Section 4 - Essential Information

Bullying and Harassment

The Marion County School District is committed to providing all students, staff, and volunteers with a safe, secure, and respectful educational environment that is free from bullying and harassment of any kind.

Bullying is defined as systematically and chronically inflicting physical harm or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. Bullying includes instances of cyberbullying, as defined in Fla. Stat. §1006.147(3)(b). Bullying may include, but is not limited to, repeated acts of teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical aggression, theft, harassment, public or private humiliation, or destruction of property. If the physical harm or psychological distress does not result from systematic or chronic behavior, the incident should be evaluated as Harassment instead.

Harassment includes any verbal, written, or physical conduct that threatens, insults, or demeans a student or employee and substantially disrupts the school environment. Bullying also includes retaliation against anyone who reports, alleges, or participates in an investigation of such behavior. Sexual cyber-harassment refers to the online sharing or distribution of sexually explicit images with identifying information without that person’s consent.

This policy applies to behavior occurring both on and off campus when such conduct impacts the school community. Violations will be addressed in accordance with district procedures and Fla. Stat. §1006.147.

Diversion

Clean Slate is a diversion program for students involved in a first-time Level 3 (3N – Lewd Behavior / Indecent Exposure) or Level 4 (4P – Sexual Offense) violation of the Code. The program is designed to provide students with the life skills and support necessary to make safe, respectful, and appropriate choices while reducing the likelihood of future violations.

Drugs/Alcohol & Supportive Enforcement

The student shall not knowingly possess, use, transmit or be under the influence of any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, any other controlled or counterfeit substance as defined in Fla. Stat. §893.03, or substitute for such, alcoholic beverage, inhalant or intoxicant, or over the counter drugs (excluding headache medication) of any kind, on school grounds either before, during, or after school hours, or off school grounds at a school activity, function, or event. Also, a student shall not possess, have under their control, sell, or deliver any device, contrivance, instrument, or paraphernalia containing the substance or substances described in this paragraph, or any residue of such substances, or devices intended for use or used in injecting, inhaling/inhalant/huffing, smoking, administering, or using any of the foregoing prescribed drugs, narcotics, or stimulants. Use of a drug authorized by a medical prescription from a registered physician for a specific student shall not be considered a violation of this rule.

Drug offenses are cumulative and are counted throughout the student’s entire school career (reciprocity). On a student’s first violation, or when a student is determined to be under the influence of an illegal substance, the student will be offered the opportunity to participate in an online substance abuse supportive enforcement education program in addition to receiving a ten (10) day suspension, or the student may receive an alternative placement. Offenses eligible for supportive enforcement include alcohol, illegal drugs, and Schedule I-V controlled substances, including THC oil, THC byproducts, Delta 8, and any other synthetic or natural variants of THC. The Coordinator of Student Discipline, or their designee, must confirm to both the parent and the school designee that the student successfully completed the program within the required timeframe. Schools will remind students, as appropriate, that providing alcohol or drugs to another student on campus or at any school-sponsored activity will result in a recommendation for expulsion. Subsequent violations will also result in expulsion.

Refer to Drugs / Substance Abuse Matrix on Page 33.

THE USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION AND USE OF ALCOHOL IS WRONG AND HARMFUL. INFORMATION ABOUT DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING IS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS THROUGH THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AT EACH SCHOOL. STUDENTS SUSPECTED OF BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS MAY BE TESTED. A TEST REFUSAL, OR FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE TEST WITHIN 24 HOURS, IS CONSIDERED A POSITIVE TEST RESULT AND WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES FOR BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. ALTERING THE TEST SAMPLE IN ANY WAY COULD RESULT IN FORGOING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUPPORTIVE ENFORCEMENT AND WILL RESULT IN AN ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT OR EXPULSION.

Substance Abuse Screenings are completed at:

MCPS District East Office

1614 E Fort King Street

Ocala, FL 34471

Substance Abuse Consequences

Dress Code

The District believes that proper etiquette, social customs, and good grooming are a definite part of the educational process. To this end, it is expected that students wear neat, clean, appropriate clothing to school or school functions (as listed below) that meet the standards of the educational environment. Any extremes in clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, or appearance that may disrupt the normal operation of the school will not be acceptable. It is recommended that students wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes to school. It is not the intention of these guidelines to usurp the authority of parents in determining what appropriate dress and grooming are for their children in accordance with the age and grade of those youngsters. The school will work with parents in encouraging their children to assume this responsibility and to execute it sensibly as they mature. The purpose of the home and school working together should be to help students accept and cooperate with these guidelines. In view of this statement, the following rules will be in effect in all schools:

·       General:

·   Students must not wear clothing or accessories that are harmful, disruptive, or hazardous to health or safety.

·   Jewelry and accessories shall be worn in a way that does not present a safety or health hazard or cause a disruption to the educational process.

·   Undergarments should not be visible at any time.

·       Shirts:

·   Shirts must have sleeves and cover the body from shoulder to shoulder. A sleeve is defined as the part of a garment that wholly or partly covers a person’s arm.

·   Shirts must be long enough to overlap the belt line or stay tucked in during the course of normal movement throughout the day. Shirts falling below mid-thigh length must be tucked in. Shirts cannot be longer than shorts or skirts.

·    No bare-midriff shirts, blouses, muscle shirts, or tank tops may be worn.

·   Students are not to wear T-shirts or other garments or other items with pictures, logos, phrases, decals, patches, emblems, or words printed on them that are obscene, suggestive, or disruptive in the judgment of the school administration. This includes, but is not limited to, nude/semi-nude figures; figures in sexually suggestive postures; or logos of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or prohibited substances including racial, ethnic, or sexist slurs, or gang identification.

·   A tattoo that is obscene or disruptive in the judgment of the school administration must be covered.

·       Pants, Shorts, Skirts:

·    All garments must be secured at the waist so that no undergarments will be exposed.

·    Shorts and skirts are permitted at all grade levels and must be mid-thigh or longer.

·    Rips, holes, or tears in clothing must be below mid-thigh.

·       Headgear:

·    Students (male and female) are not to wear hats of any kind unless approved by the school administration for special occasions and specific locations.

·    Hats should be interpreted literally as hats or head-coverings and includes bandanas, berets, beanies, knitted caps, hoods (such as attached to sweatshirts), caps, sweatbands, visors, and similar hat-like apparel.

·       Shoes:

·   Students shall wear shoes for foot protection and for hygienic reasons while on school grounds and/or school transportation.

·    Bedroom slippers are not permitted.

·    For safety reasons, shoes with wheels and/or skates may not be worn on the school campus or bus.

Regulations regarding grooming and dress for special activities such as athletics, fine arts, and drill team will be governed by the immediate person in charge of these activities under the direction of the principal or their designee.

Appropriateness and moderation in all areas, a concern for the health and safety of students, and the avoidance of distractions to the educational process are the guiding principles of the student dress code. Styles and fads are constantly changing and cannot possibly be covered by specific rules and regulations. Evaluating what is appropriate in terms of dress and grooming is highly controversial, and opinions among people vary. Individual schools will assume responsibility for determining whether specific items of clothing and general appearance are acceptable for reasons of safety, health, order, well-being, and the general welfare of students.

The District authorizes school administrators to employ appropriate disciplinary procedures to carry out and enforce this policy. These are the minimum standards that will be enforced at each school. Schools have the right to set higher standards based on administrative procedures. School uniforms may be adopted at individual schools.

Any student who violates the dress code policy is subject to the following disciplinary actions:

First Offense: A student shall receive a verbal warning, and the school principal or their designee shall call the student’s parent.

Second Offense: The student is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activities for a period of time not to exceed five (5) days and the school principal or their designee shall meet with the student’s parent.

Third Offense and Subsequent Offenses: A student shall receive an in-school suspension pursuant to Fla. Stat. §1003.01 for a period not to exceed three (3) days; the student is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days; and the school principal or their designee shall call the student’s parent and send the parent a written letter regarding the student’s in-school suspension and ineligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.

Shorts and Skirts are permitted at all grade levels and will be mid-thigh or longer.

The mid-thigh point is defined as the halfway point between the beginning of the inseam (groin area) to the top of the knee.

To determine it, measure from the beginning of the inseam (groin area) to the top of the knee, and identify the point that is directly in the middle.