5300.20 Essential Partners

Parents and/or Guardians

All parents and/or guardians are expected to:

1. Recognize that the education of their child(ren) is a joint responsibility of the parents/guardians and the school community and collaborate with the district to optimize their child’s educational opportunities.
2. Send their children to school ready to participate and learn.
3. Ensure their children attend school regularly and on time.
4. Ensure absences are excused.
5. Insist their children be dressed and groomed in a manner consistent with the student dress code.
6. Help their children understand that in a democratic society appropriate rules are required to maintain a safe, orderly, and civil environment.
7. Know school rules and help their children understand them so that their children can help create a safe, supportive school environment.
8. Convey to their children a supportive attitude toward education, the district, and others.
9. Build positive, constructive relationships with teachers, other parents and their children's friends.
10. Help their children deal effectively with peer pressure.
11. Inform school officials of changes in the home situation that may affect student conduct or performance.
12. Provide a place for study and ensure homework assignments are completed.
13. Monitor their children’s use of personal technology.
14. Discuss with their child(ren) the importance of mutual respect and dignity for their peers regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning difference, background, or any other difference.

Teachers

All district teachers are expected to:

1. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning difference, background, or any other difference, which will strengthen students' self-concept and promote confidence to learn.
2. Be prepared to teach.
3. Demonstrate interest in teaching and concern for student achievement.
4. Know school policies and rules and enforce them in a fair and consistent manner.
5. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
6. Communicate to students and parents:

1. Course objectives and requirements
2. Marking/grading procedures
3. Assignment deadlines
4. Expectations for students
5. Classroom discipline plan

7. Communicate regularly with students, parents and other teachers concerning growth and achievement.
8. Participate in school-wide efforts to provide adequate supervision in all school spaces, in conformity with the Taylor Law.
9. Address issues of harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function.
10. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting.
11. Report incidents of, or symbols related to, discrimination, harassment and/or bullying that are witnessed or otherwise brought to their attention by orally notifying the principal, superintendent, or their designee not later than one (1) school day after they witnesses or receive a report of such acts, and by filing a written report with the principal, superintendent, or their designee no later than two (2) school days after making an oral report.

School Counselors

1. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning difference, background, or any other difference.
2. Assist students in coping with peer pressure and emerging personal, social and emotional problems.
3. Initiate teacher/student/counselor conferences and parent/teacher/student/counselor conferences, as necessary, as a way to resolve problems.
4. Regularly review with students their educational progress and career plans.
5. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
6. Provide information to assist students with career planning.
7. Encourage students to benefit from the curriculum and extracurricular programs.
8. Make known to students and families the resources in the community that are available to meet their needs.
9. Participate in school-wide efforts to provide adequate supervision in all school spaces.
10. Address issues of harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee, or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function.
11. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students.
12. Report incidents of, or symbols related to, discrimination, harassment and/or bullying that are witnessed or otherwise brought to their attention by orally notifying the principal, superintendent or their designee not later than one (1) school day after they witnesses or receive a report of such acts and by filing a written report with the principal, superintendent, or their designee no later than two (2) school days after making an oral report.

Other School Personnel

1. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning difference, background, or any other difference.
2. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
3. Be familiar with the code of conduct.
4. Help children understand the district’s expectations for maintaining a safe, orderly environment.
5. Participate in school-wide efforts to provide adequate supervision in all school spaces.
6. Address issues of harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee, or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function.
7. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students.
8. Report incidents of, or symbols related to, discrimination, harassment and/or bullying that are witnessed or otherwise brought to their attention by orally notifying the principal, superintendent, or their designee not later than one (1) school day after they witnesses or receive a report of such acts, and by filing a written report with the principal, superintendent, or their designee no later than two (2) school days after making an oral report.

 

Principals/Administrators

1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting active teaching and learning for all students regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning difference, background, or any other difference.
2. Ensure that students and staff have the opportunity to communicate regularly with the Principal and approach the Principal for redress of grievances.
3. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
4. Evaluate on a regular basis all instructional programs.
5. Support the development of and student participation in appropriate extracurricular activities.
6. Provide support in the development of the code of conduct, when called upon.
7. Disseminate the code of conduct and anti-harassment policies.
8. Be responsible for enforcing the code of conduct and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly.
9. Participate in school-wide efforts to provide adequate supervision in all school spaces.
10. Address issues of harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee, or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function.
11. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students and staff.
12. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning difference, background, or any other difference.
13. Address and/or report incidents of, or symbols related to, discrimination, harassment and/or bullying that are witnessed by the Building Administrator, or otherwise brought to the Building Administrator’s attention, by orally notifying the principal, superintendent, or their designee not later than one (1) school day after the Building Administrator witnesses or receives a report of such acts, and by filing a written report with the principal, superintendent, or their designee no later than two (2) school days after making an oral report.
14. Along with the Dignity Act Coordinator, investigate incidents of discrimination, harassment and/or bullying that are witnessed by the principal, or otherwise brought to the principal’s attention, in a timely manner.

The Dignity Act Coordinator(s)

1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting active teaching and learning for all students regardless of race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning differences, background or any other difference.
2. Identify curricular resources that support infusing civility in classroom instruction and classroom management; and provide guidance to staff as to how to access and implement those resources.
3. Coordinate, with the Professional Development Committee, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leaders, training to promote a positive school environment free from discrimination and harassment.
4. Be responsible for monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of the district’s bullying prevention policy.
5. Address issues of harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee, or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function.
6. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students and staff.

The Dignity Act coordinators for the 2023-2024 school year are:

• Primrose: Margaret Benedetto -Assistant Principal
• SIS: Dina Miller - Assistant Principal
• SMS: Jennifer Mangone -Assistant Principal
• SHS: Tara Kearns -Assistant Principal

Superintendent

1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment. supporting active teaching and learning for all students regardless of race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning differences, background or any other difference.
2. Review with district administrators the policies of the Board and state and federal laws relating to school operations and management.
3. Inform the Board about educational trends relating to student discipline.
4. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
5. Work to create instructional programs that minimize problems of misconduct and are sensitive to student and teacher needs.
6. Work with district administrators in enforcing the code of conduct and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly.
7. Participate in school-wide efforts to provide adequate supervision in all school spaces.
8. Address issues of harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee, or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function.
9. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students and staff.
10. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning differences, background or any other difference.
11. Report incidents of, or symbols related to, discrimination, harassment and/or bullying that are witnessed or otherwise brought to their attention by orally notifying the principal, superintendent, or their designee not later than one (1) school day after they witnesses or receive a report of such acts, and by filing a written report with the principal, superintendent, or their designee no later than two (2) school days after making an oral report.

Board of Education

1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting active teaching and learning for all students regardless of race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning differences, background or any other difference.
2. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
3. Develop and recommend a budget that provides programs and activities that support achievement of the goals of the code of conduct.
4. Collaborate with student teacher, administrator, and parent organizations, school safety personnel and other school personnel to develop a code of conduct that clearly defines expectations for the conduct of students, district personnel and visitors on school property and at school functions.
5. Adopt and review at least annually the district's code of conduct to evaluate the code's effectiveness and the fairness and consistency of its implementation.
6. Lead by example by conducting Board meetings in a professional, respectful, courteous manner.
7. Address issues of harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee, or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function.
8. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students and staff.
9. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, the languages they speak, learning differences, background or any other difference.
10. Report incidents of, or symbols related to, discrimination, harassment and/or bullying that are witnessed or otherwise brought to their attention by orally notifying the principal, superintendent, or their designee not later than one (1) school day after they witnesses or receive a report of such acts, and by filing a written report with the principal, superintendent, or their designee no later than two (2) school days after making an oral report.