The board believes inappropriate student conduct causes material and substantial disruption to the school environment, interferes with the rights of others, or presents a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, and visitors on school premises. Appropriate classroom behavior allows teachers to communicate more effectively with students.
Students will conduct themselves in a manner fitting to their age level and maturity and with respect and consideration for the rights of others while on school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on school owned and/or operated school or chartered vehicles; while attending or engaged in school activities; and while away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficient management and welfare of the school district. Consequences for the misconduct will be fair and developmentally appropriate in light of the circumstances.
Students who fail to abide by this policy, and the administrative regulations supporting it, may be disciplined for conduct which disrupts or interferes with the education program; conduct which disrupts the orderly and efficient operation of the school district or school activity; conduct which disrupts the rights of other students to participate in or obtain their education; conduct that is violent or destructive; or conduct which interrupts the maintenance of a disciplined atmosphere. Disciplinary measures include, but are not limited to, removal from the classroom, detention, suspension, probation, and expulsion.
A student who commits an assault against an employee on school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on school-owned or school-operated chartered vehicles; or while attending or engaged in school district activities will be suspended by school administration. School administration will review the suspension and determine whether to impose further sanctions against the student which may include recommendation for expulsion. In making its decision, school administration shall consider the best interests of the school district, which shall include what is best to protect and ensure the safety of the school employees and students from the student committing the assault. Assault for purposes of this section of this policy is defined as, when, without justification, a student does any of the following:
an act which is intended to cause pain or injury to, or which is intended to result in physical contact which will be insulting or offensive to another, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act; or
any act which is intended to place another in fear of immediate physical contact which will be painful, injurious, insulting or offensive, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act; or
intentionally points any firearm toward another or displays in a threatening manner any dangerous weapon toward another.
The act is not an assault when the person doing any of the above and the other person are voluntary participants in a sport, social or other activity, not in itself criminal, when the act is a reasonably foreseeable incident of such sport or activity, and does not create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or breach of the peace.
Removal from the classroom means a student is sent to the building principal's office. It is within the discretion of the person in charge of the classroom to remove the student.
Detention means the student's presence is required during non-school hours for disciplinary purposes. The student can be required to appear prior to the beginning of the school day, after school has been dismissed for the day, or on a non-school day. Whether a student will serve detention, and the length of the detention, is within the discretion of the licensed employee or the building principal, disciplining the student.
Suspension means; either an in-school suspension, an out-of-school suspension, a restriction from activities or loss of eligibility. An in-school suspension means the student will attend school but will be temporarily isolated from one or more classes while under supervision. An in-school suspension will not exceed ten consecutive school days. An out-of-school suspension means the student is removed from the school environment, which includes school classes and activities. An out-of-school suspension will not exceed ten consecutive school days. A restriction from school activities means a student will attend school and classes and practice but will not participate in school activities.
Probation means a student is given a conditional suspension of a penalty for a definite period of time in addition to being reprimanded. The conditional suspension will mean the student must meet the conditions and terms for the suspension of the penalty. Failure of the student to meet these conditions and terms will result in immediate reinstatement of the penalty.
Expulsion means an action by the board to remove a student from the school environment, which includes, but is not limited to, classes and activities, for a period of time set by the board.
Discipline of special education students, including suspensions and expulsions, will comply with the provisions of applicable federal and state laws.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with school administration, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Legal Reference: Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975).
Brands v. Sheldon Community School District, 671 F. Supp. 627 (N.D. Iowa 1987).
Sims v. Colfax Comm. School Dist., 307 F. Supp. 485 (Iowa 1970).
Bunger v. Iowa High School Athletic Assn., 197 N.W.2d 555 (Iowa 1972).
Board of Directors of Ind. School Dist. of Waterloo v. Green, 259 Iowa 1260, 147
N.W.2d 854 (1967).
Iowa Code §§ 279.8;282.3, 282.4, 282.5; 708.1.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6)
Only the board may remove a student from the school environment. The removal of a student from the school environment, which includes, but is not limited to, classes and activities, is an expulsion from school.
Students may be expelled for violations of board policy, school rules or the law. It is within the discretion of the board to discipline a student by using an expulsion for a single offense or for a series of offenses depending on the nature of the offense and the circumstances surrounding the offense.
It is within the discretion of the superintendent to recommend to the board the expulsion of a student for disciplinary purposes. Only the board may take action to expel a student and to readmit the student. School administration will keep records of expulsions in addition to the board's records.
When a student is recommended for expulsion by the board, the student is provided with:
1. Notice of the reasons for the proposed expulsion;
2. The names of the witnesses and an oral or written report on the facts to which each witness testifies unless the witnesses are students whose names may be released at the discretion of the superintendent;
3. An opportunity to present a defense against the charges and provide either oral testimony or written affidavits of witnesses on the student's behalf;
4. The right to be represented by counsel; and
5. The results and finding of the board in writing open to the student's inspection.
In addition to these procedures, a special education student must be provided with additional procedures. A determination should be made of whether the student is actually guilty of the misconduct. A staffing team should determine whether the student's behavior is caused by the student's disability and whether the conduct is the result of inappropriate placement. Discussions and conclusions of this meeting should be recorded.
If the special education student's conduct is not caused by the disability, the student may be expelled or suspended for a long-term period following written notice to the parent and pursuant to the school district's expulsion hearing procedures. If the misconduct is caused by the disability and a change in placement is recommended, the change must be made pursuant to the placement procedures used by the school district.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Legal Reference: Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975).
Wood v. Strickland, 420 U.S. 308 (1975).
Southeast Warren Comm. School District v. Dept. of Public Instruction, 285
N.W.2d 173 (Iowa 1979).
Iowa Code §§ 21.5; 282.3, .4, .5 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6).
The board believes students should respect school district property and assist in its preservation for future use by others. Students may be assessed fines, charges, or fees for the materials needed in a course, for overdue school materials, for participating in activities, or for misuse of school property.
The superintendent will inform the board of the dollar amount to be charged to students or others for fines, charges, or fees annually. Parents of students meeting specific financial eligibility standards will be eligible for a waiver of student fees or a reduction of student fees based upon the request of the parent. It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.7(20); 279.8; 280.10, .11; 282.6; 285.1; 301.1 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 18.2.
1994 Op. Att'y Gen. 23.
1990 Op. Att'y Gen. 79.
1982 Op. Att'y Gen. 227.
1980 Op. Att'y Gen. 532.
Standard Fee Waiver Application
Date: School Year:
All information provided in connection with this application will be kept confidential.
Name of Student: Grade in School:
Name of Student: Grade in School:
Name of Student: Grade in School:
Attendance Center/School:
Name of Parent, Guardian or Legal or Actual Custodian:
Please check type of waiver desired:
Full Waiver Partial Waiver Temporary Waiver
Please check if the student or the student’s family meets the financial eligibility criteria or is involved in one of the following programs:
Full Waiver:
Free meals offered under the Children Nutrition Program (CNP)
The Family Investment Program (FIP)
Transportation assistance under open enrollment
Foster care
Partial Waiver:
Reduced priced meals offered under the Children Nutrition Program (CNP)
Temporary Waiver
If none of the above apply, but you wish to apply for a temporary waiver of school fees because of serious financial problems, please state the reason for the request:
Signature of Parent, Guardian or Legal or Actual Custodian:
Date Board Approved: 12/19/2017
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
The board recognizes that while certain fees charged students are appropriate and authorized, certain students and their families are not financially able to pay the fees. The school district will grant either full waivers or partial waivers depending upon the circumstances and the student or student’s parents’ ability to meet the financial criteria.
A. Waivers
Full Waivers - a student will be granted a full waiver of fees charged by the school district if the student or student’s parents meet the financial eligibility criteria for free meals under the Child Nutrition Program, Family Investment Program, Supplemental Security Income guidelines, or transportation assistance under open enrollment. Students in foster care are also eligible for full waivers.
Partial Waivers - a student will be granted a partial waiver of fees of 50% charged by the school district if the student or the student’s parents meet the financial eligibility criteria for reduced price meals offered under the Child Nutrition program.
Temporary Waivers - a student may be eligible for a temporary waiver of fees charged by the district in the event the student’s parents are facing financial difficulty. Temporary waivers may be applied for at any time throughout the school year and will not extend beyond the end of the school year.
B. Application
Parents or students eligible for a fee waiver shall make an application on the form provided by the school district. Applications may be made at any time but must be renewed annually.
C. Confidentiality
The school district will treat the application and application process as any other student record and student confidentiality and access provisions will be followed.
D. Appeals
Denials of a waiver may be appealed, in writing, to the Business Manager, Schleswig Community School, 714 Date Street, PO Box 250, Schleswig, IA 51461
E. Fines or charges assessed for damage or loss to school property are not fees and will not be waived.
F. Notice - the school district will annually notify parents and students of the waiver. The following information will be included in registration materials and printed in the (parent handbook, student handbook):
Students whose families meet the income guidelines for free and reduced price lunch, the Family Investment Program (FIP), transportation assistance under open enrollment, or who are in foster care are eligible to have their student fees waived or partially waived. Students whose families are experiencing a temporary financial difficulty may be eligible for a temporary waiver of student fees. Parents or students who believe they may qualify for temporary financial hardship should contact the (principal, secretary, etc.) at (registration time, by (date), etc.) for a waiver form. This waiver does not carry over from year to year and must be completed annually.
See Application for Waiver of Standard Fees, Schleswig Community School District.
Date Board Approved: 12/19/2017
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Participation in school activities is a privilege. School activities provide the benefits of promoting additional interests and abilities in the students during their school years and for their lifetimes.
Students who participate in extracurricular activities serve as ambassadors of the school district throughout the calendar year, whether away from school or at school. Students who wish to have the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities must conduct themselves in accordance with board policy and must refrain from activities which are illegal, immoral or unhealthy.
Students who fail to abide by this policy and the administrative regulations supporting it may be subject to disciplinary measures. School administration will keep records of violations of the good conduct rule.
It is the responsibility of school administration to develop rules and regulations for school activities. Students wanting to participate in school activities must meet the requirements set out by the school district for participation in the activity.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Legal Reference: Bunger v. Iowa High School Athletic Assn., 197 N.W.2d 555 (Iowa 1972).
In re Jason Clark, 1 D.P.I. App. Dec. 167 (1978).
Iowa Code §§ 280.13, .13A (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6); 36.15(1).
The use of corporal punishment, mechanical restraint and/or prone restraint is prohibited in all schools. Corporal punishment is defined as the intentional physical punishment of a student. It includes the use of unreasonable or unnecessary physical force or physical contact made with the intent to harm or cause pain. No employee is prohibited from any of the following which are not considered corporal punishment:
Using reasonable and necessary force, not designed or intended to cause pain, in order to accomplish any of the following:
-- To quell a disturbance or prevent an act that threatens physical harm to any person.
-- To obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous object(s) within a student's control.
-- For the purposes of self-defense or defense of others as provided for in Iowa Code section 704.3.
-- For the protection of property as provided for in Iowa Code section 704.4 or 704.5.
-- To remove a disruptive student from class or any area of school premises or from school-sponsored activities off school premises.
-- To protect a student from the self-infliction of harm.
-- To protect the safety of others.
Using incidental, minor, or reasonable physical contact to maintain order and control.
Mechanical restraint means the use of a device as a means of restricting a student’s freedom of movement. Mechanical restraint does not mean a device used by a trained individual for specific approved therapeutic or safety purposes for which the device was designed and, if applicable, prescribed, including restraints for medical immobilization, adaptive devices or mechanical supports used to allow greater freedom of mobility than would be possible without use of such devices or mechanical supports; and vehicle safety restraints when used as intended during the transport of a student in a moving vehicle.
Prone restraint means any restraint in which the student is held face down on the floor.
Reasonable force should be commensurate with the circumstances of the situation. The following factors should be considered in using reasonable physical force for the reasons stated in this policy:
1. The size and physical, mental, and psychological condition of the student;
2. The nature of the student's behavior or misconduct provoking the use of physical force;
3. The instrumentality used in applying the physical force;
4. The extent and nature of resulting injury to the student, if any, including mental and psychological injury;
5. The motivation of the school employee using physical force.
Upon request, the student's parents are given an explanation of the reasons for physical force.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Legal Reference: Ingraham v.Wright, 430 U.S. 651 (1977).
Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975).
Tinkham v. Kole, 252 Iowa 1303, 110 N.W.2d 258 (1961).
Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.21.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6); 103.
Date Board Approved: 8/12/2010
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022