Harassment/Bullying

The Riverview School District is committed to a safe and civil educational environment for all students, employees, parents/guardians, volunteers, and patrons, and will not tolerate any harassment or bullying. All persons are to be treated with respect and dignity.

The District will take all complaints of harassment and bullying seriously and will act to investigate all complaints. The District Harassment/Bullying Policy and Procedures explain the Informal and Formal Complaint Process and provide a report form for filing a complaint.

An Informal Complaint is investigated by the Compliance Officer with appeals to the Superintendent, followed by the School Board.

The District encourages administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents/guardians, volunteers, and other community members to participate in maintaining a clear expectation of civil conduct and proactive problem-solving throughout the school district.

Uncivil conduct, like other forms of disruptive behavior, interferes with a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its students.

Anthony Smith, smitha@riverview.wednet.edu
Riverview School District Office
425-844-4520

Title IX Compliance Officer
Affirmative Action Officer
Harassment/Bullying Compliance Officer
Sexual Harassment Officer
Discipline Hearing Officer

Student Disciplinary Hearing

Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing

Prior to a long-term suspension or expulsion of a student, written Notice of Opportunity for a hearing shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to the student and/or parent/guardian.

When should a Hearing be Requested?

Upon the imposition of a long-term suspension or expulsion, the student, parent or guardian should request a hearing if they believe:

The charges are not true; or
The school administration did not follow district rules and regulations; or
The student has been deprived of his/her due process or rights; or
The disciplinary action is unreasonable.

Requesting a Hearing

A written request, by the student and/or parent/guardian, for a hearing must be delivered to the Superintendent's Office within three (3) school days after the receipt of the Notice of Opportunity for a hearing. The school district shall schedule a hearing within three (3) school days after the date the written request for a hearing was received from the student or parent/guardian. If a written request for a hearing is not received within the three (3) school days, the District may consider the student and his/her parent/guardian to have waived the right to a hearing with no further opportunity for the student or parent/guardian to contest the matter.

Who will be present at the hearing?

Unless specified otherwise, student disciplinary hearings are closed. Those present will be the District's Hearing Officer, principal or designee, student, parent or guardian and counsel, if desired. Witnesses, if any, will be present only during the period of their individual testimony.

The Hearing Process

Either a tape-recorded or verbatim record of the hearing shall be made.

The Hearing Officer opens the hearing by explaining the hearing process and ground rules and by answering any procedural questions. The Hearing Officer is in charge of the hearing and controls the proceedings. The school administrator presents a brief opening statement to explain the charges against the student, the rule(s) or regulation violated, the evidence presented, and the disciplinary action imposed.
The student/parent/guardian presents a brief opening statement explaining the reasons for contesting the disciplinary action.

If the student represents himself or is represented by a parent/ guardian, the hearing officer will make certain no advantage is taken of the person's unfamiliarity with the hearing process. If an attorney represents the student, an attorney will also represent the school administration.

The school administrator presents evidence in the form of exhibits, written statements or witnesses. The student/ parent / guardian may challenge any evidence and question witnesses;
The student/parent/guardian presents evidence in the form of exhibits, written statements or witnesses. The school administrator may challenge any evidence and question witnesses. The school administrator briefly summarizes the school's case. The student/parent/guardian briefly summarizes the student's case. In addition, an explanation may be given on why the disciplinary action is believed unreasonable. If the charges are found to be based upon erroneous information or if the evidence is insufficient to support the charges, the student returns immediately to his or her previous status with the school. The Hearing Officer makes a decision based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing and on the reasonableness of the disciplinary action after considering:
1. the seriousness of the violation
2. the circumstances surrounding the violation
3. the student's prior history
4. consistency of the disciplinary action with the imposed previously by the school in similar cases.
A written decision by the Hearing Officer stating the findings of fact, conclusions and the disciplinary action or punishment, if any, shall be provided to the student and his/her parent/guardian.

If the student or parent / guardian wishes to appeal the decision of the Hearing Officer, a written notice of appeal must be provided to the Superintendent's Office within three (3) school days following the date of receipt of the Hearing Officers decision.

Rights of Students

To a timely written notice of the reason for the disciplinary action.
To inspect, in advance of the hearing, the evidence the suspending school administrator intends to submit.
To a closed hearing.
To be represented by an attorney or other counsel.
To present evidence, including the testimony of witnesses.
To challenge the evidence, including the testimony of witnesses, presented by the school administrator.
To a timely written decision from the Hearing Officer.
To appeal the decision of the Hearing Officer to the Board of Directors within three (3) school business days after receiving the Hearing Officer's decision.

The Riverview School District shall provide equal employment opportunity and treatment for all applicants and staff in recruitment, hiring, retention, assignment, transfer, promotion and training. Such equal employment opportunity shall be provided without discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status or qualified individuals with disabilities. The District shall comply with the requirements and objectives of state and federal laws that are the basis for this policy.

Definitions

Short-term suspension is defined as the exclusion of a student from school, after the immediate class period, for a maximum of ten (10) consecutive school days. The school/ parent/guardian may request an informal appeal conference with the school principal, but not a hearing. Long-term suspension is the exclusion from school for a minimum of eleven (11) to a maximum of sixty (60) consecutive school days, and a hearing can be requested. Emergency expulsion is an immediate removal from school for an indefinite period of time, based on a clear and present danger to the student, to others, or a disruption to the educational process, and a hearing can be requested.
Expulsion is the denial of attendance for an indefinite period of time due to exceptional misconduct and a hearing can be requested.

References

Student Rights and Responsibilities are explained in Board Policies and Procedures.

Site Content