Students shall comply with all federal, state and local laws, school district policies, school rules, school bus rules, athletic codes, and with the directions of teachers, student teachers, substitute teachers, educational assistants, principals or other authorized school personnel when they are properly under the authority of school personnel.
Any conduct that interferes with the educational process is prohibited. The following list of offenses generally describes such conduct, but is not intended to be exclusive. Each is specifically prohibited on school grounds, on school-sponsored transportation, and at school events off school grounds and each will lead to corrective action. Conduct marked with an asterisk (*) is designated as exceptional misconduct and has been judged following consultation with an ad hoc citizens committee to be (a) of such frequent occurrence, notwithstanding past attempts to control such misconduct with other forms of corrective action, or (b) so serious in nature and/or so serious in terms of the disruptive effect upon the operation of the school, that students may be subject to suspension for a first-time offense, and to expulsion if there is good reason to believe other forms of corrective action would fail if employed. Administrative discretion is allowed on each individual case, and law enforcement may be informed in appropriate cases.
- *Alcohol - The use, attempted use, possession, distribution or sale of alcoholic substances.
- *Arson - Intentional burning of property.
- *Bus - Not following bus rules. Students riding Finley School buses are governed by all the rules stated in the handout that is provided to them annually by the bus drivers.
- *Cell Phones - Can be a disruption of the educational process and are subject to confiscation for a day or longer if deemed necessary.
- *Cheating - Is handled by each teacher under consultation with the Principal.
- *Cyber Bullying - Is bullying using electronic devices to initiate repeated negative behavior toward a less-powerful person
- *Defiance of Authority - Refusal to comply with reasonable requests of school personnel.
- *Destruction or Defacement of Property - Destroying or mutilating objects and materials belonging to the school, school personnel, or other persons. The school will bill students for the total cost including labor for repair of damage.
- *Disorderly Conduct - Conduct and/or behavior that is disruptive to the orderly educational procedure of the school (including profanity and obscene behavior).
- *Drugs - The use (including inhalation), attempted use, possession, distribution or sale of any illegal substance, narcotic or hallucinogenic drug, noxious inhalant, drug paraphernalia, prescription drug prescribed to another, or any item purported to be such.
- *Explosive Devices - The use, possession, or sale of explosive devices, such as firecrackers.
- *Extortion - The solicitation of money, or something of value, from another person in return for protection or in connection with a threat or implied threat to inflict harm.
- *Failure to Follow Assessment Recommendations - When a student is determined to have been possessing, using or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs on campus, an assessment by a certified substance abuse counselor may be required by the school. If the student fails to implement or complete the resulting recommendations and program, this is an additional discipline infraction.
- *Fighting - Engaging in or threatening physical contact for the purpose of inflicting harm on another person.
- *Forgery - Writing and using the signature or initials of another person for any school purpose.
- *Gambling - Participating in games of chance for the purpose of exchanging money.
- *Hallway Infractions - Students are not to be in the halls during a class period without a valid permit; students are not to be in the halls during lunch hour.
- *Hats - Hats or other head coverings will be removed when entering the building. They will be permitted on approved occasions such as dress-up during homecoming week, community related events, or in connection with a bona fide religious or disability related requirement.
- *Highly Inappropriate Behavior - Behaving in an unsafe manner, making threats, speaking inappropriately to school personnel/visitors and/or participating in verbal/physical harassment.
- *Physical Assault - Physical attack of one person, or a group of persons, upon another person, who does not wish to engage in the conflict and who has not provoked the attack.
- *Portable Music Devices/Headphones - Can be a disruption of the educational process and are subject to confiscation for a day or longer if deemed necessary.
- *Public Display of Affection - Students, during the course of the regular school day, including activities, shall limit their public display of affection to that which is considered appropriate for public school. Embracing and kissing are not acceptable on public school premises.
- *Smoking/Tobacco - The use, attempted use, possession, distribution or sale of tobacco or tobacco products of any kind on school property. Non-tobacco chew or snuff will be treated the same as tobacco for sanitation reasons.
- *Tardiness - Arriving up to ten (10) minutes late to class.
- *Theft - Taking property that doesn’t belong to you.
- *Unexcused Absence and/or Truancy - Anything over ten (10) minutes will be considered an absence. An unexcused absence is any absence that has not been both excused by a parent or legal guardian and approved by the appropriate school official.
- *Verbal Abuse - Statements by a student which intimidate or injure another.
- *Violation of Closed Campus - Once a student arrives at school, he or she is prohibited from leaving the campus. Students will not be allowed to go off campus at any time, under any circumstances, unless parents are notified and/or parents notify the school.
- *Weapons - The possession, use, transmission, or transporting of any object that could reasonably be considered a firearm, air gun, nun chuck sticks, throwing star, club, dagger, spring blade knife, or any knife the blade of which opens, or falls, or is ejected into position by gravity, or by an outward, downward or centrifugal thrust or movement or any other dangerous weapon; and the possession of any exploding item or device that would be capable of producing bodily harm, damage to property or disruption of the educational process. Educational House Bill 1581 (Firearms) mandates a one-year expulsion for students who possess firearms on school grounds or at school events. Required is notification to parents and local law enforcement. This bill also allows districts to suspend students for one full year “if a student acts with malice and displays an instrument that appears to be a firearm on public school property, transportation, or other facilities when being used exclusively by public schools."