Discipline Policies

2008-2009

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Discipline Policy

Classroom discipline will be the responsibility of the teacher.  A student’s failure to comply with the teacher’s actions due to a disciplinary problem will result in the student being referred to the administration.  As noted above, teachers will handle disciplinary problems that arise in the classroom.  Examples of these problems are class disruptions, unauthorized printed matter, tardiness, and use of mild profanity.  The administration will deal with actions such as forgery of a staff member’s name, cheating, and insubordination.  Repeat offenders of this nature will result in stronger actions being taken. 

The administration will deal with actions such as disrespectful conduct, bullying, insubordination, obscene acts, class cuts, violations of the dress code, and other matters that result in loss of instructional time by parent conferences, corporal punishment, loss of parking privileges, extended detention, in-school suspension or suspension from school.  Repeat offenses of this nature will result in stricter measures being used to discipline the student.  Any student in an unsupervised area before school, break or during class will be treated as skipping.  Extreme actions by students such as fighting, theft, possession of drugs or alcohol, possession of a weapon, or other activities that would result in the disruption of normal school activities will be handled as major disciplinary problems.  This can result in extended detention time, loss of privileges/activities, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension or expulsion.  Any activity
that is a violation of the State of Georgia’s law can result in the above disciplinary actions being taken and referral being made to the local law enforcement agency.  Vandalism of school property will be treated as a major offense and will result in suspension or expulsion.

When a student is suspended from school or assigned to in-school suspension, the parents will be notified as to the length of the assignment.  The student and his/her parents will be informed of the due process procedures that can be followed for appeal.

Any student who represents Pickens High School and is involved in disciplinary problems should be aware that he/she can be dismissed from the activity, event or sport for the remainder of the school year.

**ALL MATERIAL POSTED AT PICKENS HIGH SCHOOL MUST BE APPROVED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.  DISCIPLINARY ACTION MAY RESULT IF THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT FOLLOWED.

ALSO SEE “STUDENT CONDUCT CODE” AND “STUDENT BEHAVIOR CODE” ON PAGES JCD AND JCDA IN THE BOARD POLICY.

TOBACCO USE POLICY

1st Offense- 5 days ISS and parent conference

2nd Offense- 7 days ISS, loss of driving privilege or bus suspension for 7 days, and
                      parent conference

3rd Offense-  9 days ISS, loss of driving privilege or bus suspension for 9 days, and
                       parent conference

4th Offense-   referral to tribunal hearing with recommendation of administrative placement
                       to Crossroads Alternative School

NOTE:  ISS includes 30 minutes per day of school chores including trash pick-up, cleaning
              hallways, cleaning bleachers in gym, or other school improvement chores.  Also
              included in ISS (for students assigned for tobacco possession or use) will be daily
              assignments designed to provide information on the hazards of tobacco use.

CELL PHONE/ ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY

*Cell phones or electronic devices cannot be seen from the time you exit the bus or vehicle upon arriving at school until the end of the school day.

1st Offense-  Parent pick up in front office*

2nd Offense- 30 days or 3 days ISS (Parent’s choice when contacted)
                      Phone returned to parent after ISS served

3rd Offense-  60 days or 5 days ISS
                      Phone returned to parent after ISS served

4th Offense-  Phone taken for remainder of semester

*SIM cards must remain in cell phones and students must be seen by an administrator before the phone is picked up by a parent.

Dress Code Policy
           
            The rules regarding acceptable dress in grades 6-12 for Pickens County Schools are as follows:

            Allowed:

* Students may wear long pants, slacks, or jeans that have a hem and no holes in them (above or
         below the knees).  Pants, slacks, or jeans must be worn at the waist.
      * All shirts and blouses must have the top hemmed.  Shirts and blouses must cover upper torso
         (no bare midriffs).  Shirts and blouses that are not tucked inside the pants should not be
         excessive in length.
      * Dresses, skirts, shorts, or skorts must be knee length when standing.
      * Earrings may be worn in the ears.
      * Shoes must be worn and be acceptable for school.  Indoor athletic shoes are required for                        
                     gym activities.

            Not Allowed:

                 * Baggy pants.  This includes pants and shorts that have zippered or buttoned oversized
                    pockets on the outside.
                 * Pajamas.
                 * Mesh shirts or blouses.
                 * Muscle shirts, tank tops, or spaghetti strap apparel.
                 * Lewd and/or offensive writings or pictures on tops, pants, or slacks (including jacket
                    type outerwear).
                 * Headwear inside the building.
                 * Facial or tongue jewelry.
                 * Chains for wallets or large neck jewelry (dog collars, etc.)
                 * Shoes with cleats or wheels
                 * Extreme make-up or hair colors.
                 * Drawings or writings on the body must be covered.

            The administration of the school will have final approval of any questionable dress items. This
            will include anything that interferes with the instruction or operation of the school.

Facial Jewelry Policy

          According to the Pickens County Board of Education Student Code of Conduct, students are not 
            permitted to wear facial or tongue jewelry.

            1st Offense-  Student warned, facial jewelry removed (refusal to remove jewelry will result in
                                 student being sent home for the remainder of the day), parent contacted.
            2nd Offense- 1 day ISS, facial jewelry removed
            3rd Offense- 3 days ISS, facial jewelry removed
            4th Offense-  9 days Alternative school, facial jewelry removed
            5th Offense- 10 days OSS, referral to disciplinary tribunal and facial jewelry removed.

Cheating Policy

            1st Offense-  0 grade and parents notified
            2nd Offense- 0 grade, 2 days ISS and parent conference
            3rd Offense- 0 grade and discipline TBA

Sleeping in Class

            Consequences for students sleeping in class are as follows:

1st Offense-   warning; conference with student
2nd Offense-  parent contacted
3rd Offense-  administrator referral; parent contacted
4th Offense-  have parent pick student up