Davis Discipline Code

The creation of a school and classroom atmosphere that promotes the development of the student's ability to control his/her own behavior and learn to take responsibility for his/her actions is a school-wide goal. Appropriate school behavior is dependent on respect for self, property and others. Family-school cooperation is essential to this process. Disciplinary action may be required in order to maintain an environment conducive to effective learning.

In regulating student behavior, school personnel will be fair, consistent and judicious in the administration of consequences, paying particular attention to the age of the student and any particular learning or emotional issues that may affect his/her behavior. Pupils will be disciplined when their behavior is disruptive, disrespectful or detrimental to the learning process and when conduct could cause injury to self, to another person or to school property.

Reasonable and prudent force or restraint for the purpose of maintaining order and safeguarding the physical wellbeing of children and adults within the school may be used as required by teachers and administrators.

Discipline will generally take these forms:

1. A pupil may be temporarily excluded from a group when his/her behavior interferes with the orderly process of teaching, learning or assembly (time-out).
2. A pupil may be denied recess or a portion of recess or other special activity, as appropriate.
3. In more serious cases, a pupil may be suspended from school by the principal for up to 10 days. (Unusual at the primary school level).
4. For more serious offenses, such as assault or possession of a dangerous weapon, a student may be suspended by the principal or expelled by the School Committee. (Highly unusual at the primary level).

Before any major disciplinary measure under these regulations is imposed, school personnel shall provide the pupil involved with a reasonable opportunity to present his/her version of the facts through his/her own statements and the statement of others who may have some knowledge of the circumstances.

The goal is to apply this concept of differing levels of inappropriate behavior to all disciplinary problems in a fair and consistent manner. It is also recognized that there are extenuating circumstances which relate to a particular behavior problem. Such circumstances may indicate that a specific incident should be dealt with in a more severe or less severe way than the typical situation. The policy statement includes a degree of administrative discretion as is in the best interest of an individual student and the school community as a whole.