Behavioral Expectations
Philosophy
PACE Career Academy offers its students a quality education in a safe, healthy and supportive environment within which we ask our students to make responsible, moral and humane choices.
To accomplish this, we insist that our students uniformly respect the dignity, rights, beliefs and property of all members of the PACE Career Academy community.
In administering its behavioral expectations, the PACE Career Academy faculty strives to balance fairness and compassion for the individual student with the need to maintain consistent and equal treatment for all its students.
BULLYING POLICY (Revised, April 2005) – In compliance with RSA 193-F
PLEASE NOTE: The NH Legislature has revised the state law regarding bullying. The School Board will be revising this policy during this school year to reflect the new law. Parents will be notified when the new policy has been approved.
It is the policy of the PACE Career Academy that its students have an educational setting that is safe, secure, peaceful and free from student harassment also known as bullying. The District will not tolerate unlawful harassment of any type and conduct that constitutes bullying as defined herein will not be tolerated.
Bullying Defined
“Bullying” for purposes of this policy is defined as insults, taunts, or challenges, whether verbal or physical in nature, which are likely to intimidate or provoke a violent or disorderly response. Bullying in violation of this policy may not rise to the level of unlawful harassment under Title IX of the Education Acts of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VI, or the Rehabilitation Act of 1974.
Reporting Procedure
- Any student who believes they have been a victim of bullying may report the alleged act to the PACE Career Academy Director. If a student is more comfortable reporting the alleged act to a person other than the Director, the student may contact any PACE Career Academy personnel.
- Any school employee, or employee of a company under contract with PACE Career Academy, who has witnessed or has reliable information that a student has been subjected to bullying shall report the incident to the student’s Director of PACE Career Academy or designee.
- Upon receipt of a report of bullying, the director or designee shall, within 24 hours, forward a written report to the PACE Career Academy Board of the incident and the Director of PACE Career Academy or designee’s response to the incident.
- The Director of PACE Career Academy, or designee, shall, by telephone, and in writing by first-class mail, report the occurrence of any incident of bullying to the Parent or legal guardian of all pupils involved within 48 hours of the occurrence of such incident. The notice shall advise the individuals involved of their due process rights including the right to appeal to the state board of education.
Investigation and Remedial Action
- The Director of PACE Career Academy or designee shall investigate alleged acts of bullying.
- The Director of PACE Career Academy will take such disciplinary action deemed necessary and appropriate, including but not limited to detention, in-house suspension, out-of-school suspension or referral to the Board to consider long-term suspension or expulsion, and/or referral to law enforcement in order to end bullying and prevent its recurrence.
- The procedures under RSA 193:13, Ed 317 and the School District discipline policies establish the due process and appeal rights for students disciplined for acts of bullying.
- Besides initiating disciplinary action, the Director of PACE Career Academy may also take other remedial action deemed necessary and appropriate to end bullying and prevent its recurrence including but not limited to requiring participation in peer mentoring, life skills groups; and/or reassigning classes, lunch periods or transportation.
- For non-disciplinary remedial actions where no other review procedures govern, the parent or legal guardian of the pupils involved in the bullying shall have the right to appeal the Director of PACE Career Academy or designee’s decision to the Board in writing within 5 days. The Board shall review the Director of PACE Career Academy or designee’s decision and issue a written decision within 10 days.
If the aggrieved party is still not satisfied with the outcome, then the aggrieved party may file a written request for review by the Board within 10 days of the Director’s decision. The board shall adhere to the procedures set for the in Ed 216 in resolving the dispute.
Any individual aggrieved by the board’s decision shall have the right to appeal the decision to the State Board of Education within 20 calendar days of receipt of the written decision of the school board in accordance with Ed 200.
Policy Notification
Copies of this policy shall be given to all employees, students and Parents annually by publishing in the applicable handbook. Whenever new School District employees or students begin during the school year, they shall receive a copy of the appropriate handbook before commencing work or school attendance.
Bullying As Abuse
Under certain circumstances, bullying could constitute abuse under RSA 169-C, the Child Abuse Reporting Act. In such situations, employees shall comply with provisions of the School District’s policy JLF and the law.
Sexual Harassment
Bullying may constitute sexual harassment in which case it shall be subject to the School District’s policy ALA.
Immunity
A school employee, or employee of PACE Career Academy under contract with a school or school district, who has reported violations under this chapter to the Director of PACE Career Academy, or designee, shall be immune from any cause of action which may arise from the failure to remedy the reported incident.