Behavioral Guidelines

Offense: Arson or attempted arson.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, police referral, 1-10 days out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation.

Offense: Oral or written harassment, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying or abuse or the use of obscenities or profanities toward other individuals at school or school- sponsored activities. Generally, assault occurs when one person swears at another person or when one person makes a disrespectful comment to another person or situation that puts a person in reasonable fear that a battery may occur.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation.

Offense: Assault toward a staff member or a school board member.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation.

Offense: See description HERE

Action: Warning and parent contact, parent conference, in school suspension, out-of-school suspension.

Offense: Physical attack by one person on another person at school or at a school sponsored activity on school property or school buses.

Action: 1st offense: One to ten days out-of-school suspension, parent conference, behavioral warning, police referral, and/or expulsion recommendation.
2nd offense: Expulsion recommendation.

Offense: Battery toward a staff member or a school board member. Battery occurs when one person physically attacks another person.

Action: Ten days out-of-school suspension, parent conference, recommendation for expulsion.

Offense: All students utilizing the cafeteria will be held responsible for cleaning their tables, the area under and around their tables, and the area from the serving line to their tables. No food or drink may be taken from the cafeteria without the written permission of a staff member.

Action: Warning and parent contact, parent conference, in school suspension, out-of-school suspension.

Offense: Derogatory racial, ethnic, profane, obscene, indecent or sexual language or materials, verbal or non-verbal, which is offensive, abusive, or disrespectful.

Action: Warning, parent notification, parent conference, in- school suspension, 1 to 10 days out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation.

Offense: Disrespect includes refusal to obey a reasonable request, insubordination to teachers or others in authority, obstructing staff from dispersing groups or behavior disruptive to the educational process. Disregard for school rules at school or school-sponsored activities.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation.

Offense: To promote or advertise drugs through writings or drawings depicting drugs or drug paraphernalia.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation.

Offense: Sale, purchasing, pretending to sell, distribution, or transfer of any controlled substance or non-controlled substance represented to be a drug, or any drug paraphernalia at school or school-sponsored activities.

Action: One to ten days out-of-school suspension, parent conference, behavioral warning, police referral, or expulsion recommendation

Offense: Using an electronic device, including but not limited to, a cellular telephone, smart watch, electronic games, or other electronic device, in any manner that disrupts the educational environment, including using the device to cheat, signal others, send text messages, take photographs, or otherwise violate student conduct rules is prohibited. Electronic devices and headphones can be used with permission from a teacher or staff member. Electronic devices may be reviewed for content. Joliet Township District 204 is not responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen items. All confiscated items not picked up by June 30th of the school year will be donated/destroyed.

Action: Warning, confiscation, parent conference, in-school suspension, 1 to 10 days out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. Possession of electronic equipment may be revoked. Repeated violations may result in loss of privilege to bring on campus. 

Offense: Attempting to take or to borrow money or anything of value through intimidation or threat.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: False fire alarm, bomb threat, false security threat, or emergency call. 

Action: Parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, 1-10 days out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Fighting on or near school property, at school-sponsored activities, or on the way to or from school. Fighting occurs when two or more individuals physically attack each other. 

Action: Parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, 1-10 days out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Use or possession of firecrackers, smoke bombs and similar devices or misuse of fire extinguishers on school property.

Action: Parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, 1-10 days out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Forging passes or notes, field trip forms, parking permits, identification badges, or other school-related documents; altering passes; tampering with attendance sheets or writing notes or making telephone calls pretending to be a parent/guardian. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Gambling on school premises or at school events. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Participation in any activity which serves to do the following:

• Solicit others for membership in any gang; (A “gang” is defined for this policy as any group of two or more persons whose purpose includes engaging in illegal or antisocial activities.) 

• Request the payment of dues, insurance, or other forms of protection from any individual; 

• Intimidate or threaten any individual; 

• Incite others to participate in any form of violence or illegal activity involving persons or property; 

• Advertise or promote gangs through social media, the wearing of earrings, jewelry, clothing, hats, colors, hair style/cut or tattoos, gang signs, pictures, the writing of graffiti, or the possession of anything else associated with gangs; 

• Possess graffiti paraphernalia; 

• Disrupts or potentially disrupts the delivery of educational services to District students or otherwise deprives or may serve to deprive a student or students of the opportunity to fully participate in the District’s educational program, regardless of whether the activity takes place on District property, at a District-sponsored event, or off District property or away from District-sponsored events.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Yelling, horseplay, pushing, running, spitting, public display of affection, and/or any disruptive behavior is not allowed in the hallway/classroom. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: See Preventing Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment Plan. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying means any intentionally written message or image—including those that are electronically transmitted through text message, social media, or other forms of electronic communication—verbal, or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing characteristics, when an act: 

• Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property or 

• Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education or 

• Is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment or 

• Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school. 

Bullying – Repeated, persistent and aggressive behavior intended to cause fear, distress, or harm to another person's body, emotions, self-esteem or reputation, and a power imbalance.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Administering physical punishment to an individual, directing verbal abuse at an individual, or requiring an individual to perform an immoral act as requirement to gaining membership into any club or organization.

Action: Parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, 1-10 days out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation.

Offense:

• Refusal to Identify Self 

(Refusal to produce identification card or identify self.) 

• Identification Card Misuse 

(Misuse of an identification card on District property, in the cafeteria, media center, bus, or textbook center is prohibited.) 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Behavior disruptive to the educational process and safety of others. This includes, but is not limited to, obstruction of staff from dispersing groups, instigation of fights/verbal confrontations, attending and/or recording of fights and verbal confrontations, and mob action. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation.

Offense: Any person who drives any vehicle with disregard for the safety of a person on school property or in transit to any school activity or school related event. 

Action: Warning, parent contact, in-school, out-of-school suspension, temporary or permanent loss of parking permit to expulsion recommendation / restoration or restitution for damaged property. 

Offense: Use of pass for an unattended purpose or alteration of a pass. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian contact, in-school suspension, one to ten days out-of-school suspension and may be placed on the no-pass list. 

Offense: See description on page 14 of the handbook HERE.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: A person commits stalking when he or she transmits to another person a threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable apprehension of death, bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement or restraint, and in furtherance of the threat knowingly does any one or more of the following acts on at least two separate occasions: 

• Follows the person, other than within the residence of the defendant; 

• Places the person under surveillance by remaining present outside his or her school, place of employment, vehicle, other place occupied by the person, or residence other than the residence of the defendant. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Student violence and/or threats of student violence on District 204 campuses or at any District 204 sponsored activities will not be tolerated. Additionally, violence or threats of violence against any student, school official or employee will not be allowed anytime. Students are strictly prohibited from engaging in conduct which creates circumstances which may cause disruption at school, or at school sponsored activities. Types of conduct which are in violation of this policy include, but are not limited to, those described below: 

• Any acts of physical violence other than what is deemed reasonable by school officials for self- defense, and protection of other persons or property; 

• Placing others in danger of imminent physical harm; 

• Threatening, planning, or conspiring with others to engage in violent acts; and 

• Joking about engaging in violent acts against others, or otherwise making any statements, threats, or intimidating remarks.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Use of, possession of, or being under the influence of alcohol at school or school-sponsored event, influence of alcohol or any controlled substance represented to be a drug, or any substance which, if inhaled, ingested, or otherwise introduced into the body, is capable of causing intoxication, hallucination, or excitement or dulling of brain or central nervous system functions and the student’s behavior would lead a reasonable person to conclude that the student intended for the substance to be used by the student or others to cause intoxication, hallucination, or excitement or dulling of brain or central nervous system functions, or possession of drug paraphernalia at school or at school-sponsored activities.The use or possession of medical cannabis, even by a student for whom medical cannabis has been prescribed, is prohibited unless the student is authorized to be administered a medical cannabis infused product under Ashley’s Law).

Action: One to ten days out-of-school suspension, parent conference, behavioral warning, completion of a school- approved assessment, or expulsion recommendation. In addition, if the agency performing the assessment recommends enrollment in a substance abuse program, the student must attend and successfully complete the program at parental expense. Once admitted into the program, the student may return to school if recommended by the program. If the student does not satisfy the recommendation of the agency performing the assessment, the student will be recommended for expulsion. If a parent chooses to withdraw a student prior to assessment program and then attempts to re-enroll the student in school, proof of completion must be presented prior to re-enrollment. 

Offense:
Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension.

Offense: Theft or possession of stolen property. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Sale, use, possession, distribution, transfer of any smoking device, tobacco products or paraphernalia, which may include, but is not limited to, matches and lighters at school or at school-sponsored activities. Section l: Section 21-12 subsection (d) of the Code of The Code of Ordinances of the City of Joliet states; “No minor under 18 years of age shall possess any cigar, cigarette, smokeless tobacco, or tobacco in any of its forms.” 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense:

Action: Warning, fine, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, parent conference, permit revoked, car towed, and/or assigned restitution for any vandalism. 

Offense: Unauthorized presence is defined as finding any student in a campus location without authorization or engaging in behavior that compromises the safety of others, or allowing others to enter without authorization, on District property, or attending any District activity while on expulsion warning. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. 

Offense: Unexcused Absence or Truancy 
(An unexcused absence or truancy is defined as being absent without valid cause from a class or study hall or leaving school without following proper checkout procedures.) 

Action: Period absences will result in an unexcused absence or truancy for that period missed, parent notification, parent conference, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, behavioral warning, and/or expulsion recommendation. When the teacher, dean, and counselor conclude that a student's absence is affecting class/school performance, Pupil Personnel Services may be initiated. Eleven full day absences (excused or unexcused) may result in being dropped from regular day school or recommended to another District program.

Offense: Chronic Unexcused Absence or Truancy 

Action: If a student becomes a chronic truant and all regular Pupil Personnel Services have been exhausted, possible educational alternatives may be explored. 

Offense: Unexcused Absence or Truancy 

Action: Students who are absent from school (absent without valid cause) will receive an unexcused absence or truancy for day(s) missed, parent notification, parent conference and/or assigned in-building suspension. When a teacher, dean and counselor conclude that a student's unexcused truancy is affecting class performance, Pupil Personnel Services may be initiated. When a student’s full-day absences exceed the limit stated in the excessive absence policy, the student may be dropped from the regular day school program and transferred to an alternative education program.

Offense: Chronic Unexcused Absence or Truancy

Action: If a student becomes a chronic truant and all regular Pupil Personnel Services have been exhausted, educational alternatives may be explored.

Offense:  Vandalism or destruction of school property, including computer sabotage. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, 1-10 days out-of- school suspension, behavioral warning or expulsion recommendation. The board will seek restitution from students and their parents/guardians for vandalism or other student acts that cause damage to school property. (School Board Policy 7:170) 

Offense: An argument between students in which there is no threat of a physical fight or battery. 

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, or 1-10 days out-of- school suspension. 

Offense: See Electronic Networks – Authorization for Access policy. See description on page 31 of the handbook HERE.

Action: Warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, in-school-suspension, or 1-10 days out-of- school suspension. 

Offense: : A student who is determined to have brought one of the following objects to school, any school sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of at least one calendar year but not more than 2 calendar years: 

1. A firearm, meaning any gun rifle, shotgun, or weapon as defined by section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18U.S.C.&921), firearm as defined in section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (430 ILCS65/), or firearm as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (720 ILCS 5/24-1). 
    

2. A knife, brass knuckles, or other knuckle weapon regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, including look a likes of any firearm as defined above. 

Action: Parent/guardian notification and parent/guardian conference and 1-10 days out-of-school suspension, police referral, and expulsion recommendation. The expulsion requirement under either paragraph 1 or 2 may be modified by the Superintendent, and the Superintendent’s determination may be modified by the Board on a case-by-case basis. (School Board Policy 7:190)