Below please find proposed amendments to the three sections of the Code of Conduct. A public hearing is scheduled for 6:55 p.m. on Monday, July 14, immediately prior to the Board of Education Annual Reorganization meeting.
The meeting will be held in the Multimedia Room, which must be accessed from the elementary wing due to construction. Cut through the Elementary Library to the High School Library, and the Multimedia Room will be on your left. Contact the District Office (315-344-2414 x28891) with any questions.
The current language for each section with proposed changes may be found in the 2024-25 Code of Conduct.
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Academic Eligibility
For the purpose of this Academic Eligibility Policy, extracurricular activities are any non-credit bearing activities offered by the school, which include but are not limited to athletic events, musical productions, dances, field trips, student council, foreign language clubs, class officers, marching band, etc. Attendance at the junior prom and senior class trip(s) are not included.
Heuvelton Central School is committed to providing students with a well-rounded and rigorous academic education. For that reason, the following guidelines have been established.
- Every five weeks, an ineligibility list will be compiled for students in grades 7-12, failing one or more courses with below a 65. Students will be monitored for the next five weeks and their participation in extracurricular activities and sports may be restricted.
- The list of ineligible students will be distributed to all faculty, staff, coaches and advisors. In addition, a letter will be sent to the student’s home informing guardians of their academic status. The letter will include a listing of the courses that the student is failing.
- Students on the list will be placed on a 2 week academic probationary period. Students on academic probation will be allowed to participate in all activities. Students who are on the list must remain in their designated study hall unless they have a pre-signed pass or permission to receive academic assistance.
- Students must have the teacher(s) of record sign off that they are passing in order to remain eligible at the end of the 2 week probation period. For a teacher to sign off on a student’s eligibility, the student must either:
- Earn a 65 or higher GPA in that course
OR
- At teacher’s discretion, display evidence of significant academic progress Evidence may include:
- The student is making a strong independent effort to improve their course grades, by completing a majority of their missed work and/or making satisfactory progress in their ongoing course work.
- Active participation in a form of academic support - utilize tutoring services, after school support, and/or seek assistance during the advisory period to assist them in regaining their eligible status.
5. At the end of the 2 week academic probation, only students remaining on the ineligible list will be evaluated. Any students who are no longer failing per teacher sign off will remain eligible for participation in extracurricular activities and athletics, and removed from the list. Students who are still failing will remain on the list until they are passing or receive teacher sign off and will now be ineligible for participation in extracurricular activities. (Students are able to be removed from the list at any time based on academic progress or at teacher discretion).
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- Ineligible students can participate in extracurricular practices, rehearsals, meetings. However, ineligible students cannot participate, or dress to participate in extracurricular games, events, performances, contests, trips, dances.
- Ineligible students will be assigned to an academic support study hall during advisory. They will remain in the academic support study hall until they become eligible.
6. Students who are ineligible become eligible for participation once passing all of their courses or displaying evidence of significant academic progress(4b). Students must have the teacher(s) of record sign off in order to regain eligibility.
7. On a case by case basis students may be placed in an academic support study hall.
It is the responsibility of the coaches/advisors to enforce non-participation for those students on the academic ineligibility list.
Eligibility Appeal: If a student is academically ineligible and has experienced extenuating circumstances, they may request an appeal to the Athletic Eligibility Committee. The request must be in writing to an administrator. The administrator will establish an Eligibility Committee to hear the appeal within three days. The Eligibility Committee will consist of the following individuals: 1) an administrator, 2) high school counselor, 3) student, 4) coach or advisor, 5) content area teacher, 6) guardian, 7) athletic director if an athlete. The Eligibility Committee will make the final decision regarding the eligibility appeal.
At any time that a teacher has concerns about a student academically they can suggest a meeting with the Eligibility Committee.
Any student with a disability, receiving services under IDEA or section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, may be placed on the ineligibility list pursuant to the policy herein. Prior to being placed on academic ineligibility it must be determined through the special education team that:
- The student’s IEP is appropriate
- The student’s IEP has been properly implemented
- The students failing grades are not related to their disability
If the criteria in these three expectations have been confirmed, the policy will be enforced. If the criteria in these three steps have not been confirmed, the student will remain eligible and it will be referred to the CSE chairperson for review.
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Student Use of Communication and Electronic Devices
(in accordance with Board Policy 7316: Use of Internet-Enabled Devices During the School Day )
The Heuvelton Central School District places a priority on responsible use of instructional technology and provides a Chromebook to each student for individual use. In accordance with Education Law Section 3604 and to ensure that students remain focused on their academic responsibilities throughout the school day, which includes all instructional and non-instructional periods such as homeroom, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time, students at all grade levels are prohibited from using internet-enabled devices and electronic devices on school grounds during the school day.
Electronic devices include, but are not limited to cell phones, tablets, laptops, e-readers, smartphones, voice recorders, digital cameras, laser pointers, music listening devices, earbuds, wearable technology (smartwatches, etc.), as well as any personal internet-enabled devices.
During the school day students are not permitted to carry electronic and/or internet-enabled devices, and they are to be securely stored. Secure storage in lockers is provided to students for internet-enabled and electronic devices. These devices are not the responsibility of the school, and the school has no liability for loss, damage or theft of said devices.
Students may be authorized to use an internet-enabled or electronic device during the school day on school grounds in certain situations such as when authorized by school staff for an educational purpose, when medically prescribed for management of student health care, when included in an IEP/504 Plan, or in the event of an emergency.
Students violating the provisions on use of electronic and/or internet-enabled devices may be directed to securely store the device, have it confiscated for safe storage in an administrative office, and/or have consequences assigned according to the disciplinary matrix.
On school grounds it is a violation of the Code of Conduct to use electronic/internet-enabled devices to intimidate or harass others, take pictures, video, or audio recordings of students or staff members, without the direct supervision and permission from the supervising adult for an educational activity, or invade the privacy of students, employees, volunteers, or school visitors.
To accommodate necessary communication, parents or persons in parental relation may call the school's main office, and the office staff can relay messages to the student or call the student to the office to speak with their parent or person in parental relation. Additionally, written notes delivered to the main office can then be delivered to the student by school staff.
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Disciplinary Matrix
The following is the Disciplinary Matrix for Grades PreK- 4, which contains a list of potential inappropriate or disruptive behaviors and the appropriate interventions or consequences.
Note: On the first instance of an inappropriate or disruptive behavior, use one or more interventions from the lowest level indicated for that behavior. If the same behavior is repeated during the same school year, one or more interventions or disciplinary responses from the next highest levels may be used. Lower or upper leveled interventions may be utilized at administrative discretion.
Disciplinary Matrix Grades Pre-K-4
The following is the Disciplinary Matrix for Grades 5-12, which contains a list of potential inappropriate or disruptive behaviors and the appropriate interventions or consequences.
Note: On the first instance of an inappropriate or disruptive behavior, use one or more interventions from the lowest level indicated for that behavior. If the same behavior is repeated during the same school year, one or more interventions or disciplinary responses from the next highest levels may be used. Lower or upper leveled interventions may be utilized at administrative discretion.
Disciplinary Matrix Grades 5-12