STUDENT DISCIPLINE

Phoenix Academy is committed to maintaining effective discipline in order to establish positive learning environments, which ensure that every student has the maximum opportunity to receive appropriate education. PA recognizes that establishing order and maintaining discipline in the school setting can be achieved only through the cooperative efforts of school personnel, students, and parents/guardians.

State law addresses the responsibilities of teachers and managing directors as follows:

"It shall be the duty of all teachers, including student teachers, substitute teachers, voluntary teachers, and teacher assistants when given authority over some part of the school program by the managing director or supervising teacher, to maintain good order and discipline in their respective schools." (G.S. 115C-307)

Discipline: A Cooperative Effort

In addition to meeting the requirements of the law, the Board expects all school personnel to promote effective instruction and discipline through fair and non-discriminatory treatment of all students, to display an attitude of respect for all students, to initiate cooperative working relationships with all students and parents/guardians, and to seek parental/guardian input in planning and implementing discipline plans. It is the responsibility of all school personnel to consistently and impartially enforce the rules and regulations of the school and classroom while protecting the constitutional due process rights of the students.

Students are encouraged and expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to effective learning and which respects the personal, civil, and property rights of all members of the school community. Students are expected to know and to follow the rules and regulations of the school and each classroom teacher. If a student has a complaint or concern, he/she is encouraged to discuss the problem with school personnel and parents/guardians and to seek changes in an orderly, responsible manner.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to maintain regular communication with school personnel concerning their child's academic progress and conduct, to attend conferences scheduled at a time mutually convenient for all concerned, and to bring to the attention of school personnel any concern or problem which affects the education of their child. Parents/guardians are also expected to know and to encourage their child to follow the rules and regulations of the school and each classroom teacher.

Preventive Measures

When it is recognized that a student is behaving in a manner which indicates potential disciplinary problems, school personnel shall make reasonable efforts to initiate preventive measures. Possible preventive intervention procedures may include, but are not limited to:

	conferences with the student;
	conferences with the parents/guardians;
	periodic follow-up reports to parents/guardians; and
	referral to appropriate support personnel.

School personnel shall actively seek effective, positive methods and strategies to help each student learn to behave in amanner that is conducive to effective learning and that respects the rights of others. Each school managing director shall systematically identify potential problem areas within his/her school that may contribute to discipline problems and shall work to maintain a positive school environment to minimize discipline problems.

Corporal Punishment and Use of Reasonable Force

The Board believes that a well disciplined school system can be maintained without the use of corporal punishment. Therefore, the Board prohibits the use of corporal punishment by managing directors, assistant managing directors, teachers, substitute teachers, any other school system personnel, student teachers or volunteers. While the Board prohibits the use of corporal punishment as a means of discipline, school personnel may use reasonable force to control behavior or to remove a person from the scene in the following situations:

	to quell a disturbance threatening injury to others;
	to obtain possessions of weapons or other dangerous objects on the person or within the control of a student;
	for self-defense; or
	for the protection of persons or property.

Suspension and Expulsion

While the teacher has the major responsibility for classroom discipline, some disruptive behavior may require the attention of the managing director or his/her designee. State law assigns the managing director the authority to suspend for ten days or less, or with prior approval of the managing director, for more than ten days. Special statutory provisions apply in the event that a student enrolled in an exceptional children's program exhibits behavior which might result in suspension or expulsion. The Board expects the managing director to treat any suspension or expulsion as a very serious matter and in such instances the managing director should utilize resources at his/her disposal in an effort to effect another solution. In the event that a student must be suspended or excluded, the Board expects such action to be in full compliance with the provisions of the law and with the policies and procedures of the Board.