Administrative Action

A.    Probation

       1.    Probation is conditional suspension of a penalty for a set period of time.  Probation may be imposed by the principal for infractions of school rules which do not warrant the necessity of removal from school.

       2.    The principal will conduct an investigation of the allegations against the student prior to imposition of probation.  The investigation will include, but not be limited to, written or oral notice to the student of the allegations against the student and an opportunity to respond.  Written notice and reasons for the probation will be sent to the parents.

 

B.    In-School Suspension

       1.    In-school suspension is the temporary isolation of a student from one or more classes while under administrative supervision.  In-school suspensions may be imposed by the principal for infractions of school rules which are serious but which do not warrant the necessity of removal from school.

       2.    The principal will conduct an investigation of the allegations against the student prior to imposition of an in-school suspension.  The investigation will include, but not be limited to, written or oral notice to the student of the allegations against the student and an opportunity to respond.  In-school suspension will not be imposed for more than ten school days.  Written notice and reasons for the in-school suspension will be sent to the student's parents.

 

C.    Out-of-School Suspension

1.     Out-of-school suspension is the removal of a student from the school environment for periods of short duration.  Out-of-school suspension is to be used when other available school resources are unable to constructively remedy student misconduct.

2.    A student may be suspended out of school for up to ten school days by a principal for a commission of gross or repeated infractions of school rules, regulations, policy or the law, or when the presence of the student will cause interference with the maintenance of the educational environment or the operation of the school.  The principal may suspend students after conducting an investigation of the charges against the student, giving the student:

               a.   Oral or written notice of the allegations against the student and

               b.   The opportunity to respond to those charges.

               At the principal's discretion, the student may be allowed to confront witnesses against the student or present witnesses on behalf of the student.

        3.    Notice of the out-of-school suspension will be mailed no later than the end of the school day following the suspension to the student's parents and the superintendent.  A reasonable effort is made to personally notify the student's parents and such effort is documented by the person making or attempting to make the contact.  Written notice to the parents will include the circumstances which led to the suspension and a copy of the board policy and rules pertaining to the suspension.

 

D.    Suspensions and Special Education Students

  1.    Students who have been identified as special education students may be referred for a review of the student's Individual Education Program (IEP).  The IEP may be revised to include a continuum of intervention strategies and programming to change the behavior.

        2.    Students who have not been identified as special education students may be referred for evaluation after the student's suspension to determine whether the student has a disability and is in need of special education.

 

 

Approved June 18, 2018 
Reviewed May 21, 2018
Revised    May 21, 2018 

 

1.  Suspension of a student

The superintendent, principal, or associate principal, after hearing, may temporarily suspend any student for violation of the regulations, rules and discipline policy of the Fairfield Community School District and will give notice of such temporary dismissal will not exceed ten (10) days out of school or recommend to the board that the student be expelled.  Some acts, on campus or at any school function, for which suspension or expulsion should be considered are:

1. Persistent absence or tardiness;
2. Open or persistent defiance of authority and/or rules and regulations;
3. Threatening, striking or assaulting any school employee;
4. Threat or use of physical force upon another student which is not used in the defense of one’s safety;
5. Threat of physical assault on another pupil to obtain money or materials of value;
6. Damaging school property;
7. Habitual profanity;
8. Theft;
9. Failure to abide by corrective discipline measures such as detention, etc.;
10. Possession of a weapon;
11. Use, possession or sale of liquors, narcotics;
12. Smoking;
13. Any act committed by a student which is detrimental to the health or physical wellbeing of another.

2.           Procedure for hearing of expulsion recommendation

1. 1. The administration will prepare a statement/notice in writing in duplicate, duly describing the alleged misconduct, and the reason the administration is recommending that the student be expelled from school, and advising the student of the time and place of hearing, at which the student, the student’s parents, or anyone the student chooses as a representative may appear and present such facts and statements which seem to be pertinent.  At which time and place, the Board of Directors will hear all facts presented and will take such action which it deems necessary and proper, pursuant to the rules and regulations and the discipline policy of the Fairfield Community School District and the laws of the State of Iowa.  Evidence must be given to student's family 3 business days prior to hearing.
2. 2. One copy of the notice will be filed with the president of the Board of Directors and another served upon the student.  The administration will endeavor to obtain service upon the student by serving the student personally, in which case the person serving the notice will make proper acknowledgment of service himself or herself, or by obtaining the student’s acknowledgment of service.  If the administration is unable to obtain such an acknowledgment, it may mail the complaint by registered mail to the student’s last local address, according to the records of the school district. Once there is a decision to recommend expulsion, the parent and student will be notified of such in writing. The hearing will be held on a date not later than ten (10) school days subsequent to the date of temporary suspension.
   3. Promptly following the receipt of a copy of the notice and of the acknowledgment or certification of service, the school board will schedule an expulsion hearing. Discussion of student discipline matters is in closed session, in accordance with Iowa Code, unless the parent and student request open session.
   4. At the hearing, the student may be accompanied by the student’s parents, by legal counsel, or by any other advisor of the student’s choice.  The school district may also  be advised by its legal advisor.  The hearing panel, in its discretion, may postpone the  hearing upon request when it deems such postponement necessary or appropriate; but a request for postponement for the convenience of legal counsel will ordinarily be refused.
   5. If the student should desire a more expeditious and informal procedure, the student may so indicate.  The hearing panel will make every effort to work out such a procedure with the student.
   6. At the hearing, the student may respond to the complaint orally or in writing. The response may admit or deny the allegations of the notice in whole or in part. The student may also offer any explanation or comment that the student believes relevant or appropriate.   
   7. The parties to the hearing, directly or through their legal advisors, may introduce evidence, witnesses to testify, or statements in writing; and they may testify in their own behalf.  To the extent that either party may rely on written statements as evidence, the party will clearly indicate how and from what source the evidence has been obtained.  Each party will have an opportunity to question   any witnesses, either directly or through legal counsel, or other advisor.  If the hearing panel should find it necessary to limit the number of witnesses in order to protect the hearing against disruption, confusion or unwarranted dilatory tactics, it will have the authority to do so.  The proceeding will be administrative and will not be conducted as an adversary proceeding.
   8. If the student will fail to appear at the hearing or if, having appeared, make no response to the complaint, the hearing panel will nevertheless invite the school administration to submit evidence in support of the complaint.
   9. If a party to the hearing should deliberately conduct itself in a manner disruptive of the hearing, the hearing panel will be authorized to exclude the party and    to proceed with the hearing as if the party had not personally appeared.
   10. Provisions will be made either for a transcript or for a verbatim record in the form of a tape recording of the hearing.  The complaint, the student’s response, the transcript or record, and all other papers in the proceeding except the final disposition of the case, will be for use only in the proceeding and in the internal processes of the school district related thereto; and that no such transcript, record or papers will  be voluntarily disclosed to any person outside the school district, except with the student’s consent.
   11. The hearing panel will consider all relevant evidence introduced at the hearing and make its findings of facts.  No matter not introduced as evidence at the hearing will be considered in making such findings.  Improperly acquired evidence will be excluded.
   12. Within five (5) days after the hearing, the school board will consider the relevant evidence and determine such disciplinary action as it deems to be appropriate, based upon the relevant evidence and the findings of facts of the hearing panel, together with the student’s prior record, as submitted by the school administration, and consistent with the rules and regulations and the discipline  policy of the school district and the laws of the State of Iowa.  The entire record, as submitted, will be open to the student for inspection.  The school board will properly notify the student, as well as the superintendent, or the person designated  by him, concerning the board’s findings of facts and determination.
   13. Within three (3) days after receiving notice of expulsion or other disciplinary action,   the student may request reconsideration by the school board stating the reasons.  The school board, in its discretion, may deny such request and proceed to give effect to the expulsion or other disciplinary action; or it may grant the request and, after reconsideration, either amend or confirm its determination.  It will then proceed to give effect to its final determination.

 

 

Approved: Sept 26, 2016, June 18, 2018          
Reviewed:  Jul 25, 2016, May 21, 2018
Revised:  Jul 25, 2016, May 21, 2018

 

ACADEMIC/ATTENDANCE ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for an activity, students participating must

• be enrolled or dual-enrolled in FHS;

• have good school attendance and attend classes at least one half of a day on the day of the contest/game/performance, unless prior arrangements are made with the administration;
• have earned passing grades in all courses: eligibility will be determined at the end of each grading periods
• be under twenty years of age to participate in athletics, music or speech activities;
• be enrolled in high school for four consecutive years or less to participate in athletics, music or speech activities;
• have not been a member of or trained with or participated in college athletic contests or professional sports;
• have met all transfer requirements, or be eligible under state law and regulations if the student is an open enrollment student.

 

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY

• Academic Eligibility will be determined at the end of each grading period. Per state rule, “if at the end of any grading period a contestant is given a failing grade in any course for which credit is awarded, the contestant is ineligible to dress for and compete in the next occurring interscholastic athletic contests and competitions in which the contestant is a contestant for 30 consecutive calendar days.”      

 

LETTERS AND AWARDS

All lettering and end-of-season awards will be determined by the coaches/sponsors of each activity.   

 

GOOD CONDUCT RULE

Students who participate in extra curricular activities are representing their school through school sponsored events and therefore are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that represents the ideals, principals and standards of the Fairfield Community School District.  Students who choose not to follow the Extracurricular Activities Policy regulations will be subject to disciplinary procedures as set forth in the guidelines below. 

A student may lose eligibility under the Extracurricular Activities Policy for any of the following behaviors:

• possession, use, or purchase of tobacco or tobacco look-alike products, regardless of the student’s age, if the offense results in a suspension;
• possession, use, or purchase of alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine; 
• being in a car or in attendance at a function/gathering/party where alcohol or other drugs are being consumed illegally by minors (joint possession);
• possession, use, or purchase of illegal drugs or the unauthorized possession, use, or purchase of otherwise lawful drugs, including look-alike drugs;
• engaging in any act that would be grounds for arrest or citation in the criminal or juvenile court system, excluding minor traffic offenses, regardless of whether the student was cited, arrested, convicted, or adjudicated for the act (stealing, damage to school property or that of school personnel, etc.);
• inappropriate or offensive conduct such as fighting, insubordination, hazing or harassment of others if the offense results in  criminal charges.
• Fairfield High School administration may determine that there has been a violation of its good conduct policy whether or not criminal charges have been filed, whether a student’s trial is pending, or whether or not the student is found guilty by a court of law as long as there is reasonable evidence to support the finding of a good conduct policy violation.

**      Involvement in acts of a more serious nature will be dealt with more severely.

During his/her high school career, a student who, after a hearing, is found to be in violation of the Extracurricular Activities Policy will be deemed ineligible for extracurricular contests / performances for a period of time as described below.         

1^st offense – ¼ of contests/performance dates, and if available and appropriate then the student and the parent/guardian/head of household will be required
         to complete school approved treatment programs

2^nd offense – ½ contest/performance dates of the season, and if available and appropriate then the student and the parent/guardian/head of household will be required to complete school approved treatment programs

3^rd offense – 1 calendar year of ineligibility. A student who has a third violation of the Good Conduct Policy may elect to complete a more extensive school approved treatment program at the student’s / parent / guardian / head of household’s expense. If the student completes treatment and agrees to waive confidentiality (allowing information to be available to school officials); the student’s discipline for the third violation may be reduced by up to 50%.

4^th offense – No longer able to participate in high school activities

**     These regulations are "minimum" and a coach/sponsor may impose a stronger form of discipline depending on the situation.

**     Multiple offenses cannot be served concurrently.

**     ¼ and ½ contests/performance dates will be calculated using the total number of regular season contest / performance dates scheduled for the activity. The calculation will be rounded down to a whole number. For example, if the football team has 9 regular season games scheduled then ¼ of the football season would be calculated as 2 games.

**     If a contest is cancelled during a student’s period of ineligibility for a good conduct violation and this contest is not rescheduled then the cancelled contest will count as a part of the student’s ineligibility period. If during a student’s period of ineligibility, however, a contest is cancelled and rescheduled then the student’s ineligibility period can either be extended to the next scheduled event or served on the rescheduled date of the cancelled event.

                

INELIGIBILITY

The period of ineligibility begins immediately upon a finding of a violation if the student is currently engaged in an extracurricular activity.  If the student is not currently in an activity, or if the discipline cannot be completed during the current activity, the discipline will be carried over and completed when the student decides to go out for the next activity or contest. A student ineligible for contests / performances will attend and participate in all practices or rehearsals at the direction of the coach/sponsor.

**       A student with an academic or good conduct violation will not be allowed to join an extracurricular activity in process unless the coach/sponsor of the activity in process provides written permission for them to do so. If the coach/sponsor provides written permission for them to do so then the student will begin serving their ineligibility period in this activity.

**       A student who is serving an academic or good conduct ineligibility period in an     extracurricular activity must complete the entire season in order for the ineligibility period    to count as served. If the student does not remain out for the entire season after serving an   ineligibility period then the same ineligibility period will carry over to the next   extracurricular activity in which the student participates.

**       If a student with an academic or good conduct violation is participating in multiple extracurricular activities during the same season then the ineligibility period will be applied to all activities. For example, a student with a 1^st offense of the good conduct policy who is currently participating in track and soccer at the same time will be ineligible for ¼  of the track contests and ¼ of the soccer contests.

**       If a student with an academic or good conduct violation is participating in activities where seasons overlap, then the student will be ineligible for all overlapping activities until the ineligibility period is completely served. If the ineligibility period cannot be totally served in the 1^st activity, then the remainder of the ineligibility period will be applied to and served in the next activity(ies). 

**      A student who is ineligible for a contest/performance for academic or good conduct reasons may travel with the team to away contests/performances
          as long as the travel does not involve an early dismissal from school. If the travel involves an early dismissal then the ineligible student will remain
          in class and not travel with the team to the contest/performance.

**       A student with an academic or good conduct violation who does not participate in extracurricular activities for a calendar year from their violation will not be required to serve the ineligibility period if they choose to participate in an activity after a calendar year from the violation. Their violation, however, will still count towards their cumulative number of violations. For example, a sophomore who has their 1^st good conduct violation but does not go out for an extracurricular activity until their senior year will not have to sit out ¼ of their contest. If this same student has another good conduct violation during their senior year then this violation would be considered a 2^nd offense and result in 2^nd offense consequences.

**       A student cannot serve an academic or good conduct ineligibility period as a team manager. School Administration and/or Coaches may choose to ban manager duties for students with academic or good conduct violations.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

1.   Admission Prior to Determination: If a violation occurs prior to the official beginning of a season and law enforcement or school officials are not aware, or not involved with this violation, then students may self-report (turn themselves in) to the school officials without losing any eligibility.  The discipline for this student would be 15 hours of activity service that would be administered by the coach/sponsor of the sport/activity in which the student would next be involved.  These hours must be completed prior to the first contest/performance in order for the student to be eligible.  When completed, the coach/sponsor will file a copy with the administration.  This situation can only happen one time during any given school year and only prior to the official beginning of the season for that sport/activity.

**   It should be noted, however, that if students turn themselves in for a violation of this policy, and the school official already has this information, or this student has already been charged or contacted by the police, then the discipline will be handled as if it were after the official beginning of the season.  This activity service is counted as the student’s first violation.

               2.  If a student finds himself/herself in a situation (vehicle, room, function, gathering, party, etc.) where alcohol or other drugs are being consumed illegally by minors, the student’s options are

                     a.       leave immediately or

                     b.        stay and risk the loss of eligibility as determined by the Good Conduct Policy.

 

STUDENT TRANSFER

If a student transfers in from another Iowa school district and the student had not yet completed a period of ineligibility for a violation of the Extracurricular Activities Policy in the previous district, the student shall be ineligible if the administration determines that there is general knowledge in our district of this violation.  In all cases the school administration, activities director and coach/sponsor or the activity/sport will discuss each situation before a decision is made.

 

DUE PROCESS PROCEDURE

In carrying out these regulations, all students will be afforded due process, which includes procedures for a committee to discuss with a student their involvement in a possible violation of the Extracurricular Activities Policy.  The following procedure is set up to ensure that all students are afforded due process:

               1.   The high school administration will meet with the student and listen to his/her possible involvement. 

2.   If the student admits to being involved, the high school administration/activities director will notify the student and parent of the appropriate discipline.

3.   If the student denies the involvement, a hearing committee consisting of, at a minimum, the activities director and the high school administration will meet with the student and student's parents to further explore the violation.  If the committee determines that the student was involved, then the administration will notify the student and parents of the decision and resulting discipline.

4.  Parent notification related to paragraphs 2 and 3 above.

• Administration will call parent/guardian/head of household and send home a notification letter via U.S. Mail. When the parent/guardian/head of household cannot be reached by phone, then the school will consider the notification process complete by the notification letter sent home.

 

APPEAL PROCESS

Step I       Any student who is found by the hearing committee to have violated the

                 Extracurricular Activities Policy may appeal by contacting the superintendent.  The discipline will be in effect pending the superintendent’s decision.

 

Step II      If the student is still dissatisfied, he or she may appeal to the school board by filing a written appeal with the board secretary at least 24 hours prior to the next board meeting.   The review by the board will be in closed session unless the student’s parent (or the student, if the student is 18) requests an open session.  The grounds for appeal to the school board are limited to the following: the student did not violate the Extracurricular Activities Policy; the student was given inadequate due process in the investigation and determination; or the discipline is in violation of the Handbook Rule or Board Policy.  The discipline will remain in effect pending the outcome of the meeting with the board. 

                

If the school board reverses the decision of the hearing committee, the student shall be immediately eligible and shall have any record of the ineligibility period and violation deleted from the student’s record.

 

 

PARENT AND STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We have read these Extracurricular Activities Policy Regulations and agree that when our son/daughter participates in the Fairfield High School activity/athletic program he/she will be expected to abide by these regulations.

 

 

______________________                                  __________________________
Parent                                                                                 Student

 

 

_________________                                                ____________________
Date                                                                                     Date

 

 

 

 

** THIS FORM MUST BE RETURNED TO COACH/SPONSOR PRIOR TO PARTICIPATION OF ACTIVITIES.

 

 

Approved:  Feb. 11, 1985, Oct. 15, 2012, May 20, 2013, June 16, 2014, Dec 15, 2014, April 12, 2021
Reviewed:  Aug. 8, 2005, Sep. 17, 2012, Apr. 5, 2013, Apr.28,2014, Oct 27, 2014, May 21, 2018, March 15, 2021
Revised:  Mar. 10, 1996, Aug. 9, 1999, Jan. 10, 2000, Sep. 19, Sep. 17,2012, Apr. 5, 2013, Apr.28,2014, Oct 27, 2014, May 21, 2018, March 15, 2021

 

Student Name:  _______________________      Date of Occurrence: _______________________

 

Building of Attendance: ___________________________________

Beginning of Occurrence: __________________ 

End of Occurrence: _______________________           

                                                                                           

IEP?  (check one)     Yes____             No___         

 

 

Name of staff members involved:

 

Describe the actions of the student and employees involved before the occurrence:

 

Describe the actions of the student and the employees involved during the occurrence:

 

Describe the actions of the student and the employees involved after the occurrence:

 

Describe student and staff debriefing:

 

Describe alternatives to physical restraint or physical confinement attempted before the occurrence: 

 

Describe future approaches to the student’s behavior, including any consequences or disciplinary actions:

 

Describe any injuries to the student, employees or others, and any property damage:  

 

Describe future approaches to the student’s behavior:

 

If the occurrence involved a period of physical confinement that exceeds 15 minutes, the name of the administrator or designee who authorized any additional period of physical confinement.

 

Date and time of the debriefing meeting if needed (held within 5 days of letter):

 

Student’s Parent or Guardian Contacted by:

 

Date: 

Time:     

Method:

 

If the parent or guardian is not contacted on the same day of occurrence, describe attempts to notify the parent or guardian that day:                                                                      __________________________

                                                                                                                                                           

 

Date that a copy of this documentation was provided to the parent or guardian (must be within 3 school days of the occurrence):

Documentation provided (check one):

Sent home with student:  ___

By mail (postmarked within 3 school days of occurrence): ___

By electronic mail: _____

By facsimile transmission upon written request of parent/guardian: ____

 

[This letter and the enclosed report may be transmitted electronically via email or fax, picked up in person, or mailed.  If the district and the guardian do not agree on how to transmit this letter, it must be mailed via postage prepaid, first class mail to the guardian within 3 school days of the occurrence.]

 

Dear [Guardian],

Recently, your student [name] was involved in an occurrence at school that required the physical restraint and/or seclusion of your student as defined by 281 Iowa Administrative Code Ch. 103.  A report related to this occurrence is enclosed with this letter. 

The law requires debriefing meetings be held for such occurrences in the following circumstances:

• following the first instance of seclusion or physical restraint during a school year;
• When any personal injury occurs as a part of the use of seclusion or physical restraint;
• When a reasonable educator would determine a debriefing session is necessary;
• When suggested by a student’s IEP team;
• When agreed to by the guardian and school officials; and
• After seven instances of seclusion or physical restraint of the student.

This letter is intended to inform you that a debriefing meeting will be held on [date within 5 days of transmission of letter, time, place] because of [reason from bulleted list above].  The following employees will be in attendance at this meeting: [list names and titles of employees].  We are inviting you to attend this debriefing meeting to engage with us on topics related to this occurrence. 

If you would like to reschedule the debriefing meeting, please contact me as soon as possible via email [email address] or telephone [telephone number], and at least one school day prior to the date and time listed for this debriefing meeting.  Your student is allowed to attend this meeting with your consent, and you are welcome to bring a representative of your choosing if you wish.  If you plan to bring a representative to this meeting, please let us know at least one school day prior to the meeting so that we have an opportunity to make arrangements.

We look forward to working with you to foster the continued health, safety and educational growth of your student.

 

___________________________________                                ___________________________
[Administrator name], title                                                                        Date

 

Enclosure:  Report related to student occurrence

 

Additional resources, if any, that could facilitate those alternative responses in the future:

Plans for additional follow up actions, if any:

 

This form has been reviewed and completed by the undersigned employee.  A written copy of this form has been sent to the student’s guardian within three school days of the debriefing meeting. 

 

____________________________________                  ______________________________
Employee                                                                                              Date of delivered to Parent/Guardian

 

                                                                                    ______________________________
                                                                                        Method of Transmittal

 

 

 

Approved:  February 15, 2021        
Reviewed:  January 25, 2020
Revised: