Section J contains policies on students — admissions, attendance, rights and responsibilities, conduct, discipline, health and welfare, and school-related activities.
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to maintain a learning environment for students that is free from sexual harassment or other improper or inappropriate behavior that may constitute harassment as defined below.
Sexual harassment is against the law and is against school board policy. Any form of sexual harassment is strictly prohibited.
In circumstances where the best interests of a student warrant a change of school assignment, the Superintendent or his/her designee is authorized to reassign a student from the public school to which he/she is currently assigned to another public school, or to approve a request from another Superintendent to accept a transfer of a student from a school.
A student shall enter grade one if his/her chronological age will be six (6) before September 30 of the school year of entry.
A child may only enter Kindergarten if his/her chronological age will be five (5) before September 30 of the school year of entry.
The Superintendent is hereby authorized to grant a waiver for exceptions to Kindergarten entrance age.
The Superintendent will assign resident students to a public school within the District.
The School Board recognizes that in unusual and extraordinary circumstances, a parent/guardian may wish to request a change in the student’s school assignment to another public school within the District or a public school in another district. When the parent/guardian believes that the assignment that has been made will result in a manifest educational hardship to the student,
All school personnel are to be instructed to refuse requests for students to leave the school grounds once they have come to the school or have been deposited there from the school buses or other vehicles. Students shall not leave the school grounds from the time they arrive until the time of their departure for home except as follows:
Students who are not residents of the Contoocook Valley School District may attend District schools so long as there is space available, and upon payment of established tuition fees, this includes students in Foster Care. Except as set forth in paragraph 3, below, admission of nonresident students shall be subject to approval by the School Board upon the recommendation of the Superintendent.
Read More: JFAB – Admission and Tuition of Nonresident Students
It is the Board’s intent to remove barriers to the identification, enrollment and retention in schools of homeless children and youth. All staff shall take reasonable steps to ensure that homeless students and children are not segregated or stigmatized and that educational decisions are made in the best interests of those students.
A.
Read More: JFABD – Admission Of Homeless Children and Unaccompanied Youth
It is the ConVal School Board’s intent to remove barriers to the identification, enrollment and retention in school of children who are in foster care. All staff shall take reasonable steps to ensure that children in foster care are not segregated or stigmatized and that educational decisions are made in the best interests of those students.
All students who are included under the compulsory attendance law must be enrolled and are required to attend all classes prescribed by the state and the district unless exempt by school authorities.
Beginning in grade 1, students will be placed in the grade level and class that best meets their academic needs and in which they can be expected to master established district instructional and learning objectives,
Read More: JG – Assignment Of Students To Classes And Grade Levels
Absences
School-aged children enrolled in the District must attend school in accordance with all applicable state laws and Board policies. The educational program offered by the District is predicated upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation in order for students to achieve academic standards and consistent educational progress.
The school nurse shall ensure that all students shall be immunized prior to school entrance in accordance with current state rules and regulations.
Category: P
1st Read: June 7, 2011
2nd Read: July 19, 2011
Adoption: July 19, 2011
The Contoocook Valley School District will work cooperatively with the Division of Public Health Services of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to enforce and adhere to the Public Health Code (Chapter He-P 300 Diseases) for the prevention, control, and containment of communicable disease in schools. To insure adherence to current law and medical practices,
The privileges and rights of all students shall be guaranteed.
A primary responsibility of the Contoocook Valley School District and its professional staff to its students shall be the development of an understanding and appreciation of our representative form of government, the rights and responsibilities of the individual and the legal processes whereby necessary changes are brought about consistent with the United State Constitution,
Students facing discipline will be afforded all due process rights given by law. The Superintendent or designee appointed in writing, is authorized to suspend any student for ten days or less for violations of school rules or policies. The School Board, or representative thereof, designated in writing, is authorized to continue the suspension in excess of 10 days following a hearing with the aforementioned representative.
Students have a responsibility to know and respect the rules and regulations of the school.
Students shall receive annually, at the opening of school, a publication (student handbook) listing the rules and regulations to which they are subject. Such publication will be made available in another language or presented orally upon request.
Legal References:
RSA 189:15,
The ConVal School Board recognizes that student individual dress is primarily a parental responsibility that should reflect concern for health and safety of students, staff, and others. When the dress of an individual student constitutes a health problem, is unsuitable for school wear, is a danger to any person, or causes a substantial and material disruption or substantial disturbance,
Students using District transportation must understand that they are under the jurisdiction of the School from the time they board the bus until they exit the bus.
Students transported in a school bus shall be under the authority of the District and under control of the bus driver. Continued disorderly conduct or persistent refusal to submit to the authority of the driver shall be sufficient reasons for a student to be denied the privilege of transportation in accordance with the regulations of the Board.
At all times, students are required to conduct themselves in accordance with behavioral standards set forth in Policy JIC and all other applicable Board policies and all District or school rules. Failure to comply can lead to disciplinary consequences as set forth in this policy and applicable law.
A. Disciplinary Measures – “Definitions”
The ConVal School Board recognizes that out-of-school and off-campus student conduct is not normally the concern of the Board. However, the Board also recognizes that some out-of-school and off-campus conduct may have an adverse effect upon the school, school property, or school staff.
Therefore, it shall be the policy of this Board that the Board or school administrators may impose disciplinary measures against students for some out-of-school or off-campus conduct.
In cases of all assaults, the building principal, or assistant, shall notify the involved students parents by telephone and letter about the incident. The letter from the building or assistant principal shall describe the incident and the seriousness and harm done or potential harm and the School District s response to the incident to the extent permitted by confidentiality laws and regulations.
Read More: JICDDA – Simple Assaults: Parental Notification Policy
The School Board may authorize school-sponsored publications, such as annual yearbooks, student newspapers, and Internet web-sites. All publications will conform to rules established by the Superintendent and the building principal. Any publication not approved by the Board will not be considered a school publication and shall not be distributed on school property. Further, school district resources shall not be used for the production,
Gangs which initiate, advocate, or promote activities which threaten the safety or well-being of persons
or property on school grounds or which disrupt the school environment are harmful to the educational
process. The use of hand signals, graffiti, or the presence of any apparel, jewelry, accessory, or manner
of grooming which, by virtue of its color,
It is the policy of the District that no student or employee of the District shall participate in or be a member of any secret organization that is in any degree related to the school or to a school activity. No student organization or any person associated with any organization sanctioned by the School Board shall engage or participate in hazing.
State law prohibits the use of any tobacco product, E-cigarette, or liquid nicotine in any facility or upon any grounds maintained by the District. Students and minors are further prohibited from possessing such items in or upon any facility, school vehicle, or grounds owned or maintained by the District.
A. Definitions
“Tobacco product(s)”
Read More: JICG – Tobacco Products Ban Use and Possession in and on School Facilities and Grounds
The ConVal School District recognizes that substance misuse and abuse is a complex problem. For this reason, the district takes a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue through education as a means of prevention, strategies of intervention, policy and enforcement.
This policy refers to any and all illegal substances or items misused with the intention of producing an altered state.
This Policy applies to school employees and students. Weapons are not permitted in school buildings, on school property, in school busses or vehicles used to transport students, at school-sponsored activities, or in a Safe School Zone as defined in RSA 193-D at any time without the advanced written authorization of the Superintendent of Schools or designee.
Each school will develop and implement procedures for digital devices that are in compliance with all School District Policies.
Category: R
1st Read: May 19, 2015
2nd Read: June 16, 2015
Adopted: June 16, 2015
Read More: JICJ – Authorized Use Of Personal Electronic Devices
I. General Statement of Policy and Prohibition Against Bullying and Cyberbullying
The Contoocook Valley School District is committed to providing all pupils a safe school environment. Conduct constituting bullying or cyberbullying will not be tolerated, and is prohibited by this policy in accordance with RSA 193-F. This policy applies to all pupils and school-aged persons on school property and participating in school functions,
Overview
The ConVal School District provides its students access to a multitude of technology resources. These resources provide opportunities to enhance learning and improve communication within our education community and with the global community beyond our campus. However, with the privilege of access is the responsibility of students to exercise appropriate personal responsibility in their use of these resources.
Read More: JICL – Internet Safety and Responsible Use – for Students
The Superintendent, principal, security personnel of the school or other authorized personnel may detain and search any student or students on the premises of the public schools, or while attending, or while in transit on school vehicle, to any event or function sponsored or authorized by the school under the following conditions:
1.
Parking of student automobiles on school property is a privilege and not a right. This policy shall serve as notice to both parents and students that, as part of this privilege, the district regulates what may be stored in vehicles and may search students’ automobiles while parked on school property if the district has reasonable suspicion that a violation of school rules,
Read More: JIHB — Searches of Student Automobiles on School Property
The ConVal School District encourages pupils who attend nonpublic schools, public charter schools, or who are home educated to access to the District’s curricular courses and co-curricular programs in the same way as that of students who attend ConVal schools.
All pupils residing in the District, whether they are home educated, or are attending public chartered school or nonpublic schools,
The School Board authorizes the establishment of Student Activity Funds. Such funds shall be organized and managed consistent with the provisions of this policy.
Student activity funds may be raised and spent to promote the general welfare, education of the student body and/or the extracurricular activities of student clubs, groups and organizations.
The Business Administrator shall be responsible for the proper administration of the financial activities of the Student activities fund in accordance with state law and appropriate accounting practices and procedures.
Read More: JJF – Student Activities Fund Management And Fundraising
The Contoocook Valley School Board believes individual students will benefit through opportunities to grow physically and intellectually through their experience in self-discipline and their contribution to team effort made possible through competitive interschool and intramural team and individual sports activities.
It is the Board’s policy to provide interscholastic athletic competition in a variety of sports.
The ConVal School District encourages pupils who attend nonpublic schools, public charter schools, or who are home educated to access to the District’s curricular courses and co-curricular programs in the same way as that of students who attend ConVal schools.
All pupils residing in the District, whether they are home educated, or are attending public chartered school or nonpublic schools,
No teacher, administrator, student, or other person will subject a student to corporal punishment or condone the use of corporal punishment by any person under his or her supervision or control, except in self-defense or in exigent circumstances. Permission to administer corporal punishment will not be sought or accepted from any parent, guardian, or school official.
The District and all of its employees and contractors have a duty to maintain an orderly, safe environment that is conducive to learning and the District’s educational mission. Positive behavioral interventions based on the results of behavioral assessment, shall serve as the foundation for any program used to address the behavioral needs of students. When reasonable to do such,
Read More: JKAA – Use Of Restraint, Seclusion, And Physical Contact
A school administrator or teacher may detain a student for disciplinary reasons during school hours. Further, a school administrator or teacher may detain a Student for disciplinary reasons after school hours, provided the parent has been notified of the detention and, in the case of bus students, arrangements have been made for the student’s transportation home.
The Board recommends that all students have accident insurance for their parents’ protection. The school does not provide insurance covering medical payment for student accidents. Although arranging for such insurances is the responsibility of the student and parents or guardians, the Board will name an insurance carrier each year to offer group rates. Participation in the group plan is purely optional.
The School Board may appoint a school nurse to function in the school health program. A school nurse shall be a registered professional nurse licensed in New Hampshire, working within nursing scope of practice as defined by New Hampshire Board of Nursing.
The Board may employ or contract with a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) to work under the direct supervision of the school Registered Nurse (RN).
Each child must have a complete physical examination within one year preceding first entry to school. The Board also requires physical exams be completed prior to entrance to middle school and again prior to entrance to high school. No medical examination shall be required of a child whose parent or guardian objects thereto in writing on the grounds such medical examination is contrary to his/her religious tenets and teachings.
Screening
Based on recommendations from the National Association of School Nurses, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students with nits and/or head lice should not be excluded from school. School-wide screening for nits alone is not an accurate way of predicting which children will become infested with head lice.
The ConVal School Board, with the advice of the ConVal professional registered nurses (herein referred to as the school nurse) shall establish specific policies and procedures to give protection and controls to the matter of medications in schools (Ed 311.02)(JLCD-R).
The intent of this policy is to provide general standards for the administration of necessary medication to students during school hours and school-sponsored activities.
All school personnel have responsibilities regarding injuries and emergencies as follows:
School personnel must use reasonable judgment in handling accident cases. Caution should be exercised not to minimize or maximize any injuries or emergency.
The Board authorizes the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs, which are located in every building) in emergency situations. The use, administration, and maintenance of the AED are subject to the following conditions:
1. Location of the AEDs: The Superintendent, building principal and school nurse shall select and approve the locations for the AEDs.
Read More: JLCEA – Use Of Automated External Defibrillator(s)
The Contoocook Valley School District is committed to providing a school environment that enhances learning and the development of lifelong wellness practices.
To accomplish these goals, the Board directs the administration to implement rules and regulations aimed at ensuring:
The School Board recognizes that concussions and head injuries are commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and other recreational activities. The Board acknowledges the risk of catastrophic injuries or death is significant when a concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated and managed. The Board recognizes that the majority of concussions will occur in “contact” or “collisions” sports.
ConVal School District will meet the special physical health needs of all students, consistent with state and federal law. The ConVal School Board recommends that all pupils participate in developmentally appropriate daily physical activity, exercise, or physical education as a way to minimize the health risks created by chronic inactivity, childhood obesity, and other related health problems.
The Contoocook Valley School District recognizes that students are being diagnosed with life threatening allergies and is committed to the safety and health of all students.
The policy goals are to:
1. Provide a safe and healthy learning environment for all students;
2. Reduce the likelihood of severe or potentially life-threatening allergic reactions;
The School Board is committed to ensuring a high quality school counseling program that is comprehensive, developmentally appropriate, fosters academic achievement, and personal growth, which is provided to all District students in an equitable manner.
The program will include the following:
Distribution of information and support to students and families about academic programming,
It is the policy of the Board to promote an environment that is safe and conducive to learning for all students and staff. To ensure that our students and staff have an environment that is safe and conducive to learning, the Board directs the
Superintendent or designee to set forth procedures for behavior management and interventions that are designed to maintain a positive environment.
The Board is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of its students and school community. This policy supports federal, state and local efforts to provide education on youth suicide awareness and prevention; to establish methods of prevention, intervention, and response to suicide or suicide attempt (“postvention”); and to promote access to suicide awareness,
Each school employee, designated volunteer, or contracted service provider having reason to suspect that a child is being or has been abused or neglected, shall immediately report (or have the Principal or designee report) his/her suspicions to the Division for Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Central Intake Unit, and the Building Principal or designee. Reporting to the Principal,
The Superintendent will cause the formation of the Joint Loss Management Committee as required by RSA 281-A:64, III, and a Crisis Management Plan that conforms to the national Incident Command System.
The practice of safety shall also be considered a facet of the instructional plan of the District schools by incorporating educational programs in traffic and pedestrian safety,
The School Board is committed to ensuring that students are appropriately supervised at times when the District is responsible for providing students with a reasonable duty of care and supervision.
The Building Principal is responsible for administering and supervising the school, the general conduct of students, both on school premises and during school-sponsored activities off school grounds.
Improper or unsafe use of a motor vehicle on school grounds can result in suspension from school (in-school or out-of-school) for a period of time not exceed five (5) days. Driving a motor vehicle from school grounds during the school day without authorization will be considered improper use of a motor vehicle and will be considered grounds for discipline,
A. General Statement. It is the policy of the School Board that all school district personnel will follow the procedures outlined herein as they pertain to the maintenance of student records. Furthermore, it is the policy of the School Board that all school district personnel will follow the provisions of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) and its corresponding regulations as well as all state statutes pertaining to the student records,
Read More: JRA — Student Records, Privacy, Family and Adult Student Rights
