STUDENT CONDUCT POLICIES
The information below is provided to parents and students regarding student conduct policies and procedures at North Bend Central Public Schools. More detailed information about school policies and procedures is provided to each student through the Student Handbooks. Students are responsible for following the rules and regulations outlined in these handbooks and we urge parents to review the handbook with their students at the start of the school year.
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Discipline Policy--Nebraska state law, primarily the
Student Discipline Act of 1994 as amended, and North Bend Central
Public Schools Board of Education Policies provide very specific
regulations regarding student behavior. All students are required
to adhere to the regulations below and students will be held
strictly accountable for such adherence. By signing the
acknowledgment form included in this Student Handbook,
parents/guardians are acknowledging that they have read and
understood the regulations regarding student conduct....
Board Policy 3330 states, in part: "... It is the purpose of this
policy to ensure that students receive fair treatment consistent
with their constitutional rights to due process and fundamental
fairness within the context of an orderly and effective educational
process. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to provide
clear notice to each student and his/her parent or guardian of all
rules and standards concerning student conduct that have been
established and promulgated by the Board of Education. Such rules
or standards which form the basis for discipline shall be
distributed to each student and his or her parent or guardian
through the Student Handbook...." In the event there are changes in
the rules and standards, the Superintendent shall make reasonable
effort to distribute the text of such changes to each student and
his/her parent or guardian via school announcements, newsletters,
and similar means.
Student Attendance--Nebraska's compulsory education law requires students to attend school from the age of 6 to the age of 18 except under certain circumstances. Board Policy 3130 outlines the district attendance policies. In general, excused absences require parental permission and school authorities' concurrence. Parents/guardians are asked to call the Principal's Office prior to 9:00 a.m. if their student is unexpectedly absent. If a student is required to leave school early, permission will be granted only if advanced notice is given via a phone call or note. Junior High and Senior High students are subject to loss of credit if their absences exceed six per semester for reasons other than school-sponsored activities. Specific attendance policies for each school are found in the Student Handbooks and questions regarding attendance issues should be addressed to your school's Principal.
Bullying--Board Policy 3331 states, in part: “In accordance with Nebraska law, the North Bend Central Public Schools (NBCPS) Board of Education hereby prohibits acts of bullying and acts harassment, intimidation, and similar conduct related to bullying. This policy is in effect while students or staff are on school property, while in school-owned or school-operated vehicles, while attending or engaged in school-sponsored activities whether at home or away from school grounds, and off school grounds when such acts are likely to have the effect of substantially disrupting the efficient and orderly operation of the schools. Bullying and related misconduct by students, school employees, and volunteers will not be tolerated." Students engaging in bullying and related misconduct will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. More detailed information on this policy can be found in the Student Handbooks and on the district's website.
BP 3331: BULLYING AND RELATED MISCONDUCT
Electronic Devices (Sexting)---The Board of Education has adopted an amendment to Board Policy 3330, Student Conduct, dealing with the misuse of electronic devices and "sexting". This policy reads in part:
(1) Possession and Use of Electronic Devices. For purposes of this policy, “electronic devices” include, but are not limited to, cell phones, Mp3 players, iPods, personal digital assistants (PDAs), compact disc players, portable game consoles, cameras, digital scanners, lap top computers, and other electronic or battery powered instruments which transmit voice, text, or data from one person to another. Students may possess these items, but they may not be used or displayed without the specific permission of a teacher or administrator and such permission may be granted only for instructional or emergency purposes. Use or display of a cellphone or other electronic device in a classroom without permission is considered a disruption of instructional activities and will result in the confiscation of the device and referral to the building Principal for appropriate disciplinary action. By possessing cellphones and other electronic devices on school grounds, the student and his/her parents consent to the search of that device when school officials have reasonable suspicion that such a search will reveal a violation of school rules.
(2) Prohibited Use
of Electronic Devices. Students shall not use electronic
devices at any time or place for: (a) activities which disrupt the
educational environment; (b) illegal activities in violation of
state or federal laws or regulations; (c) unethical activities,
such as cheating on assignments or tests; (d) immoral or
pornographic activities; (e) activities in violation of Board or
school policies and procedures relating to student conduct and
harassment; (f) “sexting” as defined in this policy, or (g)
activities which invade the privacy of others. Such student misuses
will be dealt with as serious school violations, and immediate and
appropriate disciplinary action will be imposed, including, but not
limited to, suspension and expulsion from school.
(3) Prohibition of
“Sexting”. For purposes of this policy, “Sexting”
shall be defined as generating, sending or receiving, encouraging
others to send or receive, or showing others, through an electronic
device, a text message, photograph, video or other medium that: (a)
Displays sexual content, including erotic nudity, any display of
genitalia, unclothed female breasts, or unclothed buttocks, or any
sexually explicit conduct as defined at Neb. Rev. Stat. §
28-1463.02; or (b) Sexually exploits a person, whether or not such
person has given consent to creation or distribution of the
message, photograph or video by permitting, allowing, encouraging,
disseminating, distributing, or forcing such student or other
person to engage in sexually explicit, obscene or pornographic
photography, films, or depictions; or, (c) Displays a sexually
explicit message for sexual gratification, flirtation or
provocation, or to request or arrange a sexual encounter. “Sexting”
is prohibited in school, on school grounds or in school vehicles,
and at school-sponsored activities at home or away.
(4) Sending/Receiving “Sexting”
Messages. Students who receive a “sexting” message are to
report the matter to a school administrator and then delete such
message from their electronic device. Students shall not
participate in sexting or have any “sexting” message on their
electronic devices regardless of when the message was received
while on school grounds or at a school activity. Students who
violate the prohibitions of this policy shall be subject to the
imposition of appropriate disciplinary action. Specifically,
students found in possession of a “sexting” message and failing to
report it as required above shall be subject to a suspension from
school or other appropriate disciplinary action and students who
send or encourage another to send a “sexting” message shall be
subject to more severe disciplinary action up to and including
long-term suspension or expulsion. Such violations will be subject
to reporting to law enforcement as described below.
(5) Reporting to
Law Enforcement. Violations of this policy regarding
the prohibited use of electronic devises that may constitute a
violation of federal or state laws and regulations, including, but
not limited to, the Nebraska Child Protection Act or the Nebraska
Child Pornography Prevention Act shall be reported to appropriate
legal authorities and law enforcement.
As in all disciplinary matters, the Administration shall, in making
its decision on appropriate discipline, take into account the
nature of the offense, previous offenses, the behavioral history of
the student and considerations relevant to maintaining an
appropriate learning environment. In all cases, it is the policy of
the school district to take positive action through education,
counseling, parental involvement, medical referral and law
enforcement or social services referral in the management of
students in possession of contraband items.
Dress Codes--The dress code at North Bend Central Public
Schools provides general guidelines about appropriate attire.
Beyond that, the school staff is responsible for determining when a
student's clothing is inappropriate. When that occurs, students
will be required to change. Disciplinary action will generally be
taken for subsequent dress code offenses.
Appearance is the responsibility of the student and his/her
parents. Students are expected to be appropriately dressed and
acceptably groomed for school and school activities. Appropriate
clothing will not pose a health problem or safety hazard, does not
materially disrupt classroom decorum, and complies with reasonable
standards of cleanliness and decency. Students will generally be
allowed to wear shorts to school. However, the shorts must be of
modest length and extend to approximately mid-thigh. Skirts and
dresses must meet the same length requirements.
The following types of clothing WILL NOT be permitted:
a. Halters or spaghetti strap tops;
b. Cut off t-shirts that exposes male rib cage or females
undergarments;
c. Clothing that exposes the midriff ;
d. Clothing that exposes underwear;
e. Clothing bearing patches or insignias of alcoholic beverages,
drugs, tobacco, profanity or suggestive inscriptions;
f. Any old, new, or current style of dress that brings and draws
unnecessary attention to the student or causes disruption within
the school or classroom.
Hats, caps, etc. of any type will not be worn within the school
during the school day. (Administrative permission may be given for
the wearing of caps/hats for some special occasions.) NBC staff may
require that students leave their winter jackets in a
school-provided locker.
Students who violate this dress code will be advised of the
violation and asked to report to the Principal’s office. Students
will be required to change their clothing to meet the appropriate
standards. If a student wears the same inappropriate clothing a
second time, the article of clothing will be kept in the
Principal’s office and returned to the parent/guardian upon their
personal request. Additional violations will be considered a minor
infraction and will result in detention time. If a student must go
home to change his/her clothing, the time missed from school will
be made up after school.
Firearms--Students are not to bring rifles, shotguns, revolvers, other items normally considered to be firearms or items which are normally considered to be weapons into school, onto school property, take them to school activities at home or away, or transmit them in school vehicles without permission of the Principal. Board Policy 3330 states in part: “It shall be the policy of the North Bend Central Public Schools when a student is determined to have knowingly and intentionally possessed, used, or transmitted a firearm as defined by federal statute 18 USC 921 and its amendments or successor statutes, to expel such student for a period of not less than one year if such student conduct occurred on school grounds, in a school-owned vehicle being used for school purposes, or at a school-sponsored activity whether within our outside the school district." More information on this policy can be found in the Student Handbooks and on the district's website.
Drugs/Alcohol--The Board of Education has outlined specific standards regarding the use of drugs and alcohol in school, on school grounds, and at school activities whether at home or away. Board Policy 2220 states, in part: “ It shall be the policy of the school district, in addition to standards of student conduct elsewhere adopted by board policy or administrative regulation, to absolutely prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs or alcohol on school premises or as a part of any of the school’s activities. This shall include such unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by any student of the district during regular school hours or after school hours at school sponsored activities on school premises, or at school sponsored activities off school premises. ... It shall further be the policy of the district that violation of any of the above prohibited acts will result in disciplinary sanctions being taken within the bounds of applicable law, up to and including short term suspension, long term suspension, expulsion, referral to appropriate authorities for criminal prosecution.“ Further information is available in the Student Handbooks.
Activity Code of Conduct--In 2005, the Board of Education
adopted changes to the Extracurricular Activity Code of Conduct. A
complete copy is included in the Student Handbook. Generally, it
sets more stringent requirements for self-reporting Activity Code
violations and clarifies violations and penalties. All
extracurricular activity participants and their parents should read
the Activity Code.
Occasionally, there is some confusion about the application of the
Activity Code. Behavior violations, such as use of alcohol, that
occur in school, on school grounds, or at school activities at home
or away are subject to the regular school discipline policies for
all students, whether they participate in extracurricular
activities or not. However, beyond regular school discipline,
students who participate in extracurricular activities are subject
to the Activity Code's sanctions. In addition, activity
participants are subject to the Activity Code for some types of
behavior that occurs outside of school time and off school grounds.
Why the difference? Representing the school in extracurricular
activities requires activity participants to meet a higher standard
of behavior.
The Activity Code below is an excerpt from the Board's Activities
Manual which outlines important information for activity
participants, including the Activity Code of Conduct.
