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Student Responsibilities/Discipline Print E-mail
Students have the right to a free public education, but they are responsible for complying with the rules and regulations of the school district and the instructions of all school district personnel.  They must accept the authority of the faculty and school district officials on school property and at school-sponsored, off-campus events.  Failure to meet these responsibilities will be cause for disciplinary action.

Student IDs

All students will receive a picture ID card to be carried at all times while a student is under the jurisdiction of the school.  Students must show the ID card to gain access to the cafeteria, to check out materials in the library, and to use a school computer lab.  A student must surrender the ID card at a staff member’s request.

If a student loses his/her ID card, the student is to report the loss to the main office.  Arrangements will be made to provide the student with another picture ID card.  There will be a charge of $5.00 for the replacement of an ID card.  A temporary ID card can be purchased from the attendance secretary for a $0.50 fee for the day.

Criminal Offenses

Disciplinary action will be taken against students involved in criminal offenses.  Such students will be immediately suspended, and the police will be called.  Depending on the seriousness of the criminal offense, the student may be removed from Rufus King.  Examples include:
  • the possession or use of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs; parents will be notified and referred to the appropriate agency;
  • fighting; students should seek alternate methods of problem solving;
  • smoking; this is a violation of state law and considered a health hazard by the Surgeon General;
  • gambling (dice, cards, coin flipping, etc.); violations will result in suspension for those in and around the activity;
  • vandalizing; violators will be required to pay for damages. 
  • direct or implied threats to teachers will be referred to an administrator.  Police involvement may follow;
  • student assaults on teachers;
  • sexual harassment or assault;
  • extortion or theft;
  • arson.

Electronic Equipment

Headphones, headbuds, CD players, MP3 players, radios, etc. are not allowed in class or study hall; they must be left in lockers at the beginning of the day. 

Electronic communication devices (cell phones, pagers, and two-way communication devices) are not to be brought into the school, or they will be confiscated.  (Per WISCONSIN STATE STATUTE 118.258)

Littering

Students must help keep the building free from litter.

Personal Affection

Showing personal affection is unacceptable in school. 

Fundraising/Personal Sales

Fundraising and personal sales are not allowed during school hours; these violate School Board policy.  Violators will be referred to their grade level administrator(s).

Classroom Conduct

The teacher is in charge of the classroom at all times.  The classroom atmosphere will be one conducive to learning.  Horseplay, out of turn talking, unnecessary noises, etc. will not be tolerated.

Any adjustments to the physical arrangements, such as opening windows, adjusting window shades, changing thermostats, etc. are to be made only under the teacher’s direction.

All waste materials will be deposited in the proper containers.  Students should be reminded that their school is their home away from home and should be treated as such.

Writing on desks, damaging equipment, etc. is considered vandalism; see criminal offenses on this page.

Classroom rules will be communicated to students and parents.

Cafeteria Conduct

Lunches and snacks purchased outside the school are not permitted in the cafeteria or school.  Homemade bag lunches are acceptable. 

Glass containers are not allowed in school.

All consumption of food or drink must be confined to the cafeteria unless participating in a class activity. 

No one else may get a lunch for a student receiving free or reduced lunch; a student, however, may get it herself/himself and give it away.

Students must be seated unless they are purchasing food/beverages, returning trays, discarding garbage, or talking with a staff member.

Sitting on cafeteria tables is a violation of the Federal Food Program.  Tables are not designed to withstand the stress.

Throwing food is not permitted under any circumstances; students caught throwing food will be suspended.

Students must clean their area before they leave the cafeteria.

Study Hall Conduct

Students must arrive on time and remain in the assigned seat.  Students not in their seats when the bell rings will be marked absent.  Excessive absences will result in a referral. 

Students must stay in assigned seats, use time productively, and respect the rights of others at all times. 

No food, beverages, or gum are allowed at any time. 

Vandalism, including writing or marking on desktops, will be subject to immediate disciplinary action. 

No cards, dice, or amusement devices (radios, CD or MP3 players, electronic games etc.) are permitted.

Study hall is for studying.  Every student is required to bring and to use study material or acceptable reading material daily. 

Hall passes are a privilege and should be requested only in an emergency.  No more than one student at a time may use a pass.  No passes will be issued during the first or the last 10 minutes of the period.

Passes to guidance must be arranged on a case-by-case basis when a counselor is available.

Absences for field trips must be arranged in advance.  A Field Trip Authorization Form must be presented in the same manner required for regular classes.

Students who show habitual tendencies for lacking study materials or consideration for others will be referred to an administrator for disciplinary action.
 

Body Piercing Jewelry

MPS has recently received several questions regarding wearing body piercing jewelry during physical education activities.  In response to these questions, MPS has investigated this question, including contacting the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and accessing medical opinions from several organizations.  It has been determined wearing body piercing jewelry during physical education activities is a hazard to the wearer as well as to other participants.

Injury to the wearer can include, but is not limited to, skin abrasion, cuts, lacerations, and body part avulsion (detachment).  Activities involving sweat or dirt can also increase potential for infection.  New piercing sites are an infection hazard.  Injury to other participants can include, but is not limited to, skin abrasion, cuts, lacerations, and transmitted infection.  Concealment of piercing does not lessen potential for injury to the wearer or other participants.

Therefore, body piercing jewelry is to be treated in the same category as wearing any other jewelry and is prohibited during physical education class.  This policy is all encompassing and is not modified for size, type, or location of piercing.  School sponsored intramurals is included in this policy.

For interscholastic athletics, refer to the National Federation Sports Rules or the WIAA Season Regulations.While the existing jewelry policy has been in place in MPS for some time, applying this policy to body piercings is a more recent development.  Please be aware it may be necessary to implement student, as well as parent, education regarding this policy and its related safety and health justifications.

Sexual Harassment

It is the policy of the Milwaukee Public School District to maintain an environment that is free from sexual harassment.  The school district, therefore, prohibits any form of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances; requests for sexual favors, and sexually motivated physical contact or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

It shall be a violation of this policy for any student, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel of the district to harass a student, teacher, administrator or other school personnel through conduct or communications of a sexual nature as defined by this policy.

Complaint Procedures

A.  Sexual Harassment by Another Student

Any student who feels s/he has been subjected to sexual harassment by another student, and all staff, students and parents, who suspect sexual harassment, should contact her/his principal or the sexual harassment coordinator in her/his school to report the harassment.  The school principal or sexual harassment policy coordinator will act as investigator and meet separately with each individual involved in the complaint.  When appropriate, a group session between the parties involved in the complaint may be held in and effort to resolve the complaint on an informal basis.

The investigation/mediation shall continue for a period of no more than 30 days or until resolution is achieved, if that is less than 30 days.  The peer sexual harassment policy coordinator will determine whether peer sexual harassment occurred.  When the school sexual harassment policy coordinator can resolve the complaint informally, no disciplinary action will be taken.  A confidential record of the proceedings in the informal procedure will be maintained at the school.  The school principal or sexual harassment coordinator will inform the complainant of the disposition of the complaint as soon as possible.If during the period of mediation and/or following the 30-day period of mediation the sexual harassment continues, or if the harassment creates a further fear of assault to the victim, the perpetrator of the sexual harassment must be reported to the Division of Parent/Student Services for disciplinary action.

Following the period of 30 days, should mediation efforts of the local level fail, or in the event that the alleged offender does not follow through with the resolution agreed upon, and the complaint remains unsolved, the complainant may contact the district sexual harassment policy coordinator for further resolution:
Sexual Harassment Policy Coordinator            Mailing Address:   
Milwaukee Public Schools                                P.O. Box 2181
5225 W. Vliet Street                                          Milwaukee, WI  53201-2181
Milwaukee, WI  53208       
(414) 475-8298

Written response from the district sexual harassment policy coordinator will be forwarded to the complainant within 10 days, with a copy sent to the school sexual harassment policy coordinator.  If after appeal, up to and including the district sexual harassment policy coordinator, the complainant feels that an equitable solution has not been reached, the complainant may contact:

U.S. Department of Education - Office for Civil Rights
Regional Office V
401 S. State St., 700 C
Chicago, IL  60605-1202
(312) 353-2520

and/or

State Superintendent of Public Instruction
125 S. Webster Street
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI  53707-7841

B.  Harassment by Employees or Private Citizens

Any student who feels he/she has been subjected to sexual harassment by any MPS employee or private citizen must contact his/her principal or the sexual harassment policy coordinator.  Such allegations will be handled under the misconduct procedures of the appropriate collective bargaining agreement or reported to the appropriate authorities.

The district will act to investigate all complaints, either formal or informal, verbal or written of sexual harassment and to discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel who is found to have violated this policy.

During any step in the complaint procedures, the complainant has the right to contact the U.S. Department of Education or the Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

 

Pepper Spray

With the legal availability of pepper spray in Wisconsin as of October 1, 1994, the Milwaukee Public Schools is reminding parents and students that the possession or use by any student of pepper spray in school or while under the supervision of a school authority will result in disciplinary action that could lead to expulsion from school.

The discipline policy of the Milwaukee Public Schools prohibits the possession or use of any chemical irritant spray or substance.  Specifically, the policy bans “…possessing or using any chemical irritant or spray, such as pepper spray or other substance which can cause bodily discomfort or injury.”  The policy is found in the Milwaukee Public Schools Parent/Student Handbook on Rights, Responsibilities, and Discipline.  The handbook was mailed to the home of every MPS student in August 1994.

Students over the age of 18 who carry or use pepper spray or other chemical irritants while on school grounds will be suspended.  Students under 18 who carry or use chemical irritants while at school will be suspended from school, and the police will be called.

“The police are called in cases involving students under 18 years of age because it is illegal for anyone younger than 18 to possess pepper spray,” stated Mr. Hughes George, Director of the Division of Parent/Student Services.  “Because carrying pepper spray in a camouflaged container is also illegal, any student in possession of a camouflaged container containing pepper spray will be suspended and the police will also be called regardless of the student’s age,” Hughes continued.

For more information, please contact Mr. Hughes George, Director of the Division of Parent/Student Services, 475-8027, or Ms. Roseanne St. Aubin, Office of Communications & Public Affairs, 475-8237.