5006 - (JIC) Student Conduct

The Milford School Board is committed to promoting a safe, healthy, orderly, and supportive
school and learning environment. To achieve that for all, it is important for students to conduct
themselves in a manner fitting to their age level and maturity, and with respect and
consideration for other students, Milford School District personnel, and other members of the
community. Students are expected and required to maintain appropriate behavior that allows
teachers and staff to perform their professional duties effectively and without disruption, while
they are on District property or on property within the jurisdiction of the District (including
vehicles) and while attending or engaged in school activities.

Expectations for student conduct and standards of behavior shall be communicated through
written Board policies as well as District and school rules. Those policies and rules are
included in a Student Code of Conduct for each school.

Student conduct that causes material or substantial disruption to the school environment,
interferes with the rights of others, presents a threat to the health and safety of students,
employees, or visitors, or violates the Student Code of Conduct or classroom rules is
prohibited. The Board believes that the response to violations of the Student Code of Conduct,
should be designed to maximize student academic, emotional and social success, at the same
time assuring safety of all students, staff and school visitors. With this objective, the Board
endorses adoption of a Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavioral Health and Wellness
(“MTSS-B”) as the framework for the Student Code of Conduct. District personnel who interact
with students are expected to utilize progressive disciplinary measures and to place emphasis
on educating students so they may grow in self-discipline. Suspensions and expulsions shall
be administered consistent with the applicable Student Code of Conduct and Board policy 5055
(JICD).

The Board delegates to the Superintendent, in consultation with the appropriate building
Principal and counselors, the responsibility of adopting and implementing a Student Code of
Conduct with such age-appropriate rules and regulations for each school as they deems
necessary to implement the objectives of this policy, and which reflects the three-tiered support
prevention framework of MTSS-B: school-wide approaches; targeted supports for at-risk
students; and individualized services for highest-needs students.

The Student Code of Conduct for each school shall be submitted to the Board for review each
year, either separately or with the applicable student handbook. Consistent with the Board's
statutory authority and other Board policies regarding review of administrative rules, regulations
and procedures, the Board retains the authority to modify, supersede, or suspend any provision
of the Student Code of Conduct.

The Student Code of Conduct shall include:

1. A graduated and age-appropriate system of supports and intervention strategies, such as:

• • parent conferences, 
  • counseling, 
  • peer mediation, 
  • instruction in conflict resolution and anger management, 
  • parent counseling and training, 
  • community service, and
  • rearranging class schedules.

2. Graduated and age-appropriate disciplinary consequences such as:

• • restriction from extra-curricular activities, 
  • temporary (same day) removal from class or activity,
  • detention, 
  • temporary reassignment/in-school suspension, 
  • out-of-school suspension, and 
  • expulsion.

3. Provisions describing how and when short-term suspensions of up to 5 days, short-term
   suspensions up to 10 days, long-term suspensions up to 20 days, and/or expulsion should
   be imposed. These standards shall make reference to and reflect:

• • the nature and degree of disruption caused to the school environment;
  • the threat to the health and safety of pupils and school personnel, volunteers or visitors;
  • whether the conduct or behavior is isolated or repeated.

 

All temporary (same day) removal from classrooms or activities, restriction from activities,
detentions, suspensions and expulsions shall comport with applicable laws, regulations and
Board Policy 5005 (JICD).

C. Implementation and Notice

 

The Superintendent shall assure that the Student Code of Conduct, complete with the
information set out in section B.4, above, shall be printed in full in each student handbook,
made available to parents at the beginning of the school year, and made publicly available on
the District website. Additionally, Building Principals shall ensure that verbal recitation of the
applicable Student Code of Conduct is available as needed.

Except where the complete text of a statute, regulation, or policy is required, the Student Code
of Conduct should include age-appropriate language. (e.g., summaries for elementary grade
levels).

Additionally, building Principal(s) shall assure student awareness of the Student Code of
Conduct and other District policies and building rules through print, postings and periodic
announcements.

The Superintendent will designate personnel to explore the availability of and pursue any State
or Federal grants, technical assistance and professional development opportunities to facilitate
implementation of MTSS-B per RSA 135-F:5, I(c) and (d).

Pursuant to RSA 193-D:4, I (b), the Superintendent is directed to adopt and implement
procedures requiring parents/guardians of each student involved in a simple assault (victim and
perpetrator) occurring during the school day to be notified when such assault causes any form
of bodily injury, including bruising or discoloration, or would otherwise constitute a disciplinable
offense under the Student Code of Conduct. For purposes of this policy, "simple assault" shall
have the same meaning as that provided in RSA 631:2-a (a simple assault occurs when one
purposefully or knowingly causes bodily injury or unprivileged physical contact to another, or
recklessly causes bodily injury to another, or negligently causes bodily injury to another by
means of a deadly weapon). 

If a student is disabled under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), the New Hampshire
RSA 186-C, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act,
or any other law providing special rights to disabled students, those laws shall govern and shall
supersede these local policies to the extent these local policies are inconsistent with those
laws. Accordingly, any class or activity removal, suspension, or expulsion of a child with a
disability as defined in Ed 1102.01(t) shall be in accordance with Ed 1124.01.

 

 

Legal References:

 

RSA 135-F:5, System of Care for Children/Duties of Commissioner of Dept. of Education
RSA 186-C, Special Education
RSA 193:13, Suspension and Expulsion of Pupils
RSA 193-D:4, Written Report Required
RSA 631:2-a, Simple Assault
Ed 1102.01, Definitions
Ed 1124.01, Disciplinary Procedures
NH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed. 306.04(f)(4), Student Discipline
NH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed. 306.04(g), Suspension & Expulsion
NH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed. 306.06, Culture and Climate
NH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed. 317.04(b, Disciplinary Procedures

 

Adopted: 3/7/2022
Revised: 6/2/2026