Brewster Central School District
Code of Conduct 2022-2023

VI.  Essential Partners

All members of our learning community – including students, school staff, parents and engaged service providers – must assume a responsible role in promoting behavior that enhances academic and social success. Courteous, respectful, and responsible behavior fosters a positive climate in the learning community.

Those responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

1. Parents
   
   The role that parents play in their child’s learning and overall development is paramount and unparalleled.  In order to optimize student learning and development the school must partner with parents in support of their child’s learning goals.  The Code assists in providing a guide for 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 goal, all parents are asked to:
   1. Recognize and embrace the necessary partnership with the school community in order to optimize their child’s educational opportunities.
   2. Send their children to school ready to participate and learn.
   3. Ensure their children attend school regularly and on time.
   4. Ensure absences are excused.
   5. Ensure their children are dressed and groomed in a manner consistent with the student dress code.
   6. Help their children understand that in a democratic society appropriate rules are required to maintain a safe, orderly environment.
   7. Know school rules and help their children understand them so that their children can help create a safe, respectful, supportive school environment.
   8. Convey to their children a supportive attitude toward education and the District.
   9. Build positive, constructive relationships with teachers, other parents and their children's friends.
   10. Tell school officials about any concerns or complaints in a respectful and timely manner.
   11. Help their children deal effectively with peer pressure.
   12. Inform school officials of changes in the home situation that may affect student conduct or performance.
   13. Provide a place for study and ensure homework assignments are completed.
   14. Be respectful and courteous to staff, other parents/guardians and students while on school premises.
       
       
2. Staff
   
   The Code is a guide for supporting positive student behavior at school. It is intended to help staff prevent student misconduct through the use of effective strategies and systems. It will provide guidance for intervening effectively and appropriately if students do not meet expected standards of behavior or violate the school rules and policies. Concerns about safety and school climate should be brought to the school principal so staff can work together to maintain a safe and orderly learning and work environment.
   
   
   1. Teachers
      To best support a positive and enriching learning environment, all District teachers are expected to:
      1. 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 students' self-worth and promote confidence to learn.
      2. Be prepared to teach.
      3. Demonstrate interest in teaching and concern for students and student achievement.
      4. Know school policies and rules, and enforce them in a fair, timely, and consistent manner.
      5. Maintain confidentiality in conformity with federal and state law.
      6. Address issues of 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.
      7. Communicate to students and parents:
         1. Course objectives and requirements
         2. Marking/grading procedures
         3. Assignment deadlines
         4. The status of student growth and achievement, especially if there is a change in academic performance or behavior
            
            
   2. School Counselors
      1. 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.
      2. Assist students in coping with peer pressure and emerging personal, social and emotional problems.
      3. Initiate teacher/student/counselor conferences and parent/ teacher/ student/ counselor conferences, as necessary, as a way to resolve problems.
      4. Regularly review with students their educational progress and career plans.
      5. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
      6. Provide information to assist students with career planning.
      7. Encourage students to benefit from the curriculum and extracurricular programs.
      8. Make known to students and families the resources in the community that are available to meet their needs.
      9. Participate in school-wide efforts to provide adequate supervision in all school spaces.
      10. Address issues of 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.
      11. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students.
      12. Be open to active participation in resolving conflicts through a restorative process.
          
          
   3. Other School Personnel
      1. 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.
      2. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
      3. Be familiar with the Code.
      4. Help children understand the District’s expectations for maintaining a safe, orderly environment.
      5. Participate in school-wide efforts to provide adequate supervision in all school spaces.
      6. Address issues of 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.
      7. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students.
      8. Be open to active participation in resolving conflicts through a restorative process.
         
         
   4. Administrators
      1. 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.
      2. Ensure that students and staff have the opportunity to communicate regularly with the principal/administrators and have access to the principal/administrators for redress of grievances.
      3. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
      4. Evaluate on a regular basis all instructional programs to ensure infusion of civility education in the curriculum.
      5. Support the development of, and student participation in, appropriate extracurricular activities.
      6. Provide support in the development of the Code, when called upon.  Disseminate the Code and anti-harassment policies.
      7. Be responsible for enforcing the Code and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly.
      8. Participate in school-wide efforts to provide adequate supervision in all school spaces.
      9. Address issues of 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.
      10. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students and staff.
      11. Be open to active participation in resolving conflicts through a restorative process.
          
          
   5. The Dignity Act Coordinator(s)
      
      The Dignity Act Coordinator(s) are as follows:
      Brewster High School, Assistant Principal, Mr. Carlos Rodriguez,
      (845) 279-5051 x1137, crodriguez@brewsterschools.org
      
      Wells Middle School, Assistant Principal, Ms. Alicia Manguso,
      (845) 279-3702 x2134, amanguso@brewsterschools.org
      
      C.V. Starr Intermediate School, Assistant Principal, Mr. Paul Stellacci
      (845) 279-4018 x3117, pstellacci@brewsterschools.org
      
      JFK Elementary School, Assistant Principal, Mr. John Conroy,       
      (845) 279-2087 x4114, jconroy@brewsterschools.org
      
      Their duties are as follows:
      1. 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, gender (including gender identity and expression) or sex.
      2. Oversee and coordinate the work of the District-wide and building-level Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) committees.
      3. Identify curricular resources that support infusing civility in classroom instruction and classroom management; and provide guidance to staff as to how to access and implement those resources.
      4. Coordinate, with the Professional Learning Team, training in support of PBIS.
      5. Address and investigate issues of 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.
      6. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students and staff.
         
         
   6. Superintendent (or designee)
      1. 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, gender (including gender identity and expression) or sex.
      2. Inform the Board about educational trends relating to student discipline.
      3. Review with District administrators the policies of the Board of Education and state and federal laws relating to school operations and management.
      4. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
      5. Work to create instructional programs that minimize incidents of inappropriate behavior and are sensitive to student and teacher needs.
      6. Work with District administrators in encouraging a positive school climate, enforcing the Code and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and equitably.
      7. Participate in school-wide efforts to provide adequate supervision in all school spaces.
      8. Address issues of 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.
      9. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students and staff.
         
         
   7. Board of Education
      1. 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, gender or sex.
      2. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal and state law.
      3. Develop and recommend a budget that provides programs and activities that support achievement of the goals of the Code.
      4. Collaborate with student, teacher, administrator, and parent organizations, school safety personnel and other school personnel to develop a Code that clearly defines expectations for the conduct of students, District personnel and visitors on school property and at school functions.
      5. Adopt and review at least annually the District's Code to evaluate the Code's effectiveness and the fairness and consistency of its implementation.
      6. Lead by example by conducting Board meetings in a professional, respectful, courteous manner.
      7. Address issues of 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.
      8. Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students and staff.
      9. Be open to active participation in resolving conflicts through a restorative process.

For more information on reporting options for the Dignity Act, please visit this link.