Prohibited Acts

1. Acceptable Use Policy Violation

A student shall not violate or attempt to violate School District policies, administrative regulations, and directives concerning School District or personal computers, networks, and telephone systems. Violation of any of the rules and responsibilities may result in a loss of access privileges/technology privileges/computer usage and may result in other disciplinary or legal actions including restitution.

 

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

2. Alcohol/Chemical Substances
A student shall not manufacture, sell, handle, possess, use, deliver, transmit or be under any degree of influence (legal intoxication not required) of any alcoholic beverages or intoxicant of any kind. A student shall not inhale glue, aerosol paint, lighter fluid, reproduction fluid or other chemical substance for the purpose of becoming intoxicated or under the influence (legal intoxication not required).

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

3. Arson

Arson Prohibited by Law A student shall not commit an act of arson, prohibited by MCL 750.71 through MCL 750.80. A student shall not burn, or attempt to burn, any tangible property or intentionally set a fire on school property or cause or attempt to cause an explosion on school property.

 

Penalty – administrative intervention to expulsion.

4. Building's Rules and Regulations Violation

A student shall not commit or participate in any conduct or act prohibited by a school building's rules and regulations.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

5. Bullying/Cyberbullying

Students are prohibited from engaging in conduct, whether written, verbal or physical, that unreasonably interferes with another's participation in or enjoyment at school or school-related activities, such as bullying or hazing. BULLYING/CYBERBULLYING Bullying is a deliberate behavior where someone repeatedly perceives that harm is being inflicted upon them by others whose intent is to intimidate, harass, or threaten their physical safety. Bullying is chronic, occurs over time and involves an imbalance of power or strength between the bully(ies) and the victim. The victim may have difficulty defending himself/herself from aggressive behaviors which may be physical, verbal, or non-verbal. Bullying can also involve actions of discrimination based on race, class, gender, or sexual orientation. Cyberbullying is a type of bullying behavior that occurs when the bully(ies) uses digital media (i.e., computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices). Students shall not initiate nor shall they participate as a spectator in bullying or cyberbullying acts that intentionally or unintentionally cause the disruption or obstruction of any function of the school, or if such interruption or obstruction of any service of school is likely to occur. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

a. Getting another person to assault someone;
b. Spreading gossip and harmful rumors;
c. Encouraging others to reject or exclude someone from a group, activity, or a relationship;
d. Hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting;
e. Taunting, humiliating, name-calling, intimidating, making degrading comments or hurtful written communications;
f. Threatening someone;
g. Using obscene gestures;
h. Posting or sending harassing, intimidating or threatening emails, instant messages, or public/private social media postings via the use of an Internet-connected computer or cell phone;
i. Posting or sending images or video/audio recordings of incidents of harassment;
j. Developing web pages to promote and disseminate defamatory content;
k. Posting or sending harassing, intimidating or threatening messages through a computer, cell phone or by any other electronic means;
l. “Borrowing” an individual’s screen name and pretending to be them while posting a message;
m. Forwarding supposedly private messages, pictures, or video to others. Students involved in bullying and or cyberbullying acts shall be subject to disciplinary action and possible police intervention.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

6. Criminal Acts

A student shall not commit or participate in any conduct or act defined as a crime by federal or state law or local ordinance.

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion, Police Intervention

7. Criminal Sexual Conduct

A student shall not commit criminal sexual conduct, as defined by MCL 750.520 b-e and g.

 

Penalty – Administrative Intervention to Permanent Expulsion, Police Intervention

8. Coercion, Extortion or Blackmail

A student shall not commit or attempt to commit extortion, coercion or blackmail. A student shall not engage in the act of securing or trying to obtain money or other items of value by the use of threats or violence, nor shall a student, by threats or violence, force another person to perform an unwilling act.

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

9. Copyrighted Material

A student shall not unlawfully duplicate, reproduce, retain or use copyrighted material.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

10. Damage of Property or Theft/Possession
A student shall not intentionally cause or attempt to cause damage to school property or the property of another person, or steal, try to take, or knowingly be in the unauthorized possession of, school property or the property of another person.

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

11. Discriminatory Harassment

A student shall not engage in unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or unwanted sexual touching. A student shall not engage in other verbal or physical conduct relating to a person's sex, race, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, or handicap or disability (e.g., sexual or racial comments, threats or insults, etc.).

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

12. Disruption of School

A student shall not, by any conduct (violence, force, noise, coercion, threat, intimidation, fear, passive resistance, etc.), cause the disruption or obstruction of any function of the school, nor shall he or she engage in any such conduct if such disruption or obstruction is reasonably likely to result. Neither shall a student urge other students to participate in such behavior to cause interruption or obstruction.

 

While the following acts are not intended to be exclusive, they illustrate the kinds of offenses encompassed within this rule. It should be understood that any conduct which causes disruption, is likely to result in disorder, or interferes with the educational process, is forbidden.

a. Occupying any school building, school grounds, or a part thereof, without the permission of a school building staff member, which deprives others of its use;
b. Block the regular pedestrian or vehicle traffic, the entrances or exits of any school building or corridor or room, without the permission of the building principal;
c. Preventing, attempting to prevent, or interfering with, the convening or continued functioning of any class, activity, meeting or assembly;
d. Instigating or participating in a disturbance, or causing a disturbance, which interrupts the educational opportunities of others or threatens the general health, safety and welfare of others on school property or at a school-sponsored activity.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

13. Dress
A student shall not dress or groom in a manner, which in the judgment of a building administrator, is unsafe to the student or others or disruptive to the educational process.

Penalty - administrative intervention to expulsion.

14. Drugs, Narcotic Drugs, and Counterfeit Substances

 

A student shall not manufacture, sell or attempt to sell, possess, use, deliver, transfer or be under the influence (legal intoxication not required) of any drug, narcotic drug, marijuana, hallucinogen, stimulant, depressant, a controlled substance, counterfeit substance or a controlled substance analogue intended for human consumption.

 

A student shall not sell, deliver or transfer, or attempt to sell, deliver or transfer, any prescription or non-prescription drug, medicine, vitamin or chemical substance (e.g., pain relievers, stimulants, diet pills, pep pills, No-Doze pills, cough medicines, laxatives, stomach or digestive remedies), nor shall a student use or possess these substances for an improper purpose.

 

A student shall not sell or represent a legal substance as an illegal or controlled substance (e.g., selling NODOZ as "Speed" or "Crack") or sell, manufacture, possess, use, deliver or transfer "designer" drugs).

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

15. Electronic Communication Devices and Laser Pointers

Districtwide. Students are prohibited from using or possessing active (i.e., turned on) electronic communication devices in restrooms, locker rooms, office and other locations where students and staff have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Romulus Community Schools and its employees are not responsible for lost, damaged, confiscated or stolen equipment.

Students may not use or possess active electronic communication devices without administrative
permission.

Student Discretion. Students are expected to use good judgment when using or possessing electronic communication devices in the parking lot, cafeteria during lunch and extra-curricular activities.

 

Staff Discretion. Students may not use or possess active electronic communication devices without explicit staff permission in class or on buses.

 

Separately, all students are prohibited from possessing or using laser pointers on school premises and at school-related activities without the express permission of school administration. All students are prohibited from recording an event of any type without express staff permission.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

16. Failure to Cooperate

A student shall not refuse to cooperate with School District administrators or teaching staff investigating a possible violation of this Code of Conduct or building rules, and no student shall make false statements or give false evidence to School District administrators or teaching staff. A student shall not refuse to testify or otherwise cooperate with School District personnel in any disciplinary proceeding.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

17. Failure to Comply with Directions of School Personnel

A student shall not be insubordinate or fail to comply with instructions and directions of School District employees (including substitute and student teachers), volunteers or persons acting as a chaperone or in a supervisory capacity.

 

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

18. False Allegations
A student shall not libel or slander, or make false allegations against another student, School District employee (including substitute and student teachers), Board of Education members, or volunteers.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion

19. False Alarms

A student shall not knowingly cause a false fire alarm, or make a fake fire, bomb or catastrophe report.

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

20. Falsification of Records

A student shall not use the name of another person or falsify times, dates, grades, addresses or other data on School District forms or records. A student shall not provide false, misleading or inaccurate statements or information on School District forms or documents.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

21. Fighting, Assault or Battery on Another Person

A student shall not physically assault, or cause, behave in such a way to cause or threaten to cause physical injury to a school employee, (including substitute and student teachers), student, volunteer, chaperone or other people (e.g., fighting).

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

22. Fireworks, Explosives, Chemical Substances

A student shall not possess, handle or transmit any substance or prepared chemical that can explode, is capable of inflicting bodily injury or is reasonably likely to cause physical discomfort to another person.

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

23. Fundraising or Individual or Group Selling/Trading

Only sales or products related to Romulus Community Schools activities or clubs will be permitted in school. All sales must have prior written approval by the administration. Any student selling or trading non-school related items on school grounds is prohibited. Students are required to follow all fundraising guidelines as established by the administration. Students who participate in club sales are responsible for the safekeeping and accurate reporting of money to the club sponsor.

 

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion

24. Gang Insignia/Activity

A student shall not wear or possess any clothing, jewelry, symbol or other objects that may reasonably be perceived by any student, teacher or administrator as evidence of membership in or affiliation with any gang. A student shall not commit any act, verbal or non-verbal (gesture, handshakes, etc.), a teacher or the administrator may reasonably perceive that as evidence of membership in or affiliation with any gang. A student shall not commit any act, verbal or non-verbal, in furtherance of the interests of any gang or gang activity, including, but not limited to:

a. soliciting others for membership in any gang or gang-related activity,
b. requesting any person to pay protection or otherwise intimidating or threatening any person,
c. committing any other illegal act or violation of School District rules or policies, or
d. inciting other students to act with physical violence on any person.

The term "gang" means a group of two or more persons whose purpose or activities include the commission of illegal acts or violations of this Code of Conduct, School District rules or policies, or whose mission or activities cause disruption or is likely to disrupt the educational process.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

25. Gambling/Card Playing/Dice

Playing any game of chance for stakes, including but not limited to, money, property, barter or the collection of any debt on school grounds is prohibited.

Penalty - Administrative Intervention to Permanent Expulsion

26. Hazing

The act of initiating another student into any grade, school, club, or school-related activity by any means or methods
that may cause physical or emotional pain, embarrassment, or discomfort.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

27. Improper Communications

A student shall not make threatening, annoying, nuisance, vulgar or obscene communications, verbally, in writing, or by gestures, to School District employees (including substitutes and student teachers), Board of Education members, chaperones, volunteers or visitors to the school building. The prohibition against such communications shall apply whether the communications are made in a school building or on school premises or outside of a school building or off school premises, and regardless of whether such communications are made during, before, or after school hours or during times when school is not in session.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

28. Indecency

A student shall not engage in conduct that is contrary to commonly recognized standards of decency and behavior, which includes obscenity, indecent exposure, or the use of language in verbal or written form, or in pictures, or in caricatures or gestures, which are offensive to the general standards of propriety.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

29. Misconduct Prior to Enrollment

An otherwise eligible resident may be suspended or expelled for an act of misconduct committed while the student was

a. a resident of another district,
b. enrolled in another school,
c. outside of school hours, or
d. off school premises if the misconduct would have constituted a sufficient basis for suspension or expulsion had it occurred while the student was enrolled in the School District.

Penalty – Administrative Intervention to Permanent Expulsion

30. Personal Protection Devices

A student shall not possess, handle or transmit a personal protection device (e.g., pepper gas, mace, stun gun, electric shock device, etc.) capable of inflicting bodily injury or causing physical discomfort to another person.

Penalty- administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

31. Scholastic Dishonesty

A student shall not engage in academic cheating. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the actual giving or receiving of any unauthorized aid or assistance or the actual giving or receiving of unfair advantage on any form of academic work. A student shall not engage in plagiarism, which includes the copying of language, structure, idea or thought of another and represent it as the student’s original work.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

32. Smoking/Tobacco

A student shall not smoke, chew or otherwise use tobacco. A student shall not, while on school property, have in his/her possession or under his/her control, tobacco in any form.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

33. Suspended Student on School Property or Attending School Activities

A student, while suspended, shall not enter onto School District property without the prior permission of a building administrator.

A student, while suspended, shall not participate in, or attend any school-related activity, function or event, held on or off school property, without the prior permission of a building administrator.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

34. Trespassing, Loitering

A student shall not be on school property or in a school building except to participate in the educational process of the School District, nor shall a student loiter in building hallways, classrooms, bathrooms, etc.

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

35. Weapons and Dangerous Instruments

A student shall not possess a dangerous weapon in a weapon free school zone. A dangerous weapon, for this section only, means a firearm, dagger, dirk, stiletto, knife with a blade over three (3) inches in length, pocketknife opened by a mechanical device, iron bar or brass knuckles. The word "firearm," for purposes of this section only, means any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by action of any explosive; or any destructive device which includes any explosive, incendiary or poison gas (i) bomb (ii) grenade (iii) rocket having a propellant charge of more than four (4) ounces (iv) missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter (1/4) ounce or (v) mine. A “weapon free school zone” means school property, which includes a building, playing field or property used for school purposes to impart instruction to children or used for functions and events sponsored by a school or vehicle used by a school to transport students to and from school property.

Penalty – administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.

36. Weapons Look-A-Like

A student shall not possess, handle or transmit any object or instrument that is a "look-a-like" weapon or instrument (e.g., starter pistol, rubber knife, toy gun, etc.).

Penalty - administrative intervention to permanent expulsion.