FILE: JDD-P
Cf: JDD
SUSPENSION PROCEDURES
SHORT-TERM SUSPENSION PROCEDURES
Short-term suspension is any denial of school attendance for ten (10) days or less. Procedures for such suspensions shall be as follows:
Principals must make every reasonable effort to investigate all aspects of a discipline problem. If the principal finds the offense of the nature that demands suspension, the student should be suspended.
Prior to any suspension, the school principal shall advise the student in question of the particular misconduct of which he/she is accused, as well as the basis for such accusation, and the student shall be given an opportunity at that time to explain his/her version of the facts to the school principal or designee.
The principal or designee shall make every effort to contact the student's parents or guardians by telephone, if possible, notifying them of the suspension and of the fact that the student will be or has been removed from his/her class and will be kept under supervision until the close of the school day or the arrival of the parent or guardian. If the parent or school so requests, the student will be granted an early dismissal from school to return to his/her home. In the event a student causes disruption of the orderly operations of the school, the student may be immediately removed from the school premises and placed in the custody of his/her parents, guardians or next of kin.
The principal shall mail a report of the suspension to the parent or guardian no later than the following school day. Additional copies shall be sent to the Superintendent's office and the office of Child Welfare and Attendance. In addition, the principal or designee shall keep a copy on file.
If the parent or guardian of the suspended student wishes to contest the suspension, the parent or guardian, within five (5) school days after receipt of written notification of the suspension, may submit a written request to the Superintendent to review the matter. Upon such request, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall schedule a hearing at his/her earliest convenience to review the action of the principal.
The burden of proof in a hearing to review a short-term suspension is on the parent or guardian. The parent must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Superintendent or his/her designee that the disciplinary action taken by the principal was improper or excessive.
The decision of the Superintendent or his/her designee on the merits of the case, as well as the term of suspension, shall be final, reserving the right to the Superintendent or designee to remit any portion of the time of suspension. The parent or guardian has no right to appeal the decision on a short-term suspension to the School Board.
LONG-TERM SUSPENSION PROCEDURES
Long-term suspension is any denial of school attendance for a period in excess of ten (10) school days. Procedures for such suspensions shall be as follows:
The principal must make every reasonable effort to investigate all aspects of a discipline problem. A principal shall have reasonable cause to believe that the student is guilty of an offense which would constitute grounds for disciplinary action and that the situation warrants severe disciplinary action before placing the student on a long-term suspension.
The principal shall determine, according to the nature and the seriousness of the offense, whether a student shall remain at school the remainder of the school day or be removed immediately pending a hearing.
If the student is denied attendance rights pending a hearing by the Superintendent or his/her designee, the principal shall make every effort to contact the student's parents or guardians by telephone, if possible, notifying them of the impending suspension and of the fact that the student will be or has been removed from class and will be kept under supervision until the close of the school day or the arrival of the parent or guardian. If the parent or school so requests, the student will be granted an early dismissal from school to return home.
Serious disruptions may cause the student to be removed from the premises immediately and be placed in the custody of his/her parents, guardians, next of kin, or police.
The principal shall mail a report of the suspension home to the parent or guardian no later than the following school day. Additional copies shall be sent to the Superintendent's office and the office of Child Welfare and Attendance. In addition, the principal or designee shall keep a copy on file.
The procedure for long-term suspension hearings shall be as described in procedure JDE-P, Expulsion Procedures.
Approved: August, 2004
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:416
Board minutes, 2-2-95
DeSoto Parish School Board