LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES
We believe that student development occurs best within an atmosphere of mutual respect, and therefore any behavior which undermines this respect, cannot be allowed. Teachers, administrators, and staff will not tolerate any behavior, which materially interferes with or is detrimental to the orderly operation of school, school-sponsored activities, or any other aspect of the educational process. Such acts shall be subject to discipline, including possible suspension and/or expulsion from school, and/or referral to law enforcement authorities.
Recognizing and valuing that we are a diverse community, it is part of our mission to provide a positive, harmonious environment in which diversity is respected and encouraged.
A major aim of education in the Lake Washington School District is the development of a commitment to the core values of a democratic society. In accordance with this aim, the district strongly emphasizes a core value of mutual human respect for each person regardless of individual differences and/or, characteristics including for example, but not necessarily limited to race, gender, age, disability, physical condition, sexual orientation, ethic group or religion. We expect this value to be manifested in the daily behaviors of students, staff and volunteers.
Appropriate consequences for violating this policy will be specified in the student code of conduct.
Dangerous Weapons: Summary of the Lake Washington School District Policy:
Possessing, using, transferring or transporting any object that could reasonably be considered a firearm or a dangerous weapon: and possessing any exploding item or device that would be capable of producing bodily harm, damage to property or disruption of the educational process. Violation of this rule is considered so serious to the safety and welfare of both the student who violates it and others in the District and such a disruption to the educational process, that emergency expulsion will always be immediately enacted. By law we are required to notify the local law enforcement agency of a violation of this rule. Also, by law, in the case of possession of a firearm we are required to expel the student. The duration of the expulsion will be at least one school year and may be permanent.
Any conduct which materially and substantially interferes with the educational process is prohibited.
However, the following infractions have been judged to be so serious in nature and/or so serious in terms of the disruptive effect upon the operation of the school(s) that students may be subject to an emergency expulsion and/or suspension (short term or long term) for a first-time offense. Because each situation is handled individually, administrators have the discretion to use other alternative forms of discipline if they so decide. This may include restitution for property damage or loss and/or restitution to victims if appropriate. All of the following acts are specifically prohibited on school grounds, school-sponsored transportation, (including authorized school bus stops), at school events off school grounds, or off-campus if disruptive affects result at school. Law enforcement may be informed.
Violation |
Definition |
Consequence |
Firearms |
Possession, threat to use or use of a firearm |
1st Offense: · EE (emergency expulsion) · Permanent expulsion from the LWSD · ROA (referral to an outside agency) · Conference · Police Contact |
|
Other Weapons and Explosives |
Possession, threat to use or use of other dangerous weapons (or replica weapons) i.e. knives, BB guns, paintball guns, marshal arts weapons, explosives, incapacitating agents, laser device or any other item which can inflict or threaten substantial harm or which can be perceived by others as a weapon |
1st Offense: · EE · STS (short-term suspension) to LTS (long-term suspension) · ROA (referral to an outside agency) · Conference · Police Contact 2nd Offense: · EE · LTS · ROA (referral to an outside agency) · Conference · Police Contact |
|
Immediate Danger and Disruption |
If a student’s presence poses an immediate and continuing danger to the student, other students, school personnel, or an immediate and continuing threat of substantial disruption to the educational process, that presence is not permitted. |
1st Offense: · EE, STS – LTS or Expulsion · ROA (referral to an outside agency) · Conference · Police Contact 2nd Offense: · EE, LTS or expulsion · ROA (referral to an outside agency) · Conference · Police Contact
|
Violation |
Definition |
Consequence |
|
Disruptive Behavior |
Behavior that materially or substantially interferes with or is detrimental to the orderly operation of school, school sponsored events or any other aspect of the educational process. Behavior or activities occurring off-campus that cause or threaten to cause a substantial disruption to the educational process on campus or impinge on the rights of the students or staff at school may be subject to discipline. |
1st Offense: · EE, STS or LT 2nd Offense: · EE, STS, or LTS
|
|
Drugs/Alcohol PossessionUse Paraphernalia
|
Possession, use, or being under the influence of drugs/alcohol on school grounds or during school sponsored events; including prescription drugs beyond a daily dose and over the counter drugs in quantities or mixtures that are suspect and capable of causing serious harm. |
1st Offense: · STS EE/LTS and Assessment 2nd Offense: · EE/LTS
|
|
Drugs/Alcohol SellBuy Transfer |
Transfer or sale on school grounds or during school sponsored events. Includes illegal drugs, controlled substances, and combinations or amounts of over-the-counter drugs that could be seriously harmful. |
1st Offense: · EE/LTS
|
|
Threats |
To express an intent to inflict injury or cause harm, to intimidate verbally, use of hand signs, in writing or on computer. Words or actions intended to inflict mental or physical harm are not allowed. |
1st Offense: · STS, LTS and/or EE 2nd Offense: · LTS and EE
|
|
Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, Disrespect
|
Harassment (verbal, physical, visual) /Intimidation/Bullying/Disrespect: Derogatory remarks, phrases, gestures, teasing etc., which demeans the race, ethnic background, gender or individuality (e.g. character, sexual orientation, physical appearance) of a person, or inappropriate touching. Also: words, actions, or electronic communications that create a hostile environment or disrupt school operations. |
1st Offense: · Conflict Mediation and/or STS, LTS, EE 2nd Offense: · IHS, STS, LTS, EE 3rd Offense: · STS, LTS, EE
|
Violation |
Definition |
Consequence |
|
Sexual Harassment |
Unwelcome sexual comments, jokes, innuendoes, compliments, cartoons, pranks and/or other verbal, visual or physical advances, unwanted touching, stalking, or gestures specific to an individual’s gender. |
1st Offense: · Conflict Mediation and/or STS, LTS, EE
2nd Offense: · IHS, STS, LTS, EE
3rd Offense: · STS, LTS, EE
|
|
Assault |
Inflicting physical harm. |
1st Offense
|
Because all employees and students have the right to work and learn in a non-intimidating environment, harassment will not be condoned or tolerated. Harassment of any employee or student, on the basis of individual differences including, but not limited to: gender, religion, race, age, ethnic group, disability, physical condition, sexual orientation or marital status is a serious violation of district and school policy.
Harassment can take many forms and can include bullying, intimidation, slurs, comments, rumors, “put-downs”, jokes, innuendoes, unwelcome compliments, cartoons, pranks, and/or other verbal or physical conduct relating to an individual which (1) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment; (2) has the purpose or effect or unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or education; (3) has the purpose of effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school or workplace; or (4) otherwise unreasonably affects an individuals’ employment or educational opportunities.
Sexual harassment is a type of harassment and occurs when the types of verbal and physical conduct described above are sexual in nature. Conduct is gender-based when it would not occur but for the sex of the person to whom it is directed. Sexual harassment is defined as verbal, visual, or physical advances made within the work and school setting and unwelcome by the person. Sexual harassment exists when: (1) submission to the conduct is, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of employment or education; or (2) submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as the basis of an employment or educational decision affecting such individual; or (3) the conduct unreasonably interferes with the individual’s job or educational performance or creates a work environment that is intimidating, hostile or offensive.
Harassing conduct includes repeated offensive sexual flirtations, advances or propositions, continued or repeated verbal abuse of a sexual nature, graphic or degrading verbal comments about an individual or about his/her appearance, the display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures, or any offensive or abusive physical contact. Harassment, including sexual harassment, does not refer to casual conversations or compliments of a socially acceptable nature. It refers to behavior related to the above definitions which is not welcome, is personally offensive and which interferes with efficacy or creates uneasiness.
All employees and students are prohibited from harassing any other employee or student and/or from retaliating, in any way, against anyone who makes a complaint of harassment.
Any employee who is found to have violated this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to an including termination of employment. Any student who is found to have violated this policy or building regulations governing harassment will be subject to discipline according to the building discipline code.
If any employee or student feels he/she has been subjected to harassment of any kind, they are encouraged to immediately identify the offensive behavior to the harasser and request that it stop. If the person is uncomfortable addressing the matter directly with the harasser or if the person has done so and the behavior does not stop, then they should discuss the matter immediately with the building administrator or any administrator with whom they feel comfortable or with the Administrator of Employee Relations. They should also report as indicated above any problems that arise with community members or other persons encountered in the school or work place.
Whether or not an informal process has been initiated, staff or students may file a formal written and signed complaint with the compliance officer.
Any complaint received will be promptly investigated, and the district will take prompt corrective action where appropriate. A written report of the complaint and investigation results will be compiled. Results of the investigation will be communicated in writing to the complainant within thirty days. Appropriate corrective measures will be taken no more than thirty days from the written response.
It is a violation of this policy to knowingly report false allegations of harassment. Persons found to knowingly report or corroborate false allegations will be subject to appropriate discipline.
This policy and related procedure/administrative guidelines will be posted and disseminated in each work site and reviewed with employees and students on an annual basis.