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Schools discipline policy is explained
You may have wondered at times about how our Quincy schools deal effectively with serious student misconduct matters such as fighting or bringing dangerous weapons to school.
When incidents occur at school, rumors and unofficial accounts of the situation often spread quickly, causing speculation, concern and fear in the community. A recent incident involving a student who brought a pocket knife to one of our elementary schools is a case in point.
First, let me make it clear that we take the matter of student and staff safety very seriously. This is our top priority. We also recognize that learning can only take place in an environment that is safe and orderly. Because of this, we have established district level policies and procedures that align with state and federal legal requirements to deal with serious student misconduct issues.
Under these policies and procedures, the discipline “tools” we have at our disposal include the following:
n Short term suspension (10 days or less).
n Long term suspension (more than 10 days).
n Emergency expulsion (immediate exclusion from school for an indefinite period where the principal believes the student presents an immediate and continuing danger to himself/herself, other students, staff or administrators or is a substantial disruption to the educational process; remains in effect until student is reinstated by the principal or until a hearing officer determines that the student no longer poses the threat of danger or disruption).
n Expulsion (exclusion from school for an indefinite period).
In addition to utilizing the tools outlined above, we use the services of our district Director of Security for assistance as needed. We also work closely with our local law enforcement agencies, involving the police in investigating any student misconduct that may prove to be criminal behavior.
In the case mentioned earlier, the pocket knife was immediately confiscated. The student was suspended, and the police were notified.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the student made serious threats to other students with the pocket knife.
On the basis of this information, both the emergency expulsion and expulsion options were implemented. These steps were taken to assure that the student would not return to school for the safety and well being of all our students and staff members.
Should you have questions about any matters related to this message, I invite you to contact me at the Quincy School District Office at 509-787-4571.
— Burton Dickerson, Superintendent of Quincy School District
