The Role of Parents, Guardians, Faculty and Staff - Florida Union Free School District

The Role of Parents/Guardians

The Code of Conduct is a guide for understanding the personal, social, and academic behaviors which are expected from your child while at school and school functions. This Code also guides how school staff will work with you and your child to help demonstrate positive behaviors and enjoy academic success. To achieve this wholesome relationship, parents/guardians are urged:

to show an enthusiastic and supportive attitude toward school and education;
to build a good working relationship between themselves and their child;
to teach their child self-respect, respect for the law, respect for others and for public property;
to teach their child that mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex, will strengthen each student’s positive self-image;
to insist on prompt and regular attendance;
to listen to the views and observations of all parties concerned;
to recognize that teachers merit the same consideration and respect that parents expect from their child;
to encourage their child to take pride in his/her appearance;
to insist that their child promptly bring home all communications from school;
to cooperate with the school in jointly resolving any school related problem;
to set realistic standards of behavior for their child and resolve to remain firm and consistent;
to help their child learn to deal effectively with negative peer pressure;
to monitor their child’s use of electronic communication and discuss online safety/cyberbullying concerns and consequences.
to provide a place conducive for study and completion of homework assignments;
to demonstrate desirable standards of behavior through personal example;
to foster a feeling of pride in their child for their school;
to provide support and positive reinforcement to their child;
to be open to active participation in resolving conflicts through a restorative process.

Parents should be aware that they are responsible for any financial obligations incurred by their child in school. This includes lost books, damage to property, etc.

The Role of School Personnel

School personnel play an important role in the education of students. In view of this responsibility, school personnel must:

maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex, which will strengthen each student’s positive self-image;
confront issues of discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function;
address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom;
report incidents of discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to an employee’s attention to the principal, superintendent, or designee within one school day after receiving the report;
teach the common courtesies by precept and example;
treat students in an ethical and responsible manner;
help students to reach their maximum potential;
demonstrate desirable standards of behavior through personal example;
report violations of the Code of Conduct to the Building Principal or acting building principal;
immediately report and refer violent students to the Principal or Superintendent of Schools;
maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law;
be open to active participation in resolving conflicts through a restorative process.

The Role of Teachers and Education Support Staff

Every professional educator knows that she/he works every day with this nation’s most precious commodity – the future generation. In view of this responsibility, the professional must, in the classroom, and larger school environment:

maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression) or sex, which will strengthen each student’s positive self-image;
confront issues of discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function;
address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom;
report incidents of discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to a teacher’s attention to the principal, superintendent, or designee within one school day after receiving the report;
plan and conduct a product of instruction that will make learning challenging and stimulating;
plan and conduct instruction on civility and character education, including cyberbullying;
recognize that some disciplinary problems are caused by a student’s personal and academic frustrations;
utilize classroom routines which contribute to the total instructional program and to the student’s development of civic responsibility;
seek to develop close interactive relationships with parents for the educational benefit of the student;
distinguish between minor student misconduct best handled by the teacher and major problems requiring the assistance of the administrator;
teach the common courtesies by precept and example;
handle individual infractions privately and avoid punishing the group for the misbehavior of one or two;
help students cope with negative peer pressure;
identify changing student behavior patterns and notify appropriate personnel;
enable students to discuss their problems with them;
send communications home promptly;
report to the Principal any student who jeopardizes his/her own safety, the safety of others or of the teacher, or who seriously interferes with the instructional program of the classroom;
treat students in an ethical and responsible manner;
help students to reach their maximum potential;
serve as a surrogate parent in matters of behavior and discipline in accordance with New York State School Law;
explain and interpret the discipline code to students;
enforce the code in all areas of the school;
demonstrate desirable standards of behavior through personal example;
know the support services available to students and refer students who are in need of such services;
comply with state education law regarding corporal punishment and mandated reporting of suspected child abuse in a domestic setting and in an educational setting;
in the event of removal from class, inform the student and the Principal of the reason for the removal;
maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law;
immediately report and refer violent students and those who threaten violence to the Principal or superintendent of Schools;
be open to active participation in resolving conflicts through a restorative process.

The Role of Building Administrators

As the educational leaders of the school, our building administrators set the learning and disciplinary climate for the school, not only for students, but for staff as well. Therefore, they must:

promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting active teaching and learning for all students regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, (including gender identity and expression) or sex.
seek to develop a sound and healthful atmosphere of mutual respect;
evaluate the program of instruction in their school to achieve a meaningful educational program;
help their staff self-evaluate their procedures and attitudes in relation to the interaction within their classrooms;
develop procedures and programs which reduce the likelihood of student misconduct;
provide the opportunity for students and staff to approach the Principal directly for redress of grievances;
work with students and staff to formulate school regulations;
assist staff members to resolve problems which may occur;
work closely with parents to establish a wholesome, productive, cooperative relationship between home and school;
utilize all appropriate support staff and community agencies to help parents and students identify problems and seek solutions;
establish and maintain necessary building security;
assume responsibility for the dissemination, explanation and enforcement of the Code of Conduct and ensure that all discipline cases referred are resolved promptly;
insure that students are provided with fair, reasonable, and consistent discipline;
comply with pertinent state laws governing hearings, suspensions, and student rights;
develop behavior guidelines and appeals procedures specific to each assigned school in harmony with this Code of Conduct;
demonstrate desirable standards of behavior through personal example.
maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice,
disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex, which will strengthen each student’s positive self-image;
confront issues of discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function;
address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom;
comply with state education law regarding corporal punishment and mandated reporting of suspected child abuse in a domestic setting and in an educational setting;
maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law;
investigate, report and document incidents of discrimination, harassment, and cyberbullying that are witnessed or otherwise brought to the administrator’s attention in a timely manner;
be open to active participation in resolving conflicts through a restorative process.

The Role of District Administrators

As the educational leaders of the school system, the Superintendent of Schools and central administrators must:

reinforce and extend the indicated responsibilities of the Principals and make them applicable to the school system for grades PreK-12;
recommend to the Board of Education appropriate policy, regulations and budgetary considerations to achieve optimum conditions for positive learning;
develop and implement an effective Code of Conduct supportable by students, parents, staff and community;
demonstrate desirable standards of behavior through personal example;
comply with state education law regarding corporal punishment and mandated reporting of suspected child abuse in a domestic setting and in an educational setting;
maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law;
provide each teacher with a copy of the Code of Conduct;
be open to active participation in resolving conflicts through a restorative process.

The Role of The Board Of Education

As the elected officials in charge of our schools, the Board of Education:

adopts the policies governing the District, including this Code of Conduct;
ensures that the Code of Conduct contains clear behavioral expectations and disciplinary consequences for students, staff and visitors;
ensures that the Code of Conduct is clearly communicated to students, parents, staff and the school community;
ensures that the Code of Conduct is implemented and enforced in a consistent, reasonable, fair and equitable manner;
annually reviews the Code of Conduct and updates it as necessary;
maintains confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law;
complies with state education law and regulations regarding mandated reporting of suspected child abuse in the educational setting.