Discipline Information

Detention will be held each Tuesday and Thursday from 2:55 until 3:55 p.m. in Room A229. Students assigned to Administrative Detention are required to arrive on time and to spend the detention time doing schoolwork under the supervision of a faculty member. 

Athletes with bags must take them to their lockers or designated athletics location upon arrival to school and store them there during the school day. Student musicians should take their instruments to the music room upon their arrival at school and leave them there.

Any bag, purse, or similar item large enough to hold a standard textbook is subject to this policy.

The Souderton Area School District is providing students with access to the District’s electronic communications system, which includes Internet access.

In accordance with the federally enacted Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) the school district has installed an Internet filtering service. Specifically, the District operates and enforces technology protection measures that monitor and track online activities of users on its computers so as to filter or block inappropriate matter on the Internet.

In a conscious effort to control as well as provide access to the many valuable resources on the Internet the district has developed a policy of acceptable use. This policy relates not only to the Internet, but to the district network and its associated resources.

Access to the System
All students will have access to the Internet World Wide Web information resources through their classroom, library, or school computer lab. Parents may specifically request that their children not be provided such access by notifying the District in writing.

Students will have e-mail access only under their teacher’s direct supervision using a classroom account. Students may be provided with an individual e-mail account under special circumstances at the request of their teacher and with approval of their parents and the building principal.

Student Rights 
User violations of the District Acceptable Use Policy, the Student Disciplinary Code or the law may be discovered by routine maintenance and monitoring of the District system.

The District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through the Souderton Area School District system.

In the event there is a claim of a users violation of this Policy or the Student Disciplinary Code in the use of the District system, the user will be provided with a written notice of the suspected violation and an opportunity to present an explanation before a neutral administrator.

If the violation also involves a violation of other provisions of the Student Disciplinary Code, it will be handled in a manner described in the Student Disciplinary Code. Additional restrictions may be placed on use of user’s Internet access including but, not limited to the loss of access to the Internet and network resources.

Users Will

• Disclose to their teacher or other school employee any message that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable. Restrictions against Inappropriate Language apply to public messages, private messages, and materials posted on Web pages.
• Immediately notify a teacher or the Supervisor of Technology if they have identified a possible security problem.
• Avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses.
• Use the system only for educational and professional or career development activities.
• Respect the rights of copyright owners. Users should request permission from copyright owners before using anything from the Internet.
• Immediately disclose to their teacher or the Supervisor of Technology inadvertent access to inappropriate materials.

Users Will Not

• Post personal contact information about themselves or other people.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the District system or any other computer system through the District system. Users are responsible for their individual files and directories and should take every reasonable precaution to prevent others from being able to use their account.
• Engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
• Harass another person.
• Knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.
• Repost or forward a message that was sent to them privately without permission of the person who sent them the message.
• Post private information about another person.
• Post chain letters or engage in “spamming.”
• Make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system performance or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.
• Use the District system to engage in any illegal act.
• Post information that, if acted upon, could cause damage or a danger of disruption.
• Use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.
• Subscribe or solicit information which incurs cost.
• Plagiarize works that they find on the Internet.
• Download large files unless absolutely necessary. If necessary, users will download the file at a time when the system is not being heavily used and immediately remove the file from the system computer to their personal computer.
• Use the District system to access material that is profane or obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature).
• Vandalize any equipment or computer system.

Personal Safety

• Users will not post personal contact information about themselves or other people. In other words, the user may not steal another’s identity in any way, may not use spyware, cookies, or use the network in any way to invade privacy. Additionally, the user may not disclose, use or disseminate personal information of other students or employees.
• Users will promptly disclose to their teacher or the Supervisor of Technology any message they receive that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.
• Student users will agree not to meet with someone they have met online.
• Documents or videotapes may not include information which indicates the physical location of a student at a given time other than attendance at a particular school or participation in school activities.

Illegal Activities Prohibited

Any use of the SASD system for or to facilitate illegal activity is expressly prohibited. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Federal Copyright Law
• Federal Wire Fraud Law
• Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse
• Federal and Pennsylvania Child Pornography Laws
• Children’s On-line Privacy Protection Act
• Children’s Internet Protection Act
• Pennsylvania Computer Crime Law
• Pyramid Schemes/Chain Letters
• Defamation
• Common Law Action for Invasion of Privacy

Consequences for Inappropriate Use: 
Students may be denied computer privileges for serious and/or continuous violations of school policy. In addition, students should be aware that the SASD’s computer policies incorporate all other school policies as well as applicable local, state, and federal laws. Students will be disciplined for any inappropriate use in conformance with the Student Disciplinary Code.

Use the following link for SASD's Discipline Structure.

An individual’s dress, personal appearance and cleanliness have a bearing on how others react to them, and therefore, should reflect sensitivity to and a respect for others. It should not constitute a threat to the safety and health of self or others, or be in violation of any statute. Although styles do change, dress should reflect current good taste and a style appropriate for a school day. The purpose of the dress code is to assure that the school population will dress in a way that is supportive of, and not disruptive to, the educational process.

• Students must wear apparel that covers the midriff. Tube tops, open back tops, and off-the-shoulder tops are prohibited. For girls, straps on “tank tops” must be at least one (1) inch in width. Boys may not wear tank tops, sleeveless shirts, or muscle shirts. Clothing with profane or questionable language imprints is unacceptable school apparel.
• Students must wear footwear at all times. Because of safety and sanitation in situations such as chemistry lab, teachers may require more substantial footwear.
• Sunglasses are not to be worn in the school building.
• Hats and hoods are prohibited.

Students not in compliance with the dress code will be required to obtain an immediate suitable change of clothing and will face disciplinary action ranging from warning to suspension. Any student who wears apparel to school deemed inappropriate dress will be referred to the administration for disciplinary action.

Use the following link for SASD's Drug and Alcohol Administrative Guidelines.

The Souderton Area School Board recognizes that the use and/or abuse of drugs, alcohol, and/or mood altering substances by members of its school population is a serious problem with legal, physical, and social implications.

Through the use of curriculum and classroom activities, community resources, administrative and faculty efforts, rehabilitative and disciplinary procedures, the Souderton Area School District will work in a consistent manner to educate, prevent, and intervene in the use and/or abuse of all drug, alcohol, and mood altering substances by members of the entire school population.

Students are prohibited from knowingly possessing, using, distributing, manufacturing, or being under the influence of any controlled substance and/or alcoholic beverage while on school district property during the school day as well as at any school sponsored activity, function or event, or while on any vehicle used to transport students. Also prohibited is the promotion, distribution or possession of any drug paraphernalia and/or drug look-alike.

No person shall, for the purpose of causing a condition of intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction, or the dulling of his brain or nervous system, intentionally smell or inhale the fumes from any substance containing a solvent having the property or releasing toxic vapors or fumes.

Students in violation of the Drug and Alcohol Policy may be referred to the Student Assistance Program, in the discretion of school employees.

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe, positive environment for students and staff that is free from hazing. Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational goals of the district and are prohibited at all times. For purposes of this policy, hazing is defined as any activity that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or membership in or affiliation with any organization recognized by the Board.

Endanger the physical health shall include but not be limited to any brutality of the physical nature, such as whipping; beating; branding; forced calisthenics; exposure to the elements; forced consumption of any food, beverage, alcohol, drug, or controlled substance; or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual.

Endanger the mental health shall include any activity that would subject an individual to extreme mental stress, such as prolonged sleep deprivation, forced prolonged exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.

Any hazing activity, whether by an individual or a group, shall be presumed to be a forced activity, even if a student willingly participates. The Board does not condone any form of initiation involving hazing as part of any school sponsored student activity. No student, coach, sponsor, volunteer or district employee shall plan, encourage, assist or engage in any hazing activity. The board directs that no administrator, coach, sponsor, volunteer or district employee shall permit, condone, or tolerate any form of hazing. The district will investigate all complaints of hazing and will administer appropriate discipline to any individual who violates this policy. The Board encourages students who have been subjected to hazing to promptly report such incidents to the building principal.

District administrators shall investigate promptly all complaints of hazing and administer appropriate discipline to any individual who violates this policy. Students, administrators, coaches, sponsors, volunteers, and district employees shall be alert to incidents of hazing and shall report such conduct to the building principal.

In-School Suspension is held in Room A229. Students are responsible for their own transportation. Work will be procured from teachers for the students assigned In-School Suspension. Students must observe the terms of the In-School Suspension Contract. Students are not permitted to attend North Montco Technical Career Center and are not extended Senior Privilege on Day(s) serving In-School Suspension except as determined by the Assistant Principal. Students are also ineligible to participate in co-curricular activities and must leave school immediately upon dismissal on day(s) serving In-School Suspension. Failure to comply with the contract and In-School Suspension policies will result in an Out of School Suspension.

Students with outstanding obligations at the end of each Marking Period may be denied privileges until the obligations are met.

Obligations include the following:

• Detentions for tardiness to school (in excess of one hour)
• Failure to submit start of year paperwork (i.e., student handbook signature sheet)
• Athletic uniforms
• Academic materials
  • Textbooks
  • Calculators
• Library materials

Privileges subject to suspension:

• Parking
• Senior Privilege
• Participation in extra-curricular activities
• Participation in graduation ceremony
• Use of library

Students must report to Saturday Detention no later than 8:00 a.m. and students will be dismissed at 12:00 noon. Students assigned four (4), three (3), two (2) hours, or one (1) hour Saturday detention must report at 8:00 a.m.

Students are required to come prepared to do school related work.

Parents will be notified at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of assignment. Transportation to school and home again will be the responsibility of the student and the parents. Missing a Saturday Detention without prior administrative approval will result in additional Saturday Detentions or In School Suspension. Saturday Detention may only be rescheduled with prior administrative approval.

Students who owe excessive amounts of Saturday Detention at the end of any quarter may, at the discretion of the administration, be suspended from all privileges and extra-curricular activities until the detention hours have been served.

Sexual activity involves touching of another's intimate parts. Intimate parts include the primary genital area, groin, inner thighs, buttocks or breast, as well as the clothing covering these areas. Even if consensual or mutually agreed to, sexual activity is prohibited at school or school-sponsored function. Excessive displays of affection are also not appropriate at school or at any school-sponsored function. Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to: any physical expression of affection that is intimate or sexual in nature, passionate or prolonged kissing, sexual touching, or fondling.

The Souderton Area School Board believes that responsible student conduct is an essential part of the educational process and all those involved in the schools – students, parents, teachers, and administrators – desire a learning environment free from disruptive influences.

The discipline code set forth in the chart that follows (entitled “Disciplinary Structure – Student Misconduct/Response Guideline”) organizes student misbehavior into four (4) categories from minor to major, depending upon the type of misbehavior, the effect of the misbehavior on the learning climate of the school and on the health or safety of others in the school.

1. Minor misbehavior on the part of the student, which impedes orderly classroom procedure or interferes with the orderly operation of the school.
2. Misbehavior whose frequency or seriousness tends to disrupt the learning climate of the school.
3. Acts, whether on school property or off school property, including but not limited to attendance at school-sponsored events, extracurricular activities, field trips, transportation to and from school, and the like directed against persons or property but where the student’s conduct does not seriously endanger or pose a direct threat to himself/herself or to the health or safety of others in the school.
4. Acts, whether on school or off school property, including but not limited to attendance at school-sponsored events, extracurricular activities, field trips, transportation to and from school, and the like, which result in violence to another’s person or property or which pose a direct threat to the safety of others in the school or to the student engaging in such conduct.

The second column of the Disciplinary Structure presents examples of misbehavior at each level. These examples are not all-inclusive but serve to describe the type of misbehavior at a particular level. Acts of misbehavior not listed as examples will be placed in the appropriate category and handled accordingly.

The third column of the Disciplinary Structure contains procedures for handling misbehavior at each level, while the fourth column presents disciplinary responses to the misbehavior by the teachers, principals, or other school authorities. The disciplinary responses are not all-inclusive, and it is expected that the maturity of the student, the degree or severity of the misbehavior, and the facts or circumstances surrounding the misbehavior will all be taken into consideration as the disciplinary response is determined. In some instances of misbehavior, however, disciplinary responses are mandatory because of the seriousness of the offenses.

This Discipline Code will be used in conjunction with existing policies of the Souderton Area School District affecting expected student behavior, which are outlined in more detail below. The provisions of the Discipline Code will be modified, when required by State and Federal Special Education Regulations, for those students who are classified as exceptional.

When a student is suspended or expelled from SAHS, he/she is automatically suspended or expelled from North Montco Technical Career Center. This is a reciprocal agreement.

Students should be aware that, according to the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, a person on the school campus during a period when he/she has been excluded from school is committing a defiant trespass offense.

Administrative Guidelines
In accordance with the Souderton Area School Board’s concern for maintaining a safe school environment, which encourages responsible conduct, the following definition of terms, regulations, and guidelines shall be used by all school district personnel when responding to student discipline related situations.

Definition of Terms (in alphabetical order):

Munition – any projectile, along with its fuse and primer, that can be fired from a gun or otherwise propelled as well as an chemical or explosive material used for defense or offense such as a rocket, grenade, mine, or the like.

Arson – the crime of maliciously burning a building or property of another, or burning one’s own property for some improper purpose.

Assault – a violent attack and/or unlawful attempt of threat to injure another person physically or verbally.

Bullying – shall mean both an intentional electronic, verbal, written, or physical act or a series of acts that, individually or cumulatively, are severe, persistent or pervasive, that are directed at a student by another student or students, which occur in a school setting and/or outside a school setting, that has the intent and effect of:

1. Substantially interfering with a student’s educational opportunities.
2. Creation of a threatening environment.
3. Substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school

School setting means in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school. The definition shall also include during the time students necessarily spend traveling to and from school or school-sponsored activities.

Our school will not tolerate known acts of bullying occurring in the school.

Chemical Abuse Specialist – is a certified program specialist with expertise in the area of chemical dependence and school based assessment.

Cooperative Behavior – shall be defined as the willingness of a student to work with staff and school personnel in a reasonable and helpful manner, complying with requests and recommendations as outlined by the Student Support Team.

Destructive device – any explosive, incendiary or poison gas, including but not limited to, any bomb, grenade, rocket, missile, mine or device similar to any of the aforementioned instruments.

Distributing – deliver, sell, pass, share, or give any alcohol, drug, drug look-alike or mood altering substance from one person to another, or to aid therein.

Drug/Alcohol/Mood Altering Substance – shall include any alcoholic or malt beverage, any drug listed in Act 64 (1972) as a controlled substance, chemical, abused substance or medication for which a prescription is required under the law and/or any substance which is intended to alter mood. Examples of the above include but are not limited to beer, wine, liquor, marijuana, hashish, heroin, cocaine, crack, chemical solvents, glue, look-alike substances, and any capsules or pills not registered with the nurse, annotated within the student’s health record, and/or taken in accordance with the school district policy for the administration of medication to students in school.

Drug Paraphernalia – includes any utensil or item which in the school’s judgment can be associated with the use/abuse of narcotic drugs, alcohol, or mood altering substances. Examples may include, but are not limited to cigarette-rolling papers, roach clips, pipes, and bowls.

Expulsion – shall be any exclusion from school for a period in excess of ten (10) school days and may be permanent expulsion from the school rolls. Refer to Policy #233.

Extortion – the act of obtaining money, information, or property from another by coercion, intimidation, or threat of future harm. The threat is not limited to physical violence but may include that of ruining a person’s reputation.

False Imprisonment – the unlawful detention or confinement of another. Key to the concept is submission to authority – a common practice in hazing.

False Reporting – any seeming signal, or warning given that is groundless or lacks authenticity (e.g., a bomb threat, a fire alarm, or 911 call where no bomb, fire, or emergency exists).

Fighting 
(Level III) – a physical conflict between two or more individuals which is minor in nature and where serious bodily injury has not occurred, a conflict easily resolved by an administrator.
(Level IV) – a brawl or physical conflict between two or more individuals where serious bodily injury has occurred and which is deemed appropriate for police intervention.

Firearm – any instrument which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by action of an explosive; the frame or receiver of any such instrument; any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or any destructive device.

Fireworks 
(Level III) – any various combinations of explosives and combustibles used to generate colored lights, smoke, or noise – those devices legal for sale under the state law.
(Level IV) – those devices not legal for sale under the state law.

Forgery – the making, completing, executing, authenticating, issuing, altering, or transferring of any writing of another without his/her authority.

Gambling – placing a wager or betting money on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event.

Harassment – to disturb or irritate someone with annoyances, insults, taunts, threats, or demands in order to gain a desired end or create worry and/or mental suffering.

In-School Suspension – removal of a student from the regular program while providing him/her with planned and supervised instruction in the basic subjects.

Insubordination – a rebellious attitude which implies open defiance or refusal to submit to authority.

Look-alike substances – any non-controlled substance that in its overall finished dosage appearance is substantially similar in size, shape, color, marking, or packaging to a specific controlled substance.

Out of School Suspension – students are removed from school for the term of the out-of-school suspension. A temporary, out of school suspension may last for not more than three (3) consecutive school days. A full out of school suspension may last for not more than ten (10) consecutive school days. Refer to Policy 233.

Outside Referral – referral to an education or treatment agency not operated by the school district wherein students are evaluated in an effort to determine the extent of the drug/alcohol problem and appropriate intervention techniques applied. (Example: Penn Foundation)

Paging Portable Communication Device – A telecommunications device that emits an audible signal, vibrates, displays a message, or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the processor.

Possession – found on the person of the student, in the student’s locker or vehicle, or under the student’s control while he/she is on School District property, at a school-sponsored function or while the student is on his/her way to or from school.

Probation – a specified period of time whereby a student must adhere to prescribed conditions of behavior. Conditions of probation will be presented to both the student and parent in writing. A student subject to probation under this policy shall continue to attend school but shall be required to observe certain conditions, which may include but need not be limited to:

• Prohibition of any further violation of this policy.
• Prohibition of participation in athletic, extracurricular, social, or leadership activities. This may include exclusion from commencement activities.
• Reporting at stated periods to appropriate persons for counseling.
• Participating in after school hour’s maintenance and/or rehabilitation programs.
• Other conditions reasonably related to insuring a correction of the misbehavior or misconduct for which the probation was imposed.

Propellant – A device used to emit a substance that may or may not be used for self-defense including but not limited to mace, pepper spray, and hair spray.

Reasonable suspicion – specific, contemporaneous, articulable observations concerning the appearance, behavior, speech and/or body odors of the student or an anonymous tip.

Sale – the exchange of a determined amount of money or its equivalent.

Saturday Detention – a school detention held on Saturday and which may be assigned only by an administrator for a Level III or Level IV offense and/or repeated violations of Levels I and II. Hours, procedures, requirements, transportation, etc. are detailed under each school’s behavioral practices.

School – includes the distance a student travels to and from a specific district building within the time parameter of that student’s school responsibilities (i.e., sports, detention, and other school sponsored activities); school bus; school buildings or surrounding property owned by the school district; and school sponsored events (e.g., athletic events, trips, concerts, dances, meetings, etc.).

School District Property – shall include buildings, facilities, and grounds on the school campus, school buses, school parking areas, and any facility being used for a school function or school sponsored trip.

School Sponsored Function – shall include alternative educational opportunity programs (i.e. Co-op Program) or any school related activity subject to the school’s jurisdiction.

Sexual Harassment – unwanted or uninvited sexually orientated words or actions that hurt or humiliate someone and/or behavior which causes a person to feel uncomfortable or offended. Sexual harassment may be physical, verbal, and/or non-verbal and is illegal in schools and work places because it violates federal and state laws.

Student – any individual enrolled in the Souderton Area School District.

Student Assistance Program (SAP) – is a multi-disciplinary team minimally composed of the school psychologist, a school administrator, a guidance counselor, the school nurse, and two teachers. This team has been trained to understand and work on the issues of adolescent chemical use, abuse, and dependency and will play a primary role in the identification and referral process of students coming to their attention through the procedures outlined in this policy and its Guidelines.

Suspension of Privileges – exclusion of a student for a stipulated period of time from activities which include, but are not limited to: extra-curricular activities, graduation ceremony, parking, use of the library, attendance at school functions such as dances or sporting events as a spectator, use of passes during the school day, attendance at assembly programs, and/or lunch in the cafeteria. A level III or IV violation of the discipline code during the school year may result in suspension of the privilege to participate in proms and / or graduation ceremonies.

Terroristic Act – shall mean an offense against property or involving danger to another person. As used in this provision, property offenses include, but are not limited to, arson, burglary, robbery, theft, forgery, fraudulent practices (including institutional vandalism) and criminal mischief. As used in this provision, danger to persons includes, but is not limited to, homicide, assault, kidnapping, sexual offenses and any other offense involving danger to persons as defined in the Pennsylvania criminal statutes.

Terroristic Threat – shall mean a threat to commit any crime of violence with the intent to terrorize another, or to cause evacuation of a building, place or assembly, or facility of public transportation, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience.

Theft/Shoplifting – the taking and removing of another’s personal property, with the intent of permanently depriving the owner.

Tobacco – a lighted or unlighted cigarette or electronic cigarette (vaping device), cigar and pipe; other lighted smoking products; and smokeless tobacco in any form

Truancy – being absent from school without permission from a parent or school official.

Uncooperative Behavior – is resistance or refusal – verbal, physical, or passive – on the part of the student to comply with the reasonable request or recommendations of school personnel. Defiance, assault, deceit, and flight shall constitute examples of uncooperative student behavior. Uncooperative behavior shall also include the refusal to comply with recommendations as outlined by the Student Support Team or a licensed drug and alcohol facility.

Under the Influence of Alcohol – when the student has either admitted to the use of alcohol or if the alcohol concentration in the student’s blood or breath is 0.02% or higher, as measured by a breathalyzer test. When a school employee has reasonable suspicion that a student is under the influence of alcohol and seeks the administration of a breathalyzer test, the student must submit to the test. If the student refuses to submit to a breathalyzer, the student will be deemed to be under the influence. For purposes of this provision, refusing to submit shall mean that the student: (1) failed to consent to the administration of the test; (2) failed to appear for the test; (3) failed to remain at the testing site until the testing process was complete; (4) failed to cooperate with any part of the testing process, including, but not limited to, providing a sufficient specimen for testing purposes; or (5) provided an adulterated, substituted or altered sample. Breathalyzers may be administered by either school employees or the police. Under the Influence of

Under the Influence of Drugs/Mood Altering Substances – when the student has either admitted to the use of drugs or mood-altering substances or if the presence of drugs or other prohibited substance is detected in the student’s urine. When the school employee has reasonable suspicion that a student is under the influence of a drug and/or mood altering substance and seeks the administration of a urine test/breathalyzer, the student must submit to the test. If the student refuses to submit to the urine test/breathalyzer, the student will be deemed to be under the influence. For purposes of this provision, refusing to submit shall mean that the student: (1) failed to consent to the administration of the test; (2) failed to appear for the test; (3) failed to remain at the testing site until the testing process was complete; (4) failed to cooperate with any part of the testing process, including, but not limited to, providing a sufficient specimen for testing purposes; or (5) provided an adulterated, substituted or altered sample . Urine tests may be administered by either school employees or the police.

Use – to consume, take, or partake of in any quantity or form

Vandalism – the willful or malicious destruction of public or private property which requires restitution of property and damages.

Weapon – including but not limited to, any knife, cutting instrument, cutting tool, nunchaku stick, metal knuckles, straight razor, slingshot, poison, drug, ammunition, firearm, shot gun, rifle, air guns, destructive device and any other tool, instrument or implement capable of or designed to harm, threaten or harass students, staff members, parents or patrons of the school district, including look-alike weapons .

From time to time it becomes necessary for a teacher to be absent from school because of illness or for personal reasons. When this occurs, a substitute teacher is called upon to come into our school to continue the program as outlined by the absent teacher. The substitute teachers who are called into our school are well qualified and experienced in their field.

With your complete cooperation in class, a substitute teacher may continue the regular instructional program. If you are sent out of the class by any substitute for not cooperating (e.g., class disruption, rudeness, or defiance), you may serve Saturday Detention or be suspended from school. Parents may be asked to come to school to take you home.

The Board prohibits any district student from communicating terroristic threats or committing terroristic acts directed at any student, employee, Board member, community member or school building.

Students shall be responsible for informing the building principal regarding any information or knowledge relevant to a possible or actual terroristic threat or act.

When an administrator has conducted an investigation and has evidence that a student has made a terroristic threat or committed a terroristic act, the following Guidelines shall be applied:

• The building principal shall immediately suspend the student.
• The building principal shall promptly report the incident to the Superintendent.
• Based on further investigation, the Superintendent and/or his designee shall report the student to law enforcement officials.
• The Superintendent may recommend expulsion of the student to the Board.

A student found to have committed terroristic threats or acts may, in addition to any other discipline imposed or restitution ordered, be required to pay costs in the amount equal to the cost of the evacuation, including, but not limited to, fire and police response, and the cost of transportation of any individual(s) from the building, place of assembly or facility.

If a student is suspended and/or expelled for making terroristic threats or committing terroristic acts, the Board may require, prior to readmission, that the student provide competent and credible evidence that the student does not pose a risk of harm to others.

In the case of exceptional students, the district will take all steps necessary to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Act.

The Board recognizes that use of tobacco by students presents a health and safety hazard, which can have serious consequences for both users and non-users.

The Board prohibits students from possessing and/or using tobacco at any time in a school building, a school bus, and on school property owned by, leased by, or under the control of the school or at school sponsored activities. Students are also prohibited from possessing and/or using tobacco on their way to and from school (portal-to-portal enforcement). Violations of this rule will result in discipline.

The school district shall also initiate prosecution of a student who violates the tobacco use policy. A student convicted of possessing or using tobacco or electronic smoking device in a school building, on a school bus, or on school owned property may be fined significantly plus court costs or may be admitted to alternative program per Pennsylvania Criminal Code Act 145.

Students may be denied computer privileges for serious and/or continuous violations of school policy.  In addition, students should be aware that the SASD’s computer policies incorporate all other school policies as well as applicable local, state, and federal laws.  Students will be disciplined for any inappropriate use in conformance with the Student Disciplinary Code.

Possession of weapons in the school environment is a threat to the safety of students and staff and is prohibited. For any student found in possession of a weapon, the student shall be subject to an administrative recommendation to the Board for expulsion from school for a period of not less than one (1) year, subject to review of the Superintendent on a case-by-case basis. The Superintendent shall, in the case of an exceptional student, take all necessary steps to comply with all applicable special education laws and regulations.

The discovery of any weapon shall be reported to local law enforcement officials, and students may be prosecuted under applicable criminal law.

When a student transfers from a public or private school during an expulsion period for an offense involving a weapon, the School District may assign that student to an alternative placement or may provide alternative education, provided the assignment not exceed the expulsion period.