC may take against individuals who violate this policy. The term false report or complaint refers only to those made in bad faith and does not include a report or complaint that could not be corroborated or which did not rise to the level of unlawful harassment.

Retaliation Prohibited - The WRCC shall take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel who retaliates against any person for making a good faith report or complaint of unlawful harassment or for participating in an investigation or other part of the procedures implementing this policy.

Penalties

• First Offense: Student will be retrained and reassessed on his/her knowledge of the harassment policy and the reasons for its existence.
  
  
• Second Offense: Student will be subject to the above and detention or other discipline at the discretion of the Director/Assistant Director.
  
  
• Additional Offenses: Any consequences they deem appropriate and reasonable.

Any pupil, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel who believes he or she has been subjected to harassment or violence under this policy, or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct prohibited by this policy, is entitled to make an internal complaint to:

Ingrid Chrisco, Equity Coordinator
Brattleboro Area Middle School
109 Sunny Acres, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Telephone 802-257-3029.

Complaints of Harassment may also be made to:

Vermont Human Rights Commission
135 State Street, Drawer 33
Montpelier, Vermont 05633-6301
human.rights@hrc.state.vt.us
(800) 416-2010 Voice/TTY
(802) 828-2480 Voice/TTY
(802) 828-2481 Facsimile

Federal Department of Education
Office of Civil Rights
Director, Compliance Division Area II
Office for Civil Rights
US Department of Education Region 1
John W. McCormack, Post Office and Courthouse, Room 222
Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109

Hazing and Harassment of Others

It is a crime to participate or organize hazing, or for a person at the scene of such a crime to fail to report the incident. The term "hazing" as used in this section shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on or off school grounds, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or parties and possible expulsion or extended isolation. Any case of hazing and/or harassment of others will result in multiple day suspensions for the guilty party.

Miscellaneous

Victims are not limited to a formal complaint procedure but may seek relief from other agencies, including the Vermont Commission Against Discrimination, or Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education.

Any retaliatory action of any kind taken by an employee or student of the WRCC against any other employee or student of the WRCC as a result of that person's filing a complaint under these procedures, cooperation in an investigation, or otherwise participating in any proceeding under these procedures is prohibited, and shall be regarded as a separate and distinct matter under this procedure.

All complaint proceedings will, to the greatest possible extent, be held in confidence by all persons directly or indirectly involved in them.

Field Trips and School Activities

Since student conduct both on and off the school property reflects directly on the reputation of the WRCC, only those who are willing to abide by the following regulations qualify for travel on any vehicle used in connection with school sponsored activities:

• Students must make the return journey in the same bus or vehicle to which they were assigned at the start of the trip.
  
  
• Students must refrain from smoking.
  
  
• Students must refrain from loud group or individual singing or cheering or attracting the attention of pedestrians or motorists en route. Undue noise or other distractions place everyone in jeopardy by making it impossible for the driver to operate.
  
  
• Students conduct while at the activity must be of a type that will be credit to the students.
  
  
• Students must remain seated for the duration of the trip unless given permission by the faculty person to do otherwise. Avoid crowding or engaging the driver in conversation. Return to the bus or vehicle immediately upon the conclusion of the activity.
  
  
• No one will be allowed to board a vehicle unless a parent permission slip has been presented to the appropriate WRCC staff person. The cost of the trip must be paid in advance.
  
  
• Students are not allowed to drive their cars to any activity. In most cases faculty members who drive students automatically assume responsibility and liability for the journey.