Student Activities Procedures
A. First Offense
Use, attempt to use, possess, sell or assist any other student in the use of tobacco/tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, or any form of a controlled substance (drugs, look-alikes, or drug paraphernalia) other than those prescribed by a physician for that student. The student will be suspended for 40%* (see explanation below) of the total term of his/her current student activity or the first student activity in which the individual participates. The student and parents/guardians may enroll in an educational program. Documentation of successful completion of an approved program within 60 days of the code meeting to the Prevention & Wellness Coordinator or Social Worker will result in a 30%* (see explanation below) suspension of activities. Failure to successfully complete the program, as determined by the Prevention & Wellness Coordinator/Social Worker and Student Activities Director, will result in the student serving the original consequence. The 10% may be added to the next school year for non-completion of an approved educational program.
Self-Reporting – For an offense involving any of the substances listed in First Offense number 1, a student or parent may voluntarily admit a code violation to the Activities Director provided the following:
• Self-reporting may be used one (1) time only in the student’s entire high school career and only with regard to a first violation.
• A student cannot self-report an incident for avoidance of a penalty.
• A student cannot self-report an incident which the school already has or will become aware of or shall be informed of by other means, including but not limited to, notification by judicial or law enforcement agencies.
• Students who self-report will be subject to a 20%*(see explanation below) loss during the current school year. The consequence may be reduced to 10%*(see explanation below) suspension of the activity if the student signs up for and successfully completes a school approved educational program.
• Self-reporting of a first offense will not be recorded as a violation provided the individual maintains behaviors consistent with expectations/standards of the current Student/Parent Handbook and remains in compliance with CHSD 128 rules and policies for a full calendar year for the date of the initial reporting. Should a violation occur within a calendar year this will then be considered a second violation.
• Students who believe they have a substance abuse problem are encouraged to seek help by voluntarily contacting the social worker, a counselor, a member of the school’s Prevention & Wellness team, or a member of the administration. Participation in a recognized substance abuse program is valuable for the student but cannot be used to escape responsibility for sanctions under this policy.
2. Behavior/Citizenship, as described in V-1.B above will result in the student being suspended from
10 – 40% (see explanation below) of his/her current student activity in or the first student activity which the individual participates.
3. During an activity suspension for a primarily competitive activity, the student is expected to attend and participate in all required practices and successfully complete the activity. The student is only to attend contests/competitions/outings as a spectator during his/her suspension.
During an activity suspension for a primarily non-competitive activity, the student is excluded from attending any and all meetings, rehearsals, events or outings.
B. Second Offense
Two violations of the Code of Conduct for the use, attempt to use, possess, sell or assist any other student in the use of tobacco/tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, or any form of a controlled substance (drugs, look-alikes, drug paraphernalia) other than those prescribed by a physician for that student is considered a second offense. The student will be suspended for 80% of his/her current activity/activities or the first scheduled activity in which the student participates. At the discretion of the Code Council, the duration of a suspension due to a second offense may be reduced if one of the two infractions involves a behavior/citizenship violation. The student and parents/guardians may enroll in an approved assessment/educational program. Documentation of successful completion of an approved assessment/program within 60 days of the code meeting to the Prevention & Wellness Coordinator or Social Worker will result in a 60% suspension of the activity. Failure to successfully complete the program, as determined by the Prevention & Wellness Coordinator/ Social Worker and Student Activities Director, will result in the student serving the original consequence. The 20% may be added to the next activity for non-completion of the approved educational program.
C. Third Offense
A third offense will result in total exclusion from all extracurricular activities for the remainder of the student’s high school career. There will be no option to petition for reinstatement into the activities program.
D. Appeal Process
Any student who feels that his/her rights have been violated may appeal the suspension in writing to the building principal. The appeal must be made within three (3) school days of the suspension code meeting. The Principal or his/her designee will establish the appeal process, review the appeal within five (5) school days of receiving the appeal and determine the final result of the appeal which will be communicated to the student, parents/guardians. The decision of the Principal is final.
*(Explanation) For the purpose of determining 10-40% consequences in Student Activities, a distinction is made between primarily competitive and primarily non-competitive activities and organizations. If any group/activity engages in interscholastic competition as a primary activity, the consequences will be determined based on number of contests (as is the case in athletics). In primarily non-competitive activities and organizations, the consequence is determined based on total number of days (term) that the activity or event meets.
• According to this definition, competitive activities/organizations include, but may not be limited to, the following: Math Team, Robotics Team, WYSE, Debate, Model U.N., FBLA, etc.
• According to this definition, non-competitive activities/organizations include, but may not be limited to, the following: SPARK, Interact, and most other clubs.
This policy and procedure will be made available to all students and parents/guardians in the Student/Parent Handbook as well as on the District Website and will be discussed with the students by their coach, sponsor, or activity advisor no later than the first meeting of the activity in that year or at a mandatory parent meeting prior to the start of the sport, student activity or fine arts activity. Students will be required to sign a form indicating that they have read and understood the penalties of a code of conduct violation.