BSD Code of Conduct

Virtual Equity Workshop

Agenda

1. Introductions
2. Overview of the Code of Conduct
3. Student Panel
4. Q&A
5. Share Out and Closing

23-24 Equity Workshop Series-Save the Dates!

HHB Interventions and Prevention – Thursday, October 12, 6 pm

Dismantling White Supremacy Culture in Schools – Wednesday, November 15, 6 pm

LGBTQIA+: Building Safe and Inclusive School Climates Wednesday, January 17, 6 pm

IN-PERSON EQUITY WORKSHOPS

Disability Rights and Student Advocacy – Wednesday December 6, 6-7:00 pm

Ableism in Schools – Thursday, February 8, 6-7:00 pm

Neurodivergence; Celebrating Unique Minds – Wednesday, March 20, 6-7 pm

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Goals of the Code of Conduct

• Solidify expectations of BSD community members (staff, students, families)
• Change behavior responses towards a restorative lens
• Minimize the time students are out of class for punitive reasons
• Utilize Restorative Practices to resolve conflicts between students, staff, and families
• Limit suspensions to extreme circumstances

Purpose of the Code of Conduct

• Create consistency in how we respond to unexpected student behaviors
• Provide guidance on what behaviors should be addressed within the classroom, what requires an office discipline referral, and what behaviors do and do not warrant suspension
• Give a blueprint for restorative responses to harm between staff-staff, staff-students/families

Student Expectations

It is the responsibility of students to

• Exercise and practice self-awareness.
• Understand and follow school expectations, including the Restorative Code of Conduct and their school’s Student Handbook.
• Behave in a manner that focuses on academic success.
• Be responsible and accountable for meeting school expectations.
• Help build a positive community

Classroom Behavior

• Students will follow school and classroom guidelines at all times
• If you are unclear on what a rule/expectation means, ask
• Certain behaviors may require you to be out of class to regulate, reset, and be ready to learn when you return
• If you are sent out of class, you will need to check in with your teacher in order to return to class

Classroom Handled Behaviors: Tips and Tricks

• Be proactive: co-construct agreements, make positive phone calls, etc.
• Calm directives that clearly state the expectations
• Constructive and specific feedback
• Re-teaching of classroom expectation
• Verbal prompt or quick correction (Example: __________ by doing __________ you are not meeting our classroom agreement of ___________. Could you please ________?)
• Reminders and redirection (Example: Right now we are doing ______________. How can I help you to get back on track?)

After the Moment: Responses in the Classroom

• Use of the restorative chat questions
• “Reset pass” to walk or visit with trusted adult in building (not unsupervised and for a set amount of time)
• Restorative conference
• Have a WARM conversation with the student
• Behavior check-out system for classroom to provide students with an opportunity to reflect with you on daily behavior
• Reflection activity (not a worksheet, but an actual reflection task done with teacher during independent learning activities for other students)

Office Referrals

Some behaviors may warrant being sent out of class. These are not behaviors that automatically rise to the level of suspension.

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If a student is sent out of class, then an office referral must be written to document the behavior and lost instructional time.

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After a student is sent out of class, they should have access to missed work while they are away and have a restorative welcome back into the classroom when they return.

Behaviors that May Require a Restorative Response

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• Truancy
• Tardiness or Absence
• Dress Code Violation
• Swearing
• Skipping Class/Hiding from staff (K-8)/ Leaving campus when not permitted to do so (9-12)
• Tobacco use

• Marijuana and/or alcohol use or possession
• Minor fight
• Defiance/Lack of cooperation
• Misuse of classroom materials
• Verbal altercation
• Wandering halls
• Minor vandalism

Alternatives to Suspension

• Restorative alternatives to suspension will be considered on a case by case basis
• Alternative option will be agreed upon by the student and administrator together
• Educational opportunities such as a learning pathway are one option in lieu of suspension
• Code of Conduct details many other options for alternatives to suspension

Learning Pathways

A Learning Pathway is an individual learning environment where the person who caused the harm is offered a series of educational opportunities centered around the topic of the harmful behavior.

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Learning pathways are intentional lessons designed for students or staff to reflect on their actions through learning about history and context and ultimately exploring accountability.

Suspension

• Suspension is a last resort
• Excludes students from their learning
• Have historically been disproportionately used for students with disabilities, students of the global majority and students living in poverty in our district.
• We have district policy requiring that we reduce and eliminate these disparities.
• Suspension may only be considered when there is an egregious safety concern or when school staff have exhausted and documented all other forms of intervention/alternatives.

Suspendable Behaviors

• Weapon or firearms possession
• Drug possession with intent to sell and/or distribute
• School threat
• Tampering with safety equipment
• Physical assault
• Sex-based harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking
• Refusal to allow a search
• HHB: Hazing, Harassment and Bullying
• Lewd and lascivious conduct

*Some suspendable behaviors must be reported to the police and/or the Agency of Education*

Restorative Exit and Re-Entry

As part of a suspension, there should be a restorative exit for the student to understand why they are being separated from the school community (not a punishment but a correction of a violation), how they’ll be supported while they are out

Make a plan for a safe restorative reentry upon student’s return

When a student is suspended, they must still have access to educational opportunities and materials as part of a suspension plan.

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Staff- Staff, Student or Family: Harm Accountability Guidelines

Staff members can expect that should they cause harm to a staff member, student or family, they will be invited to participate in a restorative process but should they decline or refuse to participate in this process, disciplinary measures will still be taken.

These measures are confidential.

The Burlington School District will use progressive discipline procedures.

Step 1- informal verbal directive

Step 2- formal verbal reprimand

Step 3- formal written reprimand without suspension

Step 4- formal written reprimand and suspension without pay

Step 5- termination

Ways to Report Concerns

An Equity Request Ticket is one method to report inequities, injustices and unfair issues that are happening to you and others. A response is guaranteed within 3 days. Equity Tickets can be submitted anonymously.

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The See Something, Say Something Anonymous Reporting Line (802-540-3710) allows individuals to anonymously report an issue when they see a community member who is at risk of harming themselves or others. A response is guaranteed within 24 hours.

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Know Your Rights

Parents/guardians and the student must be notified of a suspension, the reason for it (as detailed in the Code of Conduct), and the duration of the suspension. This notification must take place on the day the suspension goes into effect.

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All suspendable offenses may not be listed in the Code of Conduct, it is not an exhaustive list.

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Parents/guardians have the right to appeal a suspension with the superintendent. You can appeal to have the suspension removed from a student’s permanent record.

Student Panel

1. What is your experience with school discipline like in BSD?
2. How do you hope things could be different at BSD?
3. How can schools move towards more restorative responses to challenging behaviors?
4. What do you hope for as the district rolls out this new Code of Conduct?

Q&A

What questions do you have about the new Code of Conduct?

Closing

• This is the first year of rolling out the Code of Conduct districtwide.
• It will be updated on an annual basis. Feedback form included in the electronic version of the Code.
• Questions or concerns are welcomed: restorative-practices@bsdvt.org