It is the belief of the Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District that students should conduct themselves as good citizens if they desire to represent the school in any activity sponsored by our school. Not only is it a privilege and honor to be able to participate and represent Edgewood-Colesburg CSD in co-curricular activities, but students should realize that they serve as models to many people and that their behavior and attitude have an important impact on themselves and others. In short, directly and indirectly, the conduct of a student reflects on the standards, attitudes, and philosophy of our school.
A student whose habits and conduct in and out of school, during both the school year and summer months, are not consistent with the ideals, principles, and standards of the Edgewood-Colesburg CSD may be declared ineligible for participation in student competitions and performances. This includes any student involvement in public performance, competitions, or attendance as a representative of a specific organization or the school in general. Student activities shall be inclusive with reference to clubs, music, dance, drama, speech, athletics, and cheerleading. Some examples of activities that will not be counted are community service activities (blood drive, carnival), sport scrimmages, and state events (unless already qualified). This is not an all-inclusive list and the determination will be made with an administrator and coach/sponsor.
APPLICABLE ACTIVITY PROGRAMS
The Good Conduct code applies to all activities, including but not limited to:
a) music
b) drama
c) speech
d) athletics
e) dance
f) cheerleading
g) school-sponsored trips (i.e. 8th grade trip)
h) school sponsored clubs (i.e. FFA, FBLA, student council, art club)
If a student is participating in multiple activities at the time he/she loses privileges under this policy, the loss of privileges is in effect for all activities in which the student participates. A student who is deemed ineligible must still partake in the practices of the activity. He/she should travel in street clothes with the team or group to attend the performance with approval from the Principal.
If at the time of the violation, the student is not currently participating in any activity, then the student’s period of ineligibility shall apply to the first activity or activities in which the student participates. A student who is in violation of eligibility rules will not be allowed to enter an activity already in progress.
Disciplinary actions under the Good Conduct Code may carry over from one activity to another and may carry over from one school year to the next.
VIOLATIONS
Violations of the Good Conduct Code include but are not limited to the following prohibited conduct and actions and as such may lead to a student’s activity ineligibility:
1) Participate in an act(s) of harassment or bullying and/or encouraging others to do the same or contribute to others activities that constitute harassment or bullying as determined by school officials.
2) Use, possess and/or transmit tobacco or imitation substances.
3) Send electronic messages or pictures that show inappropriate behavior.
4) Attend a function or party where illegal drugs are being used or where minors are using alcohol illegally. 1 (Mere Presence).
5) Damage, destroy, vandalize or steal school property and/or personal property of employees, students, visitors to the school, or district patrons.
6) Assault; physically abuse; violation of the District’s Anti-Bullying Harassment Policy concerning any person at school or during school activities or coming to and/or going from school or a school activity.
7) Possess, use, or be under the influence of alcoholic beverages.
8) Possess, use or be under the influence of illegal drugs, controlled substances, imitation controlled substances, or drug paraphernalia.
9) Possess, use or threaten to use any instrument that is generally considered a weapon or an imitation weapon or an explosive while on school grounds or while participating in a school-sponsored function.
10) Sell, manufacture or distribute illegal drugs, controlled substances, or imitation controlled substances.
1 Attendance with parents at a function (family celebration, wedding, graduation, etc.) where alcohol is served legally to adults of age, shall not be considered a violation of the Good Conduct Policy unless alcohol or a controlled substance is consumed by the minor student or the minor student participates with others who are illegally consuming alcohol or drugs and the student knows or reasonably should know that these individuals are minors illegally consuming alcohol and/or individuals (where minors or not) are illegally consuming drugs. In any incident that involves more than one type of conduct violation, penalties will not be combined but rather the incident involving the most serious violation will be used and the penalty applied to that most serious violation.
DETERMINATION OF VIOLATION
Ed-Co CSD may determine that an incident has been a violation of the Code of Conduct if:
- found so by a court of law.
- reported to school staff by law enforcement.
- the student admits to violating one of the standards.
- the student is witnessed breaking one of the standards by a staff member.
- information comes via the “rumor route” and the investigation reveals the information to be valid.
PENALTIES - The penalty for a violation is ineligibility according to the following criteria:
First Offense:
Violation of rules 1-5, the student is ineligible for three (3) events but can avoid serving one (1) event ineligibility time if they agree to serve eight (8) community service hours within 30 days of the offense.
Violation of rules 6-8, the student is ineligible for five (5) events but can avoid serving two (2) events ineligibility time if they agree to serve sixteen (16) community service hours within 30 days of the offense.
Violation of rules 9-10, the student will be ineligible to participate in listed activities for eight (8) events.
Second Offense:
Violation of rules 1-5, the student is ineligible for eight (8) events.
Violation of rules 6-8, the student is ineligible for twelve (12) events.
Violation of rules 9-10, the student will be ineligible to participate in listed activities for sixteen (16) events.
Third Offense:
A student whose violation of the Good Conduct Code constitutes a third offense will be ineligible in all extra-curricular or co-curricular activities for no less than one (1) year and up to the remainder of the student’s high school career.
* If 12 months have elapsed, the next violation will carry the same ineligibility as the last violation.
* Students who move or transfer into the Ed-Co District and were ineligible because of a violation of their previous school’s Good Conduct Policy, will also be ineligible at Ed-Co. The student will be held out for the length of time he/she would have served at the previous school. 25
* If a student quits a sport or activity or does not attend the required practices, the amount of time served in that sport/activity will be null/void and the student will not be credited with time served.
* If a student is absent from school (with an unexcused reason) on the day he/she was to serve a conduct activity, the day will be moved to the next day of performance/competition.
* A student who is in violation of code of conduct will only be allowed to enter an activity already in progress:
- If the first game has not been played, but practices have already started, the student’s ineligibility will begin once the number of days missed since the first day of practice has been served. For instance, if a student comes out but has already missed 6 days of practice, the number of days for the code violation will begin 6 days after the first scheduled competition.
- If a student joins a team after the first competition date, the student will be expected to practice and travel with the team, but will not be able to play or use his/her time towards burning any code violations.
PENALTY REDUCTION
Any student who comes forward and admits to the Principal, coach or sponsor to a violation within twenty-four (24) hours after it occurs and provides complete and accurate facts about his/her involvement, shall have the penalty that would have been imposed reduced by one event. The Principal will have the sole authority and discretion to determine whether a student has complied with this section and is eligible for a penalty reduction.
DUE PROCESS
The following example of due process will be followed and any student held to the code of conduct consequences will be ineligible immediately and throughout the appeal process:
- Prior to being declared ineligible, a hearing shall be held with the student and principal. During the hearing, the student will be given an opportunity to present his/her side of the story. After the hearing, the student and parents will be given oral and written notice of what he/she is accused of doing, an explanation of the evidence, and a statement of the consequences (if any were given).
- Following the decision, the student and/or his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be given three (3) school days to file an appeal with the superintendent. The appeal shall be heard at the earliest feasible opportunity, but no later than seven (7) calendar days following the filing.
- An appeal of the decision of the superintendent may be made to the Board of Education. The appeal must be filed with the Board Secretary within three (3) days of the receipt of the superintendent’s decision. The Board will hear the appeal no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting, in closed session, except that the student and/or parent(s)/guardian(s) request that the hearing be in public session. Formal action by the Board must be in an open meeting.
*Legal counsel may represent the student during any or all phases of the appeal procedure.
Legal Reference: Bunger v. Iowa High School Athletic Assn., 197 N.W.2d 555 (Iowa 1972).
In re Jason Clark, 1 D.P.I. App. Dec. 167 (1978).
Iowa Code §§ 280.13, .13A.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6); 36.15(1).
Cross Reference: 504.04 Student Performances
606.05 Student Field Trips and Excursions
Adopted: 05/18/1992
Reviewed: 03/11/2024
Revised: 03/18/2019
