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McCarthy-Towne
Behavior Contract |
The McCarthy-Towne Behavior Contract is the foundation on which our expectations for appropriate behavior at school are built. The Behavior Contract is sent home at the beginning of each school year for parents and students to discuss and sign. Classroom teachers remind students of the importance of the Behavior Contract throughout the year and base their behavior expectations upon it.
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
At McCarthy-Towne the students, parents, volunteers and faculty work
together to foster a community where everyone feels safe and
respected. A common set of standards for behavior has been
established to provide everyone with clear guidelines for expected
student behavior and consequences for inappropriate behavior. We
believe that students respect and appreciate reasonable limits and
feel more secure when they know what is expected of them.
The following is a list of behavioral expectations for all students throughout the school day, in all areas of the building, and at all school functions.
CODE OF BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
1. Students will be kind to others with words, gestures and
deeds.
2. Students will respect other people's property.
3. Students will accept responsibility for their own behavior, if
they do something wrong.
4. Students will understand that adults are responsible for running
the school and enforcing the rules.
THEREFORE:
1. Students
will not hurt others (tease, threaten, hit etc.)
2. Students
will not touch, take or break someone else's property.
3. Students
will not swear or use rude language.
4. Students
will not be disrespectful or rude to adults.
CONSEQUENCES FOR INAPPROPRIATE
BEHAVIOR
All adults at McCarthy-Towne are responsible for supervising student
behavior. Most inappropriate behavior can be handled in a timely and
effective manner by the classroom teacher or supervising adult. When
a violation of the Code of Behavior occurs, however, one or more of
the following procedures will be followed:
• Warning is given.
• Time out is given.
• An Incident Report is filled out. A copy of that report is
given to the classroom teacher and filed in the office.
• The classroom teacher will decide if the incident merits
follow-up or not. If it is serious, whether or not it is a first or
multiple offense, the teacher will be responsible for contacting the
parents and/or involving the principal or school counselor.
• Students will face "natural and logical consequences" for
their behaviors whenever possible (missing recess, cleaning up a
mess, fixing something that has been broken, etc.)
PARENTS OF ALL CHILDREN INVOLVED
WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN:
1. A child is hurt and needs to be sent to the
2. An offense occurs which is thought to be serious by a supervising
adult.
3. Repeat offenses occur.
4. When a child needs to receive a long-term consequence.
5. When behavior relates to racial, ethnic, sexual or religious
put-downs.
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Behaviors
Resulting in Serious Consequences
In order to establish and maintain a positive learning environment,
we expect behaviors that reflect mutual respect, cooperation, and
tolerance. Students are not to engage in actions that infringe upon
the rights of others. Behaviors that threaten the safety, property,
or self-esteem of others may be subject to serious disciplinary
action.
Each of the behaviors below may result
in consideration of suspension from school, and the student may be
subject to expulsion by the Principal. Parents/guardians are expected
to meet with school administration prior to the student's returning
to school. Legal action may follow any of these behaviors and
financial restitution may be required as appropriate.
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Bomb
Threats
Under Massachusetts General Law 269-14, making a bomb threat can
result in a $10,000 dollar fine and/or be further punishable by law.
Any student involved in making a false threat will be suspended from
school for 10 days, fined, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of
the law. Anyone with information involving these incidents should
report it to the school office.
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Dangerous
Weapons
Possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon in the building, on
any school bus, or on the grounds of an elementary or secondary
school, including while in attendance at any school-sponsored or
related event, is a crime punishable by a fine of more more than
$1000.00 dollars or further punishable by law. Possession of any
weapon in school will minimally warrant a student's suspension from
school, and the student may be subject to expulsion and possible
legal action. (See Appendix 1 for pertinent law).
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Harassment
This may include, but is not limited to, threatening language or
behavior, assault, inappropriate touching, intentionally impeding
movement, or continuing comments, gestures, or written communications
of a suggestive or derogatory nature, including sexual harassment.
(See Appendix 3 for pertinent law).
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Disruption
of School
Acts intended to interrupt or impede the normal operation of
school.
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False
Fire Alarms
Under Massachusetts General Law 269-13, pulling a false fire alarm
can bring a $500.00 fine and be further punishable by law. Any
student pulling a false fire alarm may be suspended from school for
10 days, fined, and may be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Anyone with information involving these incidents should report it to
the school office.
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Stealing
Stealing is defined as "theft of personal or school property,
receiving stolen items, or possession of stolen items."
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Vandalism
Vandalism is defined as "willful, malicious, or careless actions
leading to the destruction of, or damage to, school or personal
property. "
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Discipline of
Special Education Students
All students are expected to meet the requirements for behavior as
set forth in this handbook. Chapter 71B of the Massachusetts General
Laws, known as Chapter 766, requires that additional provisions be
made for students who have been found by an evaluation TEAM to have
special needs, and whose program is described in an Individualized
Educational Plan (IEP).
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and related
regulations provide eligible students with certain procedural rights
and protections in the context of student discipline. A brief
overview of these rights is provided below.
In general, special education students may be excluded from their program, just as any other student can be, for up to ten (10) school days per year. However, when a special education student is excluded from his/her program for more than ten (10) days in the school year, the student's special education Team must develop a functional behavioral assessment plan. In many instances, the Team may be required to determine whether the student's behavior was related to his/her disability (a "manifestation determination").
If the Team determines the behavior was not related to the student's disability, the school may discipline the student according to the school's code of student conduct, except that the district must continue to provide the student with educational services during the period of suspension or expulsion. However, if the Team determines that the behavior was related to the disability, the student may not be excluded from the current educational placement (except in the case of weapons or drugs) until the Team develops and the parent(s) consent(s) to the new IEP).
In the event a student possesses, uses, sells or solicits a controlled substance or possesses a weapon at school or at a school function, a school may place a student in an interim alternative education for up to 45 days. Hearing officers may also order the placement of a student in an appropriate interim setting for up to 45 days upon determination that the current placement is substantially likely to result in injury to the student or others.
When a parent disagrees with the Team's decision on the "manifestation determination" or with a decision regarding the location of the 45 day interim alternative educational placement, the person has a right to request an expedited due process hearing from the Bureau of Special Education Appeals.
Additional information regarding the
procedural protections for special education students can be obtained
from the Chairperson of Special Education at 978-264-4700, ext.
3265.
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Student/Parent
Right of Appeal (Due Process)
Students and/or parents have a right to appeal the consequences for
the students misbehavior. They may request an opportunity to present
their point of view or to justify their actions. The consequences of
the alleged student behavior will be suspended until the case is
reviewed. If the student or parent feels that the student's
consequence has been applied unfairly, the following steps should be
taken:
1. The student is first advised to seek a meeting with the
person(s) involved, to see if an informal resolution can be
2. If the matter is not resolved at the first step, then
an appeal may be made to the Principal. The Principal may seek to
resolve the matter informally, and/or conduct a more formal hearing.
Such a hearing is chaired by the Principal and normally includes each
of the parties involved.
3. If the issue is not resolved at the second step, then
an appeal may be made to the Superintendent of Schools. In such
cases, a hearing is held with the Superintendent and all persons
involved.
4. If the issue is not resolved at the third step, then an
appeal may be made to the School Committee. In such cases, a hearing
is held with the School Committee and all persons involved.
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