Selected NACS Rules and Policies in Direct Opposition to Reality

0144.2 – BOARD MEMBER ETHICS

A Board of School Trustees member should honor the high responsibility which his/her membership demands by:

thinking always in terms of “children first”;

understanding that the basic function of the School Board member is “policy-making” and not “administrative”, and by accepting the responsibility of learning to discriminate intelligently between these two functions;

accepting the responsibility along with his/her fellow Board members of seeing that the maximum of facilities and resources is provided for the proper functioning of schools;

refusing to “play politics” in either the traditional partisan, or in any petty sense;

representing at all times the entire school community;

accepting the responsibility of becoming well informed concerning the duties of Board members, and the proper functions of public schools;

recognizing responsibility as a State official to seek the improvement of education throughout the State.

A Board member should meet his/her responsibilities to his/her community by:

A.….F….

winning the community’s confidence that all is being done in the best interests of school children.

1200 – ADMINISTRATOR ETHICS

The proper performance of school business and administration of an effective educational program requires the services of individuals of integrity, high ideals, and human understanding. To maintain and promote these essentials, the School Board expects all administrators to maintain high standards in their working relationships, provide professional leadership in the Corporation and community, and in the performance of their duties, …

In addition, the Board believes that each administrator should maintain standards of exemplary professional conduct and conform his/her behavior to the code of ethics set forth below as adopted from the American Association of School Administrators’ Statement of Ethics for School Administrators by:

making the well-being of students the fundamental value of all decision making and actions;

fulfilling professional responsibilities with honesty and integrity;

supporting the principle of due process and protecting the civil and human rights of all individuals;

obeying local, State and national laws and not knowingly joining or supporting organizations that advocate, directly or indirectly, the overthrow of the government;

implementing the Board’s policies and administrative rules and regulations;

pursuing appropriate measure to correct those laws, policies, and regulations that are not consistent with sound educational goals;

avoiding the use of his/her position for personal gain through political, social, religious, economic, or other influences;

accepting academic degrees or professional certification only from duly accredited institutions;

maintaining the standards and seeking to improve the effectiveness of the profession through research and continuing professional development;

honoring all contracts until fulfillment, release or dissolution mutually agreed upon by all parties to the contract.

2260 – NONDISCRIMINATION AND ACCESS TO EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

Any form of discrimination or harassment can be devastating to an individual’s academic progress, social relationship, and/or personal sense of self-worth.

As such, the Board of School Trustees does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including transgender status, sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, age, religion, military status, ancestry, or genetic information which are classes protected by Federal and/or State law (collectively, “Protected Classes”) occurring in the Corporation’s educational opportunities, programs, and/or activities, or, if initially occurring off Corporation grounds or outside the Corporation’s educational opportunities, programs, and activities, affecting the Corporation environment.

The Board also does not discriminate on the basis of Protected Classes in its employment policies and practices as they relate to students, and does not tolerate harassment of any kind.

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Sanctions and Monitoring

The Board shall vigorously enforce its prohibitions against unlawful discrimination/retaliation occurring in the Corporation’s educational opportunities, programs and/or activities, or, if initially occurring off Corporation grounds or outside the Corporation’s educational opportunities, programs and activities, affecting the Corporation environment by taking appropriate action reasonably calculated to stop and prevent further misconduct.

While observing the principles of due process, a violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including the discharge of an employee. All disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with applicable State law and the terms of the relevant collective bargaining agreement(s), if any. With respect to violations of this policy by Respondents who are students, disciplinary action may be imposed up to and including expulsion from school, in accordance with applicable State law. Any discipline of students with disabilities will be in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) and the Federal and State regulations implementing the IDEA.

When imposing discipline, the Superintendent shall consider the totality of the circumstances involved in the matter. In those cases where unlawful discrimination/retaliation is not substantiated, the Board may consider whether the alleged conduct nevertheless warrants discipline in accordance with other Board policies, consistent with the terms of the relevant collective bargaining agreement(s), if any, and with Federal and State laws and regulations.

All sanctions imposed by the Board and/or Superintendent shall be reasonably calculated to end such conduct, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effect. Prior sanctions imposed on the Respondent(s) for similar past conduct shall be considered in determining the appropriateness of the sanction(s) imposed for the present conduct.

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Retaliation

Retaliation against a person who (1) makes a report or files a complaint alleging unlawful discrimination occurring in the Corporation’s educational opportunities, programs and/or activities, or, if initially occurring off Corporation grounds or outside the Corporation’s educational opportunities, programs and activities, affecting the Corporation environment, or (2) participates as a witness in an investigation, is prohibited.

Specifically, the Board will not discriminate/retaliate against, coerce, intimidate, threaten or interfere with any individual because s/he opposed any act or practice made unlawful by Federal or State nondiscrimination laws, made a charge, testified, assisted or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under those laws, or exercised, enjoyed, aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of any right granted or protected by those laws.

Individuals found to have engaged in retaliation shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or expulsion from school.

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2431 – INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

The School Board recognizes the value to the Corporation and to the community of a program of interscholastic athletics for as many students as feasible.

The program of interscholastic athletics should provide students the opportunity to exercise and test their athletic abilities in a context greater and more varied than that which can be offered by a school or the School Corporation alone.

The program should foster the growth of school loyalty with the student body as a whole and stimulate community interest in athletics.

Game activities and practice sessions should provide many opportunities to teach the values of competition and good sportsmanship.

The Board subscribes to the administrative guidelines of the Indiana High School Athletic Association but maintains responsibility for enforcement of all rules. The Board believes that it is the purpose of an interscholastic program to provide the benefits of an athletic experience to as large a number of students as feasible within the Corporation.

Since the primary purpose of the athletic program is to enhance the education of participating students as indicated in this policy, the Board places top priority on maximum student participation and the values of good sportsmanship, team play, and fair competition, rather than on winning, particularly at sub-varsity levels. The Superintendent is to develop guidelines for coaches to follow which will ensure that as many students as possible have the opportunity to play so they have the opportunity to benefit from the learning experience.

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The Superintendent is also to develop guidelines for ensuring that sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity characterize the manner in which the athletic program is conducted and the actions of students who participate. Such guidelines should provide a set of behavioral expectations for each type of participant. The Superintendent is authorized to implement suitable disciplinary procedures against those who do not abide by these expectations.

In order to support such a program, the Board commits itself to:

recognize the value of school athletic activities as a vital part of education;
adopt policies (upon recommendation of the administration) which reflect the Corporation’s educational objectives and promote the ideals of good sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity;
attend and enjoy school athletic activities, serving as a positive role model and expecting the same from parents, fans, participants, coaches, and other school personnel;
support and reward participants, coaches, school administrators, and fans who display good sportsmanship.

3139 – STAFF DISCIPLINE

The School Board believes that standards of conduct for professional employees are necessary to provide students with a positive example of adult behavior and an orderly instructional environment. To this end, the Board has adopted a policy of progressive discipline to be applied except in cases of gross misconduct. In instances of gross misconduct, the purpose of this policy is to consider if the misconduct warrants suspension without pay or termination.

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Exceptions to the principle of progressive discipline contained in this policy may be made in cases in which the Board finds that the interests of students and the school community make the application of the principle of progressive discipline inappropriate. Examples include, but are not limited to the following:

Reporting for duty under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, an illegal drug, or a prescription drug used other than in accordance with a prescription.
Possession or use of alcoholic beverages or drugs on school property or at an event sponsored by the Board.
Willful refusal to follow established rules or standards for the conduct of a professional employee, i.e. insubordination.
Theft, fraud, or another violation of criminal law.
Arrest and subsequent conviction of a crime.
Falsification or omission of a material fact in the application for employment by the Board.
Threats of and/or acts of violence to a person or substantial property damage.
Poor professional judgment resulting in a risk of physical harm to a person.
Harassment in violation of Board policy on harassment.

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3210 – STAFF ETHICS

An effective educational program requires the services of men and women of integrity, high ideals, and human understanding. To maintain and promote these essentials, the School Board expects all professional staff members to maintain high standards in their working relationships.

Professional staff members in the performance of their professional duties will:

recognize basic dignities of all individuals with whom they interact in the performance of duties;
represent accurately their qualifications;
exercise due care to protect the mental and physical safety of students, colleagues, and subordinates;
seek and apply the knowledge and skills appropriate to assigned responsibilities;
keep in confidence such information as they may secure, unless disclosure is required by law, authorized by the Superintendent, or is necessary to protect the health and welfare of the student or others;
ensure that their actions or those of another on their behalf are not made with specific intent of advancing private economic interests;
avoid accepting anything of value offered by another for the purpose of influencing judgment;
refrain from using their position or public property, or permitting another person to use an employee’s position or public property for partisan political or sectarian religious purposes. This will in no way limit constitutionally or legally protected rights as a citizen.

3362 – ANTI-HARASSMENT

Bullying

Bullying rises to the level of unlawful harassment when one (1) or more persons systematically and chronically inflict physical hurt or psychological distress on one (1) or more students with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate or harm that/those student(s), and that bullying is based upon sex, race, color, national origin, religion, or disability, that is, characteristics that are protected by Federal civil rights laws. It is defined as any unwanted and repeated written, verbal, or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or student, that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment; cause discomfort or humiliation; or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation; and may involve

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Religious (Creed) Harassment

Prohibited religious harassment occurs when unwelcome physical, verbal, or nonverbal conduct is based upon an individual’s religion or creed and when the conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with the individual’s work or educational performance; of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working and/or learning environment; or of interfering with one’s ability to participate in or benefit from a class or an educational program or activity. Such harassment may include but is not limited to conduct directed at the characteristics of a person’s religious tradition, clothing, or surnames, and/or involving religious slurs.

IHSAA

8-2 Coaches Conduct The member School principal is responsible for initiating appropriate disciplinary measures against coaches for improper and unethical practices. A report of such must be forwarded to the Executive Committee if requested by the Commissioner.