Behavior Expectations

Philosophy: The school staff and parents/guardians share the responsibility of helping children behave appropriately in the school environment where children have rights and responsibilities. The school staff will help students learn to follow rules of proper conduct and safety. Student self-discipline is a main goal of the discipline plan at our school. Another goal is to foster communication between the school staff and parents to help students behave properly. The guidelines for our discipline philosophy are the Character Traits of: RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, HONESTY, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND COMPASSION.

Discipline: The purpose of the discipline program is to provide an excellent learning climate at our primary school. The success for this program will be determined by those who abide by the rules and work to keep our school an excellent learning facility. Students who behave properly will be rewarded and/or recognized, just as students who misbehave will experience an appropriate consequence. A system of rewarding students for proper behavior and removing privileges for misbehavior shall be designed by each grade level.

PBIS: Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture that is needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional and academic success. Attention is focused on creating and sustaining primary (schoolwide), secondary (classroom), and tertiary (individual) systems of support that improve lifestyle results (personal, health, social, family, work, recreations) for all youth by making targeted misbehavior less effective, efficient and relevant, and desired behavior more functional. Our PBIS Bluejacket matrix is below. For
additional information, visit the school district page on PBIS.

Office Referrals for Behaviors that create a safety concern or are illegal in nature are referred to the office immediately. Specific behaviors that typically result in an office referral include but are not limited to: persistent disruption of student learning, disrespect or insubordination, abusive language or profanity (including inappropriate gestures), physical contact or aggression, property destruction or vandalism, harassment or bullying, or theft.

Removal from Class: Disruptive or insubordinate students may be removed from class and sent to the office. Staff will contact parents/guardians when this occurs. Parent conferences may be required to evaluate the situation and future actions.

Reasonable Force: In accordance with MN State Law and in order to maintain a safe environment, staff are permitted to use reasonable force to restrain or correct a student when that individual is in danger of hurting them self, others, or property.

Suspension: The suspension process will follow the provisions of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act. Examples of why students may be suspended include, but are not limited to defiance/refusal, assault, harassment, violence, weapon possession, fighting, threats, and possession or use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco. A conference with the principal may be held before a student is allowed to return to school.

Due Process: If students feel they have followed procedures concerning school policy yet have reached an impasse, they may file a grievance by doing the following:

Step 1: The student must present a written statement of facts concerning the impasse to the principal within 15 days
of the initial situation. The statement should include specifics such as dates, names and incidents.

Step 2: The principal will investigate the grievance and respond in writing to the student and faculty members involved
within five days.

Step 3: If the impasse is not resolved, the grievance will be presented to the Superintendent of Schools and a meeting
of involved parties will be arranged, including parents/guardians of the involved student. Conciliation is the goal of this
meeting. A time limit of 10 days is provided for this procedure.

Step 4: If the impasse is not resolved, it will be presented to the School Board. Their decision will be final.