Palos Verdes Peninsula USD | BP 1313 Community Relations
Civility Conduct Of District Employees, Parents And The Public
It is the intent of the Board of Education to promote mutual respect, civility and orderly conduct among district employees, parents and the public. It is not the intent of the Board of Education to deprive any person of his or her right to freedom of expression. The intent of this policy is to maintain a safe and orderly workplace for teachers, students, administrators, staff, parents and other members of the community. The district is committed to maintaining orderly educational and administrative processes in keeping schools and administrative offices free from disruptions and preventing unauthorized persons from entering school/district grounds.
In the interest of presenting district administrators, teachers and other employees as positive role models, the Board of Education encourages positive communications and discourages volatile, hostile or aggressive communications or actions. This policy seeks to promote a school and workplace culture of mutual respect, civility and orderly conduct. One of the primary goals of this policy is to ensure a learning environment that is safe, productive and nurturing for all students and staff. Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District seeks public cooperation with this endeavor.
(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive Safety Plan)
(cf. 1000 - Concepts and Roles)
School and district personnel will treat parents, students and other members of the public with courtesy and respect.
Parents, students and visitors will treat teachers, administrators, other district employees, and site visitors with courtesy and respect.
(cf. 1250 - Visitors/Outsiders)
(cf. 5020 - Parent Rights and Responsibilities)
2. Unacceptable/disruptive behavior:
Disruptive behavior includes, but is not necessarily limited to:
Behavior which interferes with or threatens to interfere with the operation of a classroom, an employee's office or office area, areas of school or facilities open to parents/guardians and the general public or a school or District sponsored event away from the school site. It also covers areas of a school or facilities which are not open to parents/guardians and the general public;
(cf. 3515.2 - Disruptions)
(cf. 6116 - Classroom Interruptions)
Using loud and/or offensive language, swearing, cursing or display of temper;
Threatening to do bodily or physical harm to a teacher, school administrator, school employee, student, or visitor to the site regardless of whether the behavior constitutes or may constitute a criminal violation;
Damaging or destroying school or district property;
Abusive, threatening or obscene e-mail or voice mail messages;
Taunting, jeering, or inciting others to taunt or jeer at a person;
Using epithets referring to one's ethnicity/race, religion, gender, color, sexuality, or disability;
Invading the personal space of a person after being directed to move away;
Repeatedly and aggressively interrupting another person who is speaking at an appropriate time and place; or
Any other behavior that disrupts the orderly operation of a school, classroom or any other district facility.
3. Parent recourse:
Any parent who believes he/she or his/her student was subject to unacceptable/disruptive behavior on the part of any staff member should bring such behavior to the attention of the staff member's immediate supervisor or appropriate director. The parent may report verbally or in writing using the district's uniform complaint form. Parents are encouraged to work out issues of concern promptly. No retaliation will be permitted against persons for working in good faith under this policy to resolve conflicts.
(cf. 1312.1 - Complaints Concerning District Employees)
(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)
4. Authority of school personnel (as referenced in BP/AR 3515.2):
Authority to direct persons to leave school or district premises or a school or District sponsored event away from the school site: Any individual who (1) disrupts or threatens to disrupt school or district operations; (2) threatens or attempts to do or does physical harm to district personnel, students or others on a school or district premises; (3) threatens the health or safety of students, district personnel or others on a school or district premises; (4) intentionally causes damage to district property or the property of others on a school campus or district premises; (5) uses loud and/or offensive language, which would provide a violent reaction; or (6) comes on a school or other district facility without authorization or otherwise establishes a continued pattern of unauthorized entry on school grounds may be directed to leave the school or district premises by the Superintendent or designee, or in their absence a person who is in charge of the school or any district level administrator.
If any member of the public uses obscenities or speaks in a demanding, loud, insulting and/or demeaning manner, the administrator or employee to whom the remarks are directed will calmly and politely admonish the speaker to communicate civilly. If corrective action is not taken by the abusing party, the district employee will verbally notify the abusing party that the meeting, conference, or telephone conversation is terminated, and if the meeting or conference is on district premises, the offending person will be directed to leave promptly.
When an individual is directed to leave under the circumstances presented above, the Superintendent or designee shall inform the person that he/she may be guilty of a crime if he/she: fails to leave or remains after being directed to leave; returns to the campus without following the school's posted registration requirements; or returns within seven days after being directed to leave, as applicable. If the person refuses to leave the premises or returns before the applicable period of time as directed, the administrator or other authorized personnel may seek the assistance of law enforcement and request that law enforcement take such action as is deemed necessary.
5. Appeal procedure (as referenced in BP/AR 3515.2):
Any person who is asked to leave a school building or grounds may appeal to the Superintendent or designee. This appeal shall be made no later than the second school day after the person has departed from the school building or grounds. After reviewing the matter with the principal or designee and the person making the appeal, the Superintendent or designee shall render his/her decision within 24 hours after the appeal is made, and this decision shall be binding.
The decision of the Superintendent or designee may be appealed to the Board of Education. Such an appeal shall be made no later than the second school day after the Superintendent or designee has rendered his/her decision. The Board shall consider and decide the appeal at its next scheduled regular or adjourned regular public meeting. The Board's decision shall be final.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
32210-32212 Willful disturbance of public school or meeting
35160 Authority of governing boards
44810 Person on school grounds
44811 Disruption of public school activities
PENAL CODE
627-627.10 Access to school premises
Management Resources:
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Attorney General's Office: http://www.caag.state.ca.us
Policy PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: September 27, 2017 Palos Verdes Estates, California