Expulsion / Severe Misconduct

EXPULSION
Under the authority of the Illinois School Code, a Board of Education may expel a student. To expel a student shall mean to dismiss the student from school for an extended period of time, usually for the duration of the current semester or up to two full-term school years, with no stipulated recourse for re-admission and typically without the right to earn academic credits.

EXPULSION PROCEDURES
Expulsion shall take place only after the parents have been requested to appear at a meeting of the Board of Education, or with a hearing officer appointed by the Board to discuss their child’s behavior that warranted an expulsion recommendation. Such request shall be made by registered or certified mail and shall state the time, place and purpose of the meeting. The family needs to notify the District in ample time if they are retaining an attorney for the hearing.

The Board, or a hearing officer appointed by it, at such meeting shall state the reasons for dismissal and the date on which the expulsion is to become effective. Past acts can be taken into consideration when addressing student disciplinary issues. If a hearing officer is appointed by the Board, he/she shall submit to the Board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting, and the Board may take such action as it finds appropriate.

FIGHTING
Disputes such as, but not limited to, verbal, physical, and cyber between members of the school community should be resolved through proper channels. Students who engage in a fight or any of the previously mentioned disputes on or off school property or at a school-sponsored function will be suspended out of school. Students may also be required to attend a mandatory reentry meeting involving parents, a school administrator, and counselor.

Furthermore, charges by the local law enforcement agencies may be pursued for any level dispute, such as, but not limited to, verbal, physical, cyber, emotional/mental conflicts, etc. Charges may include, but are not limited to, local ordinance tickets or charges at the county or state level, as determined by the administration and local authorities. Multiple incidents of dispute during a student’s career could result in a recommendation for an expulsion.

FORGERY
Forgery of any school form, possession of blank hall passes, attendance slips, nurse’s excuses, forged attendance calls, etc., are prohibited and will result in disciplinary action.

GANG-RELATED ACTIVITY
The presence of or student involvement in gangs or gang-related activities on school grounds while school is in session or at school-related events, including the display of gang symbols, is strictly prohibited. Students are not permitted to display any gang- related images or slogans on any object including clothing, book bags, any electronic device, paraphernalia, notebook or book, posters, signs or photos posted in or on lockers. Any tattoo on a student’s body that may be considered gang-related must be covered at all times while on school property or at any school event. Any student who violates this policy shall be subject to suspension or expulsion in accordance with the District’s student discipline policy.

As used herein, the term “gang” shall mean, but not be limited to, any organization, club or group composed wholly or in part of students, which seeks to perpetuate itself by accepting additional members from the students enrolled in the District, and which is assembled for the common purpose or design of: 1) committing or conspiring by coercion to commit criminal offenses, 2) engaging in conduct that is inimical to the public good, or 3) engaging in conduct that interferes with or disrupts the District’s educational process or programs.

As used herein, the phrase “gang-related activity” means any conduct engaged in by a student: 1) on behalf of any gang, 2) to perpetuate the existence of any gang, or 3) to affect the common purpose and design of any gang, including without limitation recruiting students for membership in any gang, threatening or intimidating other students or employees to commit acts or omissions against his will in furtherance of the common purpose and design of any gang.

GROSS DISOBEDIENCE PERPETUATED BY ONLINE THREATS
Online or cyber threats can result in disciplinary consequences.
Public Act 097-0340 Gross Disobedience Perpetuated by Online Threats includes:
1) A threat that is a threat against a school employee, a student, or any school-related personnel;
2) A threat that was made on an internet website that was accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or was available to persons who worked or studied within the school grounds at the time the threat was made;
3) A threat that could reasonably be interpreted to threaten the safety and security of the target of the threat because of his or her duties or status as an employee of the school district or as a student of the school.

INAPPROPRIATE, ABUSIVE OR FOUL LANGUAGE
Inappropriate, abusive or profane language or gesture, slander, libels, insults, derogatory names, racial/ethnic slurs or any remarks that create an environment or climate of disrespect, fear or intimidation are not allowed in school. Violation of this policy may result in suspension from school with possible arrest and expulsion, if warranted. Students experiencing any of the above should report the incident to a teacher, counselor, dean or other staff member immediately.

LOSS OF PRIVILEGE PROGRAM
The Loss Of Privilege program has been established as a method to keep students in class while still providing consequences for behavioral issues. Students can lose privileges such as, but not limited to, Building/Activity Restriction, participation in clubs, groups, teams or loss of eating in the cafeteria during their lunch period (students will eat lunch in the ADA room), along with losing their parking permits. They may also be placed on building restriction. Loss of privilege will be primarily used for, but not limited to, unexcused absences, class truancies, excessive tardies and classroom disruptions. Students who have loss of privilege will be able to earn their privileges back over a period of time as determined by the Administration.

SCHOOL VIOLENCE TIPLINE
The School Violence Tipline is for students and others to anonymously report threats of school violence. The tipline number is 1-800-477-0024. More information from the Attorney General’s Office is posted in the Main Office.

SEARCH AND SEIZURE (BOARD POLICY 7:140)
The Board recognizes its responsibility to maintain order and security in school. Accordingly, school authorities are authorized to conduct searches of students and their personal effects, as well as the property of the District, in accordance with this policy.

A. SEARCH: STUDENTS AND THEIR PERSONAL EFFECTS
School authorities (designated certified employees and school administrators) may search a student and/or the student’s personal effects (e.g., purses, wallets, backpacks, cell phones and any other electronic devices, books, lunch bags, pockets, pants, jackets, shirts, coats, etc.) when there is reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will produce evidence the student has violated or is violating either the law or the rules of the school. Students may be searched when found in an area of the building that a theft may have just occurred or that they have no reason to be in at that time of the day, e.g. locker rooms, computer labs, unsupervised classrooms, staff offices, etc.

The search itself must be conducted in a manner which is reasonably related to the objectives of the search and not excessively intrusive in light of the age and gender of the student and the nature of the infraction. The reasonable grounds must be accompanied by particularized suspicion with respect to the individual to be searched. When feasible, the search should be done by two people and conducted as follows:

outside the view of others, including students
in the presence of two adults: a school administrator, and another adult witness – one of whom it is recommended to be of the same gender of the student.
in the presence of the student’s parents, upon request from the student.
with the assistance of local law enforcement in the case of suspicion of possession of a weapon, illegal drugs, or dangerous substances or materials.

Whenever possible, the parent/guardian will be notified prior to the search and allowed the opportunity to be present, but mostly certainly following the search if:
parent/guardian cannot be reached prior to the search or
there is an immediacy in the timing of the search

B. SEARCH: SCHOOL PROPERTY (AREA)
To maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as personal effects left in those places and areas by students, when there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will produce evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the rules of the school. School authorities may request the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials. Searches may include, but not be limited to, the use of trained dogs.
Legal Reference: Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 5/10-22.6

C. SEARCH: VEHICLES PARKED IN SCHOOL LOT OR SCHOOL- DESIGNATED PARKING LOCATIONS
Designated school officials shall be authorized to conduct a search of a vehicle driven to school by an RB student while it is parked on school grounds or in an area reserved for RB parking when there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that such vehicle contains items that violate either the law or RB rules or that the search will uncover evidence of a violation of the law or RB rules.

SCOPE: The scope of the search shall be reasonably related to the objectives of the search, and may include the entire passenger compartment, engine compartment, trunk and undercarriage and all containers therein.
CONDUCT: The involved student shall be notified that said search is to be conducted, whenever possible, and shall be allowed to be present during the search of the vehicle, whenever possible. There shall be no forced entry into the vehicle.
SEIZURE: School personnel and/or law enforcement at RB’s request, may seize any items which are the subject of the search as well as items that are in plain view, if such items violate either the law or RB rules or constitute evidence of a violation of the law or of RB rules.
NOTICE OF POLICY: Notice of RB’s vehicle search policy shall be placed:
1. on postings at each entry-way to the student parking lot;
2. on the student parking hang tag application form, which shall be signed by each student and his/her parent(s) to indicate their understanding of the policy; and
3. on the back side of the student parking hang tag. The notice shall be written in the following or in a substantially similar format:

NOTICE SEARCH OF VEHICLE
All vehicles driven into this area may be subject to search in accordance with Riverside Brookfield High School policies and procedures. The search may be conducted by school officials, and law enforcement officials may be notified or their assistance requested.
The area of search may include the entire passenger compartment, engine compartment, trunk and undercarriage, and all containers therein.

D. SEIZURE: PROPERTY
If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law, local ordinance, or the school’s policies or rules, such evidence may be seized by school authorities and disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities and charges may be brought, as determined by the local law enforcement and school officials. Students having any involvement in the theft of any property will be subject to arrest by local authorities.
Legal Reference: Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 5/10-22.6

SECURITY VIDEO CAMERAS
For security purposes, video cameras are located on the perimeter of the building and throughout the interior of the building.

STUDENT SAFETY AND WELL-BEING
Student safety is of paramount importance to the District 208 Board of Education, Administration, faculty and staff. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services defines child abuse as occurring when an individual under the age of eighteen is a victim of neglect or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse at the hands of an adult in the role of a caretaker. The following procedures have been established to protect the safety and well-being of our students:

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
When students believe that they have been victimized, they are directed to immediately seek the help of an adult whom they trust, such as a teacher, counselor, social worker, parent or guardian, police liaison, dean of students, or one of the building administrators. Students who are aware that a peer has been abused or neglected are also directed to forward information to a trusted adult. If the student does not feel there is an adult he/she can trust, he/she should immediately call the abuse hotline number listed below.

STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
Staff will take reports of abuse or neglect seriously. They are aware of their status as Mandated Reporters under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and will immediately make a call to the abuse hotline listed below. Appropriate school supports will be provided to the student in need.

1-800-25-ABUSE (22873)
or
1-800-358-5117 (TDD)

SUSPENSIONS (ADA/OSS) (Refer to Board Policy 7:200 Suspension Procedures)
A suspension is defined as exclusion from class or school for a period of time deemed appropriate by an administrator, not to exceed 10 consecutive days. The period of time for the suspension is based on the type of infraction, the severity of the infraction and the number of occurrences. Alternative Day Assignment (ADA) will be the predominant form of suspension, depending on the infraction as an intervention to OSS. Full credit will be given for all work done during the suspensions, and students will be allowed completion days for each day they are suspended. It is the responsibility of students and their family to obtain all work collected and sent to the Attendance Office during the suspension period. Upon return to the building, it is the students’ responsibility to meet with all of their teachers to discuss the work missed. Students who receive an Out of School suspension will lose their parking passes immediately for the remainder of the year with NO REFUND, and will be ineligible to apply for any parking permit the following year or park any vehicle on school property for the duration of the denial period. Any student who has been suspended will be placed on Building/Activity Restriction and will not be allowed to attend any dances and the graduation ceremony. The restriction will have a minimum mandatory restriction of two weeks following the suspension, up to and including the remainder of the school year, including attendance at prom, as determined by the administration.

If a parent wishes to appeal a student suspension, a request for a hearing must be submitted in writing or email to the Principal no later than three (3) business days from the beginning date of the suspension.

Notification of Out of School Suspension

The parent or guardian of the suspended student will be notified of the suspension by phone or in person, as well as a letter given to the student upon exiting the building. (An official suspension letter will be sent via regular mail.) Refer to Board Policy 7:20 for additional information.
The Board of Education and Administration shall be concurrently notified of each suspension.

Alternative Day Assignment (ADA)
8:00 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. in Room 250

Alternative Day Assignment is a disciplinary intervention being provided to students. It is designed as an alternative to an Out of School Suspension. Students who arrive late to ADA will make up those periods the following day. Students involved in more serious violations of the school policy such as, but not limited to, fighting, insubordination, bullying or repeated disciplinary infractions may be suspended Out of School.

A student who fails to report for or refuses to attend an ADA on the date assigned due to an excused absence will be automatically assigned an ADA for the next regularly scheduled school day.

A student who fails to successfully complete serving a full day in ADA on the date assigned will be suspended Out of School for the ADA assigned date. A re-entry conference involving the parent/guardian, student, Dean and/or Assistant Principal of Student Affairs must be held before the student is permitted to return to school.

Academic assignments must be completed during ADA and all school rules and procedures are in effect during the ADA, including the following:

Cell phones are not permitted in the ADA room. All cell phones brought into the ADA room must be turned in to the supervisor upon entry to the room and will be returned to the student at the conclusion of the day. Failure to do so will be considered non-compliant behavior and will result in an Out of School Suspension.
Students must be seated in the ADA room prior to 8:00 a.m.
Students must relinquish their current school ID to the ADA Supervisor upon

entering the ADA room.
The ADA Supervisor may establish rules deemed necessary to maintain order and safety that will be posted for viewing by all students.
Students’ work will be checked by the ADA Supervisor.
Students will not put their heads down or sleep.
Students may not communicate verbally or non-verbally with other students, without prior permission.
Students will not be allowed to go to their lockers, the cafeteria, or use their cell phone without permission or adult supervision.
Students may not use any electronic devices such as, but not limited to, personal music devices, cell phones, or any recreational/entertainment device.
Students may not consume food or beverages until lunchtime, unless a prior medical condition exists and has been documented with the nurse. Lunch will be eaten in

the ADA room.
It is the student’s responsibility to come adequately prepared, i.e. books, pens,

pencils, paper, etc.
Any violation of the ADA rules will result in Out of School Suspension, and the ADA time served will be forfeited.
A student may be removed from a single class period and placed in ADA.
Failure to complete a full day in the ADA room for any reason such as, but not limited to, non compliant, disruptive or disrespectful behavior will result in a 1-day OSS unless excused by an administrator.

Out-of-school Suspension (OSS)
For the period of the suspension, a student is not allowed to come to school or to report to any classes, allowed on school grounds, or allowed to attend or participate in any school activities on or off school property. Exclusion from school and activities may extend from a minimum of one day to a maximum of 10 days for each infraction. Every day of suspension is a 24 hour day. Students are not permitted to be on school property. Violations will be considered trespassing and may result in potential police arrest. Once suspended for drug/drug paraphernalia, all voluntary drug testing done to reduce the disposition is at the parents’ expense. See Substance Abuse Alternative Program section for details.

Procedures for Suspension (OSS)

Upon receiving an out-of-school suspension, the student must surrender his or her I.D. to the Administrator.
Students are not to be on school property or within 1,000 feet of school property during the time of their suspension. This constitutes trespassing and may involve the police.
Students are not allowed to participate in or attend extra-curricular activities. This includes athletic events, musical productions, and all other school affiliated activities, either home or away, including practices.
Students must attend a re-entry conference with their parents and/or guardians and an Administrator before re-admittance to school. Upon return from a suspension, the student may need to sign a re-entry contract, which will address the inappropriate behavior that resulted in the suspension.
When a student is on an OSS that also has ADA days attached to it, the student is required to report to the Assistant Principal Student Affairs' Office as soon as they enter the building on ADA days. While serving ADA, students are not allowed to be in the hallways prior to the start of the day or after the end of the normal school day. Unless supervised, they are not allowed in the lunch area for any reason.
Automatic loss of parking privileges will occur for the remainder of the year with no refund (for any suspension).

USE OF DRUGS, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO OR OTHER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
A student shall not consume, possess, use, carry, sell, transfer or give away any alcoholic beverages, any drug-use-related paraphernalia, or any drugs (legal, illegal or look-alike) electronic cigarettes or any other electronic smoking devices, in or on school property, or in any vehicle being used to transport students to RB. No student shall enter the school building, or attend any school-sponsored activities at home or away, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or in the possession of prescription drugs, legal drugs or look-a-like drugs. No student shall create the perception that the items in question are illegal in nature. This will constitute a direct violation of the policy governing drug use and possession, and disciplinary action will be issued, such as, but not limited to, Building and Activity Restrictions, removal from group and team participation, suspensions, arrest and potential expulsion. Deceitful perception that a substance or object is believed to be illegal will be considered an act of an illegal drug transaction, as discussed in this section. Use and possession of intoxicating compounds is prohibited, as defined in 720 ILCS 690/1.

105 ILCS 127 School reporting of Drug Violations Act
Sec. 1 Title. This Act may be cited as the School reporting of Drug Violations Act.
Sec. 2. Duty of school administrators. It is the duty of the principal of a public elementary or secondary school, or his or her designee, and the chief administrative officer of a private elementary or secondary school or a public or private community college, college, or university, or his or her designee, to report to the municipal police department or office of the county sheriff of the municipality or county where the school is located violations of Section 5.2 of the Cannabis Control Act, violations of Section 401 and subsection (b) of Section 407 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, and said violations of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act occurring in a school, on the real property comprising any school, on a public way within 1,000 feet of a school, or in any conveyance owned, leased or contracted by a school to transport students to or from school or a school related activity within 48 hours of becoming aware of the incident. P.A.94-556, eff. 9/11/05.

Substance Abuse - Alternative Program
In order for any reduction of a suspension or consequence to occur that is either drug or alcohol-related, the student must sign up for and successfully participate in a program at an established rehabilitation facility or through School District 208’s program with a certified alcohol and drug counselor. The parents must provide the documentation from the approved facility prior to any reduction occurring. Suspension reduction from school can only occur on a first-time violation. Additional sanctions, including, but not limited to, random searches, activity restriction and building restriction, may be imposed regarding participation in extracurricular activities and athletics (see the Code of Conduct for additional information.) Parents/students are responsible for the cost of drugs/smoking/alcohol education programs, any drug screening, professional chemical dependency evaluation, and follow-up on recommendations from the evaluation.

VIOLATION OF THE LAW
As an integral part of the communities it serves, Riverside Brookfield High School operates within the parameters of local ordinances and State and Federal statutes. RB students and staff are governed by the laws which govern all others in the communities. Consequently, it is our district practice to work cooperatively with civil authorities and to involve local police departments whenever it is determined that a violation of the law may have occurred.

For minors under the age of 18 who are seen smoking or who have tobacco-related products in their possession while in school or on school property, village ordinance requires payment of a fine upon conviction.

Law enforcement are contacted to determine if any act committed by a student is a violation of a law warranting an arrest.

This applies to any and all violations that occur on or off school grounds whenever a nexus to the school is established. A legal “nexus” is defined as a connection or a link between people, things, and events. A school nexus typically refers to student actions occurring off the premises and after hours that connect to others in the school. Administration is often notified of off-campus student actions through reciprocal arrangements with local municipalities.

WEAPONS
Possession, use, transferring, distribution or sale of weapons or destructive devices, to include but not be limited to, any firearm, knife, brass knuckles, pepper spray, fireworks, explosives, incendiaries, any look-alike or any variety of weapon or destructive device is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. The school will perform a “Threat Assessment” on all students who bring or are in possession of a weapon to school. The results of that assessment will assist in determining what disciplinary action will be issued.

A student who is determined to have brought or have been in possession of a weapon to school, any school sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event which bears a reasonable relationship to school may be expelled up to two calendar years, except that the expulsion period may be modified by the Board of Education on a case- by- case basis. For purposes of this section, the term “weapon” means possession, use, control or transfer of any object which may be used to cause bodily harm, including but not limited to a weapon as defined in Section 921 of Title 18 United States Code, firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Act, use of weapon as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code, knives, guns, firearms, rifles, shotguns, brass knuckles, billy clubs or “look-alikes” thereof. Any item may be considered a weapon if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm. Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner consistent with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Legal reference: Illinois school code 105 ILCS 5/10-22.6