BOE FINAL DRAFT 25.26 TSD Student Code of Conduct - Flipbook - Page 5
Retaliation. Retaliation against a target of bullying, a witness, another person with reliable information
about an act of bullying or any person who reports, is thought to have reported, files a complaint, or
otherwise participates in an investigation or inquiry concerning allegations of bullying is prohibited and will
not be tolerated. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of Board Policy 2000.06
independent of whether a complaint is found to have been substantiated. Suspected reprisal or
retaliation should be reported in the same manner as bullying.
Making intentionally false reports about bullying for the purpose of getting someone in trouble is similarly
prohibited and will not be tolerated. Retaliation and intentionally false reports will result in disciplinary
action.
Complaint Procedure. To implement the bullying policy, the School District has developed the following
complaint procedure:
A student who believes they have been the victim of bullying or cyberbullying must immediately report the
incident(s) to the building principal, assistant principal, or counselor. A student's parent must also report
any such incident(s) on behalf of the student. Upon receipt of a report (complaint), the principal or
designee (the investigator) will conduct a prompt investigation.
At the request or with the permission of the complainant, the investigator may first attempt to resolve the
matter informally, such as through restorative practices. Informal steps will not, however, cause a
substantial delay in the investigation. The complainant may, at any time, request that the matter move to
a formal investigation.
Where the bullying activity is alleged to have been based, in whole or in part, on the protected
classifications of race, color, sex, national origin, or disability, the building principal will notify the School
District's designated Compliance Officer or Coordinator pursuant to Board of Education Policy 8000.07,
Administrative Regulation 8007AR and 8007.1AR.
Please see Board Policy 2000.06 and Administrative Regulation 2006AR for additional information
regarding the formal process for investigation of bullying.
Presumption Against Long-Term Suspension or Expulsion
and Consideration of Individual Factors
Rebuttable Presumption Consistent with Michigan law, the School District adopts a rebuttable
presumption that students should not be disciplined by the imposition of long-term suspension (i.e., more
than 10 school days) or expelled (i.e., 60 or more school days) unless the School District has determined,
in its sole discretion, the presumption has been rebutted by considering each of the following seven
factors:
•
The student’s age;
•
The student’s disciplinary history;
•
Whether the student is disabled within the meaning of IDEA or ADA/Section 504;
•
The seriousness of the student’s misconduct or behavior;
•
Whether the student’s misconduct or behavior threatened the safety of any pupil or staff member;
•
Whether restorative practices will be used to address the student’s misconduct or behavior; and
•
Whether less severe discipline would properly address the student’s misconduct or behavior.
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