STUDENT RIGHTS

Sexual Harassment

It is the policy of the Brockton Christian Schools to promote and maintain an educational environment that is free from any type of harassment, including inappropriate touching, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. Cases of inappropriate sexualized behavior by young children will be handled sensitively, professionally, and on an individual basis by all school staff.

When students under the age of seven exhibit sexually inappropriate behaviors, including intentionally inappropriate touching, parents will be informed of the incident and invited to be present when the student is questioned, if feasible. Students under the age of seven are usually considered victims of, or witnesses to, the inappropriate sexual behavior of others, rather than perpetrators, and cannot be criminally prosecuted. However, depending upon the nature and severity of the behavior, certain cases of sexual assault may be reported to the Police for further investigation and eventual referral to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution. A 51A may be filed with the Department of Social Services.

When elementary school students (over the age of seven) exhibit sexually inappropriate behaviors, including intentionally inappropriate touching, parents will be informed of the incident and invited to come to school, if feasible, before the student is questioned further. In all cases, parents will be requested to attend a school conference where the behaviors will be discussed with the  administrator.

Civil Rights and Harassment

It is the policy of Brockton Christian School to provide an educational environment which is free from discrimination. Parents who feel that their young children have been victimized because of race, color, sex, national origin, or disability may contact any member of the school staff who will assist in reporting the incident to the principal.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Brockton Christian School’s policy is to uphold and enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relating to the unlawful possession and unlawful distribution of controlled substances and alcoholic beverages.

(If any of the following infractions occur at the kindergarten level, it is assumed that the child is not responsible but rather the parent/guardian has some level of responsibility whether it be child neglect and/or abuse. In these cases, the matter will be reported to the Police and the Department of Social Services.)

Search for Contraband Materials

1. Search of Lockers - According to an opinion by the Attorney General, under the circumstances of a clear and present danger to individual and general well-being and to the maintenance of discipline and order in the school, the principal or designee shall have the right and duty to inspect students' lockers and the contents therein without prior judicial authorization or police participation. Courts have generally held that the school principal has a reasonable right of inspection of school property and premises including student lockers and desks.

2. Search of Students – If there is reasonable suspicion to believe that a student is in possession of a controlled substance, and if the circumstances permit, a member of the school administrative staff may search, in the presence of a witness, an individual pupil's person or any belongings which are on his/her person. This includes clothing, pockets, wallets, purses, backpacks, lunch boxes, etc.

3. Rights of Questioned Students - Parental notification will be made in any police interrogation situation which carries an implication of possible allegation of guilt, or the furnishing of information leading to an indictment. The designated official of the school will maintain an informal record of the interview showing the time, place, persons, and summary of discussion and findings.

A student apprehended with any controlled or alcoholic substance for a second time will automatically be recommended to the School Committee for an expulsion hearing.

It should be noted that under Massachusetts law, counterfeit substances are to be treated the same as an actual drug.

Other Issues

A.     Search - Under the circumstances of a clear and present danger to individual and general well-being and to the maintenance of discipline and order in the school, the principal and/or designee shall have the right and duty to inspect students' lockers, desks and the contents therein without prior judicial authorization, police participation or student permission.

B.    Emergency Move to an Alternate Site – In rare circumstances of an emergency nature, such as loss of heat, water, etc., a school may be required to move students from the school to a pre-arranged alternate site without prior notification to the parent/guardian. In the event of such an occurrence, the school will send home with the student a notice explaining the emergency.

C. Confidentiality—All school staff must make it clear to pupils who confide in them that information about their personal drug or alcohol problems must be reported to the school principal or designee. This is done confidentially and only in order to further the goal of promoting the pupils' personal welfare and the security of the school.

In all instances where the principal or designee has received information of drug/alcohol involvement on the part of pupils, steps should be taken to advise the pupil that parents must be notified and consulted about further actions that are appropriate in the particular situation.

D. School Related Activities - All drug policies adopted for the regular school day are in force in school, on the way to and from school, and during all school related activities, including on school vans.

E. Medication Misuse - In every case where a student is required to take medication  in school, a parent or guardian shall refer to and follow the regulations regarding the taking of medication in school.   (see “Administering Medication” on page 25)  In this way the student will have no justification for carrying medication of any kind. Therefore, any medication found on a student's person will constitute a violation of the school policies and regulations.

F. Bringing Novelty Items to School - Students occasionally bring items to school which not only interfere with the educational process, but also present potential danger and may cause injury to fellow students. Lasers, caps, fun snaps, Walkman style radios, Gameboys, collectible cards, computer toys, are just a few examples of what are considered novelty items. Students are advised that these and similar types of items are not to be brought to school. This will ensure the safety of students as well as eliminate disruption to the educational environment.

G. Malicious Damage to School or Personal Property/Stealing - Misappropriation or misuse of school or personal property will not be tolerated. Restitution shall be made for the full amount of loss.

H. Attendance at School Functions in the Evening - Students who are not in attendance in school during the regular school day are not eligible to attend school functions in the afternoon or evening.

I. Extracurricular Activities - Students have the privilege of participating in school-sponsored activities. They have the responsibility to adhere to rules, standards and qualifications set forth in order to participate in those extracurricular activities. At the discretion of the principal, students who have chronic school offenses or who commit serious acts against the discipline code, in addition to the discipline penalty, may also lose the privilege of participating in extracurricular events such as field trips or other activities.

Internet Access: Acceptable Use Policy

The purpose of these guidelines regarding network access, email and Internet usage is to make certain that all who use these resources, both students and faculty, do so in an appropriate manner. The use of the network is a privilege, not a right, which may be revoked at any time for abuse of this privilege.

Violations of this policy may result in a loss of access as well as other disciplinary or legal action.

The primary purpose of the Internet connection is educational. Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and ensure that users are using the system responsibly.

Users are not permitted to:

• harass, insult, threaten or attack others from home or school computers
• send or display offensive materials
• use the network to perform any illegal or unethical act
• violate copyright laws or plagiarize
• use another’s password or access another’s folders, files or documents

 Brockton Christian School complies with FCC regulations as specified in the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA-P.L. 106-554) by providing filtering on all computers that students use.

PERSON AND PROPERTY

Students have the right to be physically safe and secure in person and property, especially in regard to the following:

1.   Physical Safety: Students shall not be subjected to physical harm by other students or school personnel. However, students may be physically restrained to prevent them from inflicting harm on themselves or others.

2.   Psychological Well-being: Students shall not be subjected to fear, threat, harassment or persecution. Each student is entitled to be accepted as a person and shall not be subjected to ridicule because of choice of lifestyle or interests.

3.  Property: Every effort will be made to protect students' personal property (clothing, money, jewelry, bikes,  etc.) from willful damage, theft, burglary, and extortion. A student shall be subjected to personal search by the principal, or designee, when required, if the student presents a known threat to the safety of others or their property, or if the student is believed to possess illegal items. Student property may be confiscated in order to protect the safety of others or their property, to prevent interference with learning by themselves or others, or to remove illegal items from their possession.

Cameras, tape recorders, radios, headset players, etc., are not to be used in school except with written permission of the classroom teacher or administrators, if in conjunction with a specific course assignment.

Beepers and cell phones must be kept turned off at all times inside the building and must be kept in lockers* or book bags; they may not be visible at any time.  If this policy is not followed, the item will be confiscated and returned to the parent or after parental contact has been made.

*Student lockers are not guaranteed secure; therefore, personal items left in them are at the discretion of the student and not the responsibility of the school department.

SCHOOL JUSTICE

Students have the right to be treated fairly under school rules and procedures and to be informed about them. In the event of violation of a rule, the student has the right to the protection of due process.

DUE PROCESS

Students must be provided due process whenever deprived of their right to education through extended exclusion, suspension or expulsion from their regular classroom instruction or from other school activities. However, if the student's conduct poses a clear and immediate danger to the physical safety of the student or others, or is so extremely disruptive as to make the student's temporary removal necessary to preserve the right of others to pursue an education, the student may be removed without a prior hearing.

MASSACHUSETTS REGULATIONS ON RESTRAINING STUDENTS

The Massachusetts Legislature has enacted new regulations regarding the restraint of students. A copy of the school’s procedure will be available at the school office.

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