Springfield Discipline Procedures

The Springfield Elementary staff is committed to working collaboratively with students and parents to enhance our ability to inspire a passion for learning, commitment to excellence, and build a community of learners. With safety and security as fundamental necessities to a healthy learning community our staff continues to seek ways to facilitate acceptance and positive peer relationships. A critical piece to ensuring this type of environment is responsive and immediate incident reporting followed by intervention and conflict resolution.

INCIDIENT REPORTING:

This year, parents and students will have access to on-line reporting of incidents from their home after school hours by selecting the No Place for Hate: Incident Reporting link on the Springfield homepage. All incidents will be investigated by building principal or designee in accordance with school policy.

THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS:

The following is the process for the investigation of each incident reported to the office.

ü  The principal/counselor will review all documents sent by teacher, parent or student.

ü  All participants: victims, witnesses, and accused will be called to the office and independent statements will be taken in writing.

ü  The principal/counselor will review all statements and conduct an investigation which will involve questioning each student regarding the written statements to corroborate the accusation and establish the clearest picture of the event.

ü  Upon corroboration, a consequence will be assigned in accordance to the school discipline code. Due to confidentiality laws, consequences of students will not be shared with victims’ parents/guardians. Only the results of the investigation can be shared with all parents/guardians of the parties involved. If the principal/designee is unable to corroborate the events of the incident report, no consequence can be assigned.

 DISCIPLINARY RESPONSES:

Major concerns, such as fighting, open defiance, and threatening the safety of self and others, will be handled as follows:

            First Offense: One day in-school suspension and a parent/student/principal conference

            Second Offense: Two day in-school suspension and a parent conference

            Third Offense:  Out of school suspension (1-3 days)

            Further incidents would result in five or ten day suspensions and hearings on the incidents

SERIOUS INFRACTIONS, such as the POSSESSION OF WEAPONS, DRUGS, or ALCOHOL are covered specifically in board policy.  Consequences include reporting to the appropriate authority (superintendent and/or police) and level III disciplinary action will be taken.

DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION:

Staff will use their professional judgment when sending students to the office. If the situation can be handled through a restorative practice meeting, an attempt will be made prior to making the referral; however, repeat and persistent behavior is not tolerable at Springfield and should be reported immediately by the classroom teacher or student.

COMMUNICATION:

ü  All classroom incidents will be communicated to parents by the classroom teacher, and copied to the counselor and principal.

ü  Incidents requiring investigations that yield a higher consequence than ARC will be reported to parents by the counselor/principal.

ü  Teacher referral forms: will be sent home by the classroom teacher.

If you have any questions regarding the discipline policies and procedures, please contact me via email afarina@palisadessd.org or by phone 610-847-5131 ext. 6001.