CIVILITY OF STUDENTS

3512

Students shall behave civilly and with fairness and respect in dealing with other students, District personnel, patrons, visitors, and anyone having business with the District. Civil behavior is required on school property, in a school vehicle, at a school sponsored activity or event and while utilizing school property Uncivil behaviors shall be defined as those that are physically or verbally threatening, either overtly or implicitly, as well as behaviors that are coercive, intimidating, violent, or harassing whether they occur in telephone conversations, voice mail messages, face-to-face conversations, written letters, or e-mail messages. Examples of uncivil behavior shall include, but are not limited to: bullying; cyberbullying; the use of profanity; personally insulting remarks; attacks on a persons race, gender, nationality, or religion; and behavior that is out of control. In accordance with Kansas law, bullying is defined as any intentional gesture or any intentional written, verbal, electronic or physical act or threat that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student or staff member that a reasonable person, under the circumstances, knows or should know will have the effect of: 1) harming a student or staff member, whether physically or mentally; 2) damaging a students or staff members property; 3) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of harm to the student or staff member; 4) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of damage to the students or staff members property; or 5) any other form of intimidation or harassment prohibited by the board of education of the school district. Likewise, Kansas law defines cyberbullying as bullying by the use of any electronic communication device means including, but not limited to, e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, mobile phones, pagers, online games and Web sites. Any uncivil behavior by students shall be reported to District personnel. A record shall be made of the alleged incident and the action taken. Confidentiality shall be observed whenever possible to protect the complainant and the alleged offending student. Retaliation against a person who reports a claim of uncivil behavior is prohibited. B.O.E. Adopted 14 Jun 1999 B.O.E. Amended 10 Jul 2000 B.O.E. Amended 10 Sep 2007 B.O.E. Amended 14 Jul 2008 CROSS-REFERENCE: Blue Valley School District Policy No. 3524 LEGAL REFERENCE: It is our policy, in accordance with the law and accepted rules of a civil society, to maintain an environment which is legal, ethical and non-abusive.

BLUE VALLEY U.S.D. #229 BOARD POLICY