SUSPENSION
5.10.3
1. A pupil may be temporarily suspended by a principal for evident or repeated
opposition to authority or failure to observe reasonable regulations of the school.
The following bad conduct will be cause for suspension:
persistent truancy; opposition to authority, repetition of offenses after notice;
habitual and determined neglect of duty; use of profane or obscene language; marring,
defacing, destroying public property; smoking on school premises; improper use of
motor vehicles; disrupting the educational process; consumption of alcoholic
beverages.
2. No suspension shall exceed five consecutive school days unless the
Superintendent or his designee has granted prior approval of said action.
3. In suspension cases the applicable procedure as noted below shall be used:
a) A student
shall be given a hearing prior to suspension and the reason for
suspension shall
be discussed.
b) Before
sending a pupil out of the school building, the parent or guardian shall
be notified by telephone that this is being done.
c) If the
parent or guardian cannot be reached by telephone, the student shall be
kept in the school office until dismissal time.
d) If the
suspended student is disrupting the school process, in a situation where the
parent cannot be reached by telephone, the police shall be called and the
situation explained.
e) In all
suspension cases where a parent or guardian cannot be reached by telephone, a
follow-up certified letter shall be sent to the parent or guardian on the
same day as the suspension, if possible. This letter shall make it clear
to the parent or guardian that the pupil will not be reinstated until a
satisfactory parent-school conference has been held. Furthermore, a copy of
this letter of notification will be sent to the
Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee. It is expected
that the Guidance Department will exercise a
supportive role in any conference involved in the
suspension process.
f) A pupil
shall have the opportunity to make up assignments and tests missed
during a period of temporary suspension. The responsibility for making such
arrangements rests with the student. All work must be made up within the
proportionate number of days suspended, i.e. two days of
suspension - two days
for makeup.
g) First and
Second suspensions will result in a certified letter to the parent or
guardian to inform them of the suspension,
whenever they cannot be reached by telephone.
h) Third
suspension at the discretion of the principal will result in a suspension to
the Superintendent of
Schools at which time the parent or guardian must
accompany the child for a
conference.
i) After the
suspension to the Superintendent, the next suspension will be to the
School Committee.