SOUTH CONWAY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SECONDARY HANDBOOK (Grades 7-12)

FOR

STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE

Adopted: May 14, 2007

BOARD OF EDCUATION

John Gibson, President

Dr. Stephen Carter, Vice President

Elaine Sullivan, Secretary

Marlin Boyle

David Cawein

Mark Stobaugh

Greg Roberson

* * * * * *

Douglas S. Adams

Superintendent of Schools

South Conway County School District

704 East Church Street

Morrilton, AR 72110

Telephone (501) 354-9400

* * * * * *

Dr. Tamekia Brown Bruce Bryant

High School Principal Junior High Principal

701 East Harding Street 1400 Poor Farm Rd.

Morrilton, AR 72110 Morrilton, AR 72110

(501) 354-9430 (501) 354-9437

tbrown@sccsd.k12.ar.us bryantb@sccsd.k12.ar.us

FOREWORD

The South Conway County School District works hard to provide a safe and orderly environment that supports all aspects of learning through communication and high expectations of appropriate behavior. The essential component of effective, positive discipline is that it preserves the time needed for meaningful instruction necessary for student achievement.

The 2007-2008 Parent/Student Handbook for Student Conduct and Discipline is designed for students, parents, principals and teachers. Its main purpose is to set forth clearly the standards and limits for behavior established by state law and the Board of Education. It also describes the administrative actions taken when standards of behavior are violated. The Handbook is annually reviewed and revised as needed by parents, students and District personnel.

We sincerely hope that all who use this Handbook do so realizing the importance of the student’s responsibility for his own acceptable behavior and the protection of the student’s personal rights to due process and fair treatment.

Dr. Douglas S. Adams

Superintendent

Board of Education Disclaimer Statement

Use of the masculine pronoun throughout the policies adopted by this Board is for the sole purpose of ease in sentence construction and should not be construed as Board intention to discriminate against females in either its written materials or its practices. The feminine pronoun will be used only in those policies where the masculine form would be totally inappropriate.

For Your Information

The Handbook is available for review at www.sccsd.org

South Conway County School District

Morrilton, Arkansas

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

Welcome to the South Conway County School District Secondary Schools! We are very proud of our schools and know that your experience here will be productive and rewarding.

The purpose of this handbook is to inform you about applicable philosophy, policies and procedures. We are sure you realize that this must be a cooperative endeavor and that we can succeed only to the extent that each of you cooperate with us in this vital activity.

In this handbook, you will find the discipline policies of all South Conway County School District Secondary Schools. A.C.A. § 6-18-502 (d) (e) requires school districts to advise and provide written notification to parents and students of the district’s student discipline policies.

Act 104 also requires your documentation of the receipt of these policies. Please sign and return to your child’s teacher immediately. Your signatures do not indicate your agreement with the policies – only that you have received them.

Thank you for your assistance in helping us to comply with A.C.A. § 6-18-502 (d) (e).

Please take the time needed to thoroughly review this handbook. All students are expected to comply with the policies and procedures found herein.

We look forward to the opportunity of working with your child.

Dr. Tamekia Brown Bruce Bryant

Principal, Morrilton High School Principal, Morrilton Junior High School

THE VISION OF MORRILTON

JUNIOR HIGH AND

MORRILTON HIGH SCHOOL:

To teach and inspire students to become lifelong learners and to instill the values necessary to be productive citizens.

THE MISSION OF MORRILTON

JUNIOR HIGH AND

MORRILTON HIGH SCHOOL:

To ensure that all students are proficient in the

core subject areas, with an emphasis in literacy

and math, in a safe, nurturing and

technologically enhanced environment.

NOTICE TO PARENTS

To: All Parents

From: South Conway County School District

As the parent of a student in the South Conway County School District, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child. Federal law allows you to ask for certain information about your child’s classroom teachers and requires us to give you this information in a timely manner if you ask for it. Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers:

· Whether the Arkansas Department of Education has licensed

or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.

· Whether the Arkansas Department of Education has decided that

the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or

qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances.

· The teacher’s college major; whether the teacher has any advanced

degrees and, if so, the subject of degrees.

· Whether any teachers’ aides or similar paraprofessionals provide

services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.

If you would like to receive any of this information, please (501) 354-9453.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

It is the policy of this educational institution to provide equal opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age or qualified disability in its educational programs and activities. This includes, but is not limited to admissions, educational services, financial aid and employment.

This educational institution will disseminate nondiscriminatory policies to students, parents, employees and the general public prior to the beginning of each school year.

Committees will be selected in a fair and equitable manner and will reflect the diversity of the district in terms of sex, race, socio-economic level, disability, national origin and other population.

Inquiries regarding SPECIAL EDUCATION and SECTION 504 issues should be directed to: TBA, 704 E. Church, Morrilton, AR 72110, telephone (501) 354-9454.

Inquiries regarding ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE issues should be directed to: TBA, 704 E Church, Morrilton, AR 72110, telephone (501) 354-9451.

Inquires regarding EQUITY, TITLE VI and TITLE IX issues should be directed to: TBA, 704 E. Church, Morrilton, AR 72110, telephone (501) 354-9453.

MHS AND MJHS ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF DIRECTORY

Morrilton High School Administrators

Dr. Tamekia Brown, Principal 354-9430 tbrown@sccsd.k12.ar.us

Mr. Clark Lewis, Assistant Principal 354-9430 lewisc@sccsd.k12.ar.us

Ms. Laura Hunt, Assistant Principal 354-9430 huntl@sccsd.k12.ar.us

Ms. Patty Rainey, Counselor 354-9431 raineyp@sccsd.k12.ar.us

Ms. Carolyn Bailey, Counselor 354-9431 baileyc@sccsd.k12.ar.us

Ms. Marilyn Dailey, Registrar 354-9467 mdailey@sccsd.k12.ar.us

Mr. Phil Blaylock, Resource Officer 354-9430 blaylockp@sccsd.k12.ar.us

Morrilton Junior High School Administrators

Mr. Bruce Bryant, Principal 354-9437 bryantb@sccsd.k12.ar.us

Ms. Judy Horner, Counselor 354-9437 jhorner@sccsd.k12.ar.us

STUDENT AND PARENT

HANDBOOK

PHILOSOPHY

The South Conway County School District assumes the responsibility of providing students attending its schools a high quality education that challenges each student to achieve their maximum potential. The District shall endeavor to create the environment within the schools necessary to attain this goal. The creation of the necessary climate shall be based on the following core beliefs:

1. The District’s vision statement will be developed with input from students, parents, business leaders and other community members.

2. All students can be successful learners.

3. Students learn at different rates and in different ways.

4. A primary goal shall be to give students the skills they need to be lifelong learners.

5. The education of all citizens is basic to our community’s well-being.

6. Student achievement is affected positively by the involvement of parents and the community in the schools.

7. The District is responsible for helping cultivate good citizenship skills in its students.

8. Students reflect the moral and ethical values of their environment.

9. All people have a right to a safe environment.

10. Each person is responsible for his/her own actions.

11. Innovation involves taking risks.

12. Schools are responsible for creating the conditions that promote success.

13. Each person is entitled to retain his/her dignity.

14. All people have the right to be treated with respect and the responsibility to treat others respectfully.

15. For teachers to succeed in cultivating high student achievement, they need to be given the materials, training and environment necessary to produce such results.

1.00-Residence Requirements

1.05-Entrance Requirements

1.10-Homeless Students

1.15-Compulsory Attendance Requirements

1.20-Home School

1.25-Equal Education Opportunity

1.30-Absences

1.35-Student Vehicles (Grades 9-12)

1.40-Student Handbook

1.45-Attendance Requirements (Grades 9-12

1.50-Smart Core Curriculum for Class of 2010

1.55-Graduation Requirements for 2007-2008

1.60-Graduation Requirements for 2009

1.65-Pledge of Allegiance

1.70-Foreign Exchange Student Program

1.75-Daily Attendance for Participation

1.80-College Days

1.85-School Sponsored Trips

1.90-Use of Students by Organizations

1.95-Honors Program Participation

2.00-Website Privacy Policy

2.05-Concurrent Credit

2.10-Valedictorian-Highest Honors

2.15-Athletics for Physical Education Credit

2.20-Final Test Exemption

2.25-Daily Schedule

2.30-Transportation

2.35-Supplies and Textbooks

2.40-Visits and Conferences

2.45-School Telephone

2.50-Appointments and Early Checkout

2.55-Lost and Found

2.60-School Property

2.65-Special Services

2.70-Grading Policy

2.75-Advanced Placement

2.80-Legal Custody

2.85-Legal Names

2.90-Permanent Records

2.95-Communicable Diseases and Parasites

3.00-Student Medications

3.05-Student Illness/Accident

3.10-Physical Examinations or Screenings

3.15-Homework

3.16-Plagiarism

3.20-Reports to Parents/Guardians

3.25-Promotion/Retention

3.30-Students Leaving During the School Day

3.35-Truancy and Tardiness

3.40-Student Organizations/Equal Access

3.45-Student Transfers

3.50-School Choice

3.55-Privacy of Students’ Records

3.60-Extracurricular Activities

3.65-Bullying

3.70-Make-up Work

3.75-ACTAAP Incentives

3.80-Student Publications

3.85-Distribution of Literature

3.90-Contact w/Students at School

3.95-Search, Seizure, and Interrogations

4.00-Student Discipline

4.05-Prohibited Conduct

4.10- Conduct to and from School

4.15-Disruption of School

4.20- Student Assault or Battery

4.25-Drugs and Alcohol

4.30-Gangs and Gang Activity

4.35-Student Sexual Harassment

4.40-Cell Phone

4.45-Suspension From School

4.50-Expulsion

4.55-Corporal Punishment

4.60-Student Health Services

4.65-Emergency Drills

4.70-Closed Campus

4.75-Food Services

4.80-Solicitations-Students

4.85-Computer Use Policy

4.90-After-School Detention

4.95-Complaints and Grievances

5.00-Video Surveillance

5.10-Receipt Verification (sign & return)

5.15-Student Computer Use Agreement (sign & return)

5.20-Medication Administration (sign & return)

5.21-Medical Self-Administration Consent Form (sign & return)

5.25-Objection to Physical Examination/Screenings (sign & return)

5.30-Objection to Publication of Directory Information (sign & return)

5.35-School Trips (sign & return)

5.40-Corporal Punishment (sign & return)

5.45-Transportation Policy Signature Form (sign & return)

5.50-Physical Fitness (sign & return)

5.55-Website Privacy Policy (sign & return)

Last Page - School Calendar

Student and Parent

Handbook

1.00 RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS

Definitions:

A. “Reside” means to be physically present and to maintain a permanent place of abode for an average of no fewer than four (4) calendar days and nights per week for a primary purpose other than school attendance.

B. “Resident” means a student whose parents, legal guardians, persons having legal, lawful control of the student under order of a court, or persons standing in loco parentis reside in the school district.

C. “Residential address” means the physical location where the student’s parents, legal guardians, persons having legal, lawful control of the student under order of a court, or persons standing in loco parentis reside. A student may use the residential address of a legal guardian, person having legal, lawful control of the student under order of a court, or person standing in loco parentis only if the student resides at the same residential address and if the guardianship or other legal authority is not granted solely for educational needs or school attendance purposes.

D. The schools of the District shall be open and free through the completion of the secondary program to all persons between the ages of five (5) and twenty-one (21) years whose parents, legal guardians or other persons having lawful control of the person under an order of a court reside within the District and to all persons between those ages who have been legally transferred to the District for educational purposes.

E. In order for a person under the age of eighteen (18) years to establish a residence for the purpose of attending the District’s schools separate and apart from his or her parents, guardians or other persons having lawful control of him or her under an order of a court, the person must actually reside in the District for a primary purpose other than that of school attendance.

F. The children or wards of any person who is at least a half-time employee of this district, but reside in another district, are eligible to enroll in District schools.

1.05 ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

A. To enroll in a school in the District, the child must be a resident of the District as defined in District policy (4.1 - RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS) or meet the criteria outlined in policy 4.40 - HOMELESS STUDENTS.

B. Students who move into the District from an accredited school shall be assigned to the same grade as they were attending in their previous school (mid-year transfers) or as they would have been assigned in their previous school. Home-schooled students shall be evaluated by the District to determine their appropriate grade placement.

C. Prior to the child’s admission to a District school:

1. The parent, guardian or other responsible person shall furnish the child’s social security number, or if they request, the district will assign the child a nine (9) digit number designated by the Department of Education.

2. The parent, guardian or other responsible person shall provide the district with one (1) of the following documents indicating the child’s age:

a. A birth certificate;

b. A statement by the local registrar or a county recorder certifying the child’s date of birth;

c. An attested baptismal certificate;

d. A passport;

e. An affidavit of the date and place of birth by the child’s parent or

guardian;

f. United States military identification; or

g. Previous school records.

D. The parent, guardian or other responsible person shall indicate on school registration forms whether the child has been expelled from school in any other school district or is a party to an expulsion proceeding.

E. The child shall be age appropriately immunized from poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, red (rubeola) measles, rubella, and other diseases as designated by the State Board of Health, or have an exemption issued by the Arkansas State Department of Health. Proof of immunization shall be by a certificate of a licensed physician or a public health department acknowledging the immunization. The child’s last DTP and Polio must be administered after the 4^th birthday. The first dose of measles or MMR must be administered after the child’s 1^st birthday. Each child should have 2 doses of the MMR vaccine (MMR is Measles, Mumps and Rubella), 3 doses of Hepatitis B, and 1 dose of Varicella (chickenpox). The dosage must have been administered on or after the child’s 1^st birthday. One dose is required for all kindergarten students or proof of having the disease.

F. Act 1255 of 2005 requires schools to “immediately” enroll foster children whether or not they can produce “required clothing or required records”.

1.10 HOMELESS STUDENTS

A. The South Conway County School District will afford the same services and educational opportunities to homeless children as are afforded to non-homeless children. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall appoint an appropriate staff person to be the local educational liaison for homeless children and youth whose responsibilities shall include coordinating with the state educational liaison for homeless children and youth to ensure that homeless children are not stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as homeless and such other duties as are prescribed by law and this policy.

B. Homeless students living in the district are entitled to enroll in the district’s school that non-homeless students who live in the same attendance area are eligible to attend. If there is a question concerning the enrollment of a homeless child due to a conflict with the South Conway County School District Policy 4.1 or 4.2, the child shall be immediately admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought pending resolution of the dispute. It is the responsibility of the District’s local educational liaison for homeless children and youth to carry out the dispute resolution process.

C. The District shall act according to the best interests of a homeless child and to the extent feasible, shall do one of the following. (For the purposes of this policy “school of origin” means the school the child attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child was last enrolled).

1. continue educating the child who becomes homeless between academic years or during an academic year in their school of origin for the duration of their homelessness;

2. continue educating the child in his/her school of origin who becomes permanently housed during an academic year for the remainder of the academic year; or

3. enroll the homeless child in the school appropriate for the attendance zone where the child lives.

D. If the District elects to enroll a homeless child in a school other than their school of origin and such action is against the wishes of the child’s parent or guardian, the District shall provide the parent or guardian with a written explanation of their reason for so doing which shall include a statement of the parent/guardian’s right to appeal.

E. In any instance where the child is unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, the District’s local educational liaison for homeless children and youth shall assist the child in determining his/her place of enrollment. The Liaison shall provide the child with a notice of his/her right to appeal the enrollment decision.

F. The District shall be responsible for providing transportation for a homeless child, at the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison), to and from the child’s school.

G. For the purposes of this policy, students shall be considered homeless if they lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and

1. are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;

2. have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

3. are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; or

4. are migratory children who are living in circumstances described in clauses (a) through (c).

1.15 COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

A. Every parent, guardian or other person having custody or care of any child age five (5) through seventeen (17) years on or before September 15 of that year who resides, as defined by policy, within the District shall enroll and send the child to a District school with the following exceptions:

1. The child is enrolled in private or parochial school.

2. The child is being home schooled and the conditions of the homeschool policy have been met.

3. The child will not be age six (6) on or before September 15 of that particular school year and the parent, guardian or other person having custody or charge of the child elects not to have him/her attend kindergarten. A kindergarten wavier form prescribed by regulations of the Department of Education must be signed and on file with the District administrative office.

4. The child has received a high school diploma or its equivalent as determined by the State Board of Education.

5. The child is age sixteen (16) or above and is enrolled in a post-secondary vocational-technical institution, a community college or a two-year or four-year institution of higher education.

6. The child is age sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) and has met the requirements to enroll in an adult education program as defined by A.C.A. § 6-18-201 (b).

1.20 HOME SCHOOL

A. Parents or legal guardians desiring to provide a home school for their children must give written notice to the Superintendent of their intent to do so and sign a waiver acknowledging that the State of Arkansas is not liable for the education of their children during the time the parents choose to home school. Notice shall be given:

1. At the beginning of each school year, but no later than August 15;

2. By December 15 for parents who decide to start home schooling at the beginning of the spring semester; or

3. Fourteen (14) calendar days prior to withdrawing the child (provided the student is not currently under disciplinary action for violation of any written school policy, including, but not limited to, excessive unexcused absences) and at the beginning of each school year thereafter.

B. The parents or legal guardians shall deliver written notice in person to the Superintendent the first time such notice is given and the notice must include:

1. The name, date of birth, grade level and the name and address of the school last attended, if any;

2. The location of the home school;

3. The basic core curriculum to be offered;

4. The proposed schedule of instruction; and

5. The qualifications of the parent-teacher.

C. To aid the District in providing a free and appropriate public education to students in need of special education services, the parents or legal guardians home schooling their children shall provide information which might indicate the need for special education services.

D. Any student transferring from a home school to a District school shall be evaluated/assessed by District staff to determine the student’s appropriate grade placement. The District specifically reserves the right to utilize various assessment techniques to determine appropriate grade placement.

Legal References: A.C.A. § 6-15-503, A.C.A. § 6-41-206

1.25 EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

A. No student in the South Conway County School District shall, on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity sponsored by the District.

1.30 ABSENCES

A. Attendance and achievement go hand in hand. Students should be in school unless illness or extenuating circumstance justifies an absence. The purpose of this policy is to define excused, unexcused, and excessive absences. The policy also explains procedures the school may use to address attendance problems.

B. At Morrilton Junior High School (MJHS), the student must return to school with a signed and dated note from the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis that states the date and reason for the absence. If the note is not turned into the office within three (3) days of the returning to school from the absence, then the absence(s) shall be treated as unexcused. Any medical or extenuating documentation should be attached to this note. The written note will be used to evaluate excused, unexcused and excessive absenteeism.

C. At Morrilton High School (MHS), notes are only required for excused absences outlined in section D. All other absences will be unexcused.

D. An excused absence is defined as follows:

1. The student’s illness or when attendance could jeopardize the health of others.

* Head lice infestation is excused for one day per occurrence.

2. Death or illness in the immediate family. The definition of immediate family

members is students’ spouse, child, parent or relative living in the same residence.

3. &nb

South Conway County School District

Morrilton, Arkansas

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Student and Parent

Handbook

1.05 ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS