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Student Handbook Rules

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At the beginning of each school year students flock into the school excited for what the new year will hold. On the first day many of the rules and regulations for the year are reviewed and numerous papers are sent home. In this stack of papers is the Student Handbook.

While each student is required to bring back a signed permission slip saying they read this handbook, it more likely than not that no one actually read the 49 page manuel. Many students just assume that the rules are the same as the year before. And if not, they will find out when they break the new rule.

Some of the bigger changes are announced to the school as a whole, but what about the minor rules that only apply to certain groups and not the whole student body. At the beginning of this school year just as any other a student handbook was sent home.

Each time a rule is brought up with hopes of revising it is brought to the Board of Education (B.O.E.). The B.O.E. is responsible for assuring there are policies and administrative regulations in place to guide the administration and the Board through a variety of matters.

During the summer a number of these policies inside of the Student Handbook are reviewed and the handbook is then ready to be distributed at the beginning of the school year. At the beginning of this school year there were changes made to the student handbook involving a number of these policies.

“Over the past 4 years, the state legislature has amended the language in the law about bullying behavior,” said Tim James, Superintendent of Schools. “The Board also amended the policy guiding student attendance, excused absences and truancy.”

Recently the B.O.E. and administration have been working even harder to assure the health, safety, and well-being of all students. For the first time this year school administrators at the high school administered breathalyzer tests for all students entering the Homecoming Dance.

“Each time breathalyzers are utilized at dances, proms, etc. the student body is informed of that before the event,” said James. “The use of breathalyzers is intended to be a deterrent and not to see how many students can be identified as using alcohol.”

James also mentioned that he strongly believes schools should be a drug free and safe environment. Therefore, he supports the use of canines in order to sniff out illegal drugs located on and in school property.

In the student handbook it states that, “Students shall not carry, smoke, or use tobacco products in any school building, school vehicle, on school property, or at any school-related activity, on or off school property as provided by law.”

However, one flaw in the handbook is that it does not state the consequences if a student is caught smoking anywhere.

“I believe that discipline related to a student smoking on school grounds or at school-sponsored events should be progressive,” said James. “For example, after the first time a student should be give a detention. The second offense could be a suspension from school for 1-2 days. A third offense could be suspension for up to ten days.”

Another rule that is not set in stone in our Student Handbook is the number of absences that are allowed by each student without consequences. The Board of Education has however, been working to make revisions to this policy and make specific regulations.

In the Student Handbook it also mentions that no cellphones or pages are allowed on school grounds. However, as many students know a number of cellphones are used in classrooms and there are usually limited consequences.

James believes it is important that cellular technology should not be used in classrooms except in case of an emergency . As far as other forms of technology being used in the classroom as this point the B.O.E. is unable to provide sufficient funds.

“As a public school, I believe we have a responsibility to assure that if such devices are permitted in classrooms, all students should have the opportunity to use them and not just those who are able to personally afford to purchase them,” said James.

While at the beginning of each school year a handbook is sent home containing this information many students are not aware of the rules. Each summer the B.O.E. revises all its policies in order to ensure the safety of students inside of the school and is important that this information is known to all students.