Student Conduct

Generally

The Manassas Park City School Board establishes expectations for student conduct so that public education is conducted in an atmosphere free of disruption and threat to persons or property and supportive of individual rights.

In addition to the types of conduct prohibited below, the superintendent issues Standards of Student Conduct and a list of possible actions for violations of those Standards.

This Policy and the Standards of Student Conduct apply to all Manassas Park City school students. They are enforced when the student's conduct occurs when the student is

  • On school property.
  • Traveling to school or from school.
  • Traveling to, at, and from bus stops.
  • In School Board vehicles.
  • In attendance at any school-sponsored activity.
  • Off school property if the conduct disrupts the learning environment.

The School Board and superintendent biennially review the model student conduct code developed by the Virginia Board of Education to incorporate into policy and the Standards of Student Conduct a range of discipline options and alternatives to preserve a safe and non-disruptive environment for effective learning and teaching.

Parental Involvement and Responsibility

Each parent of a student enrolled in Manassas Park City schools has a duty to assist in enforcing this policy, the Standards of Student Conduct and compulsory schoolattendance in order that education may be conducted in an atmosphere free of disruption and threat to persons or property and supportive of individual rights. This policy, the Standards of Student Conduct, a notice of the requirements of Va. Code § 22.1-279.3, and a copy of the compulsory school attendance law is sent to all parents within one calendar month of the opening of schools simultaneously with any other materials customarily distributed at that time. A statement for the parent's signature acknowledging the receipt of this policy, the Standards of Student Conduct, the requirements of Va. Code § 22.1-279.3 and the compulsory school attendance law is also sent. Parents are notified that by signing the statement of receipt, they are not deemed to waive, but expressly reserve, their rights protected by the constitution or laws of the United States or Virginia. Each school maintains records of the signed statements.

The school principal may request the student's parent or parents, if both have legal and physical custody, to meet with the principal or principal's designee to review this policy, the Standards of Student Conduct and the parent's or parents' responsibility to participate with the school in disciplining the student and maintaining order, to ensure the student's compliance with compulsory school attendance law and to discuss improvement of the child's behavior, school attendance and educational progress.

The school principal may notify the parents of any student who violates a School Board policy, the Standards of Student Conduct, or the compulsory school attendance requirements when such violation could result in the student's suspension or the filing of a court petition, whether or not the school administration has imposed such disciplinary action or filed such a petition. The notice shall state (1) the date and particulars of the violation; (2) the obligation of the parent to take actions to assist the school in improving the student's behavior and ensuring compliance with compulsory school attendance; (3) that, if the student is suspended, the parent may be required to accompany the student to meet with school officials; and (4) that a petition with the juvenile and domestic relations court may be filed under certain circumstances to declare the student a child in need of supervision.

The principal or principal's designee notifies the parent of any student involved in an incident required to be reported to the superintendent and Virginia Board of Education as described in Policy CLA Reporting Acts of Violence and Substance Abuse.

If a parent fails to comply with the requirements of this Policy, the School Board may ask the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to proceed against the parent in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Virginia.

A parent, guardian or other person having control or charge of a student is notified in writing of any disciplinary action taken with regard to any incident upon which an adjudication of delinquency or conviction for an offense listed in Va. Code § 16.1-260.G was based and the reasons therefor. The parent or guardian is also notified of the parent or guardian's right to review, and to request an amendment of, the student's scholastic record, in accordance with regulations of the Board of Education governing the management of scholastic records.

Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment Activities and Programs

Any student involved in a reportable drug or violent incident, as described in Policy CLA Reporting Acts of Violence and Substance Abuse, participates in prevention and intervention activities deemed appropriate by the superintendent or superintendent's designee. Further, any student who has been found to be in possession of or under the influence of drugs or alcohol on school property or at a school sponsored activity may be required to (1) undergo evaluation for drug or alcohol abuse and (2) participate in a drug and/or alcohol treatment program if recommended by the evaluator and if the parent consents.

Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is prohibited. Students engaging in such conduct are subject to disciplinary action.

Bullying and Use of Electronic Means for Bullying

Bullying is prohibited. "Bullying" means any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. "Bullying" includes cyber bullying. "Bullying" does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument or peer conflict.

Gang Activity

Gang activity, as defined in Policy JFCE Gang Activity or Association, is prohibited.

Harassment

As provided in Policy JFHA/GBA Prohibition Against Harassment and Retaliation, students are prohibited from harassing other students, school staff, volunteers, student teachers or any other person present in school facilities or at school functions.

Hazing

Hazing is prohibited.

Hazing means to recklessly or intentionally endanger the health or safety of a student or students or to inflict bodily harm on a student or students in connection with or for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in a club, organization, association, fraternity, sorority, or student body regardless of whether the student or students so endangered or injured participated voluntarily in the relevant activity.

Intentional Injury of Others

Students are prohibited from intentionally injuring others.

Self-defense

Whether a student acted in self-defense is considered when the student's conduct is evaluated for disciplinary action.

Threats: Intimidation

Students are prohibited from making any verbal, written or physical threat of bodily injury to another person.

Trespassing

Students, including students who have been suspended or expelled, are subject to disciplinary action for trespassing on school property

  • Use and/or Possession of Alcohol, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Vapor Products, Anabolic Steroids, and Other Drugs

Students are prohibited from possessing, using, or distributing any of the restricted substances listed below on school property, on school buses or during school activities, on or off school property.

Students are prohibited from attempting to possess, use, consume, procure and/or purchase, any of the restricted substances listed below or what is represented by or to the student to be any of the restricted substances listed below or what the student believes is any of the restricted substances listed below.

Students are prohibited from being under the influence of any of the restricted substances listed below, regardless of whether the student's condition amounts to legal intoxication.

Restricted substances include but are not limited to alcohol, tobacco products as defined in Policy JFCH Tobacco Products and Nicotine Vapor Products, nicotine vapor products as defined in Policy JFCH Tobacco Products and Nicotine Vapor Products, inhalant products, and other controlled substances defined in the Drug Control Act, Chapter 15.1 of Title 54 of the Code of Virginia,such as anabolic steroids, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, marijuana, imitation and look-alike drugs, drug paraphernalia and any prescription or non-prescription drug possessed in violation of School Board policy.

In addition to any other consequences which may result, a student who is a member of a school athletic team will be ineligible for two school years to compete in interscholastic athletic competition if the school principal and the superintendent determine that the student used anabolic steroids during the training period immediately preceding or during the sport season of the athletic team, unless such steroid was prescribed by a licensed physician for a

medical condition.

Use of Profane or Obscene Language and Conduct

Students are prohibited from using profane or obscene language or engaging in profane or obscene conduct.

Vandalism

Students are prohibited from vandalizing school property and the property of any School Board staff member or any other person.

The School Board may recover damages sustained because of the willful or malicious destruction or, or damage to, public property pursuant to Policy ECAB Vandalism.

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