Drew Central High School has the internet available to the students and teachers. The internet is a global computer network that connects 30 million people in more that 160 countries. It is impossible to control effectively the content of data and an industrious user may discover controversial material. It is the users responsibility not to initiate access to such material.
If you do not wish to have your child to have access to the availability of the internet, please notify the principal in writing. However, this request may limit your child access to some courses offered.
Students who wish to have an e-mail account must request an E-Mail Account Assignment Contract from the office. E-mail accounts will be assigned when the contract is returned to the office signed by the student and the parent/guardian.
Students will not be allowed to possess electronic devices that will result in disruption of the educational process. Such devices may include, but not limited to: cassette players, CD players, radios, beepers, cellular telephones, and laser pointing devices (Act 1408 of 1999). However, an exemption for possession of such a device by a student who is required to use such a device for health or other compelling reasons.
Violation of this policy will result in:
1st offense: the device will be taken and returned only to the parent
2nd offense: possible suspension
3rd offense: possible expulsion
A student shall comply with reasonable directions or commands of teachers, student teachers, substitute teachers, teacher aides, principals, administrative personnel, superintendent, school bus drivers, school security officers or other authorized scho ol personnel.
Students will be considered insubordinate when they refuse to obey any rule or regulation of the school or school district or the reasonable instructions of school district personnel.
No student shall:
A student shall abstain from indecent and immoral acts.
A student shall not possess, handle or store any gun or weapon on school property, including a designated school bus stop (Act 1282 of 1999). The possession, handling or storing of any gun, firearm or other weapon will subject the individual to a suspension of no less than one (1) year from school, provided, however, that the superintendent shall have discretion to nullify such expulsion requirements for a student on a casebycase basis. (Act 567 or 1995)
A student shall not possess, handle or store firecrackers, smoke bombs, cherry bombs or any other kind of fireworks that reasonably could be a danger to himself/herself or to other students or could be disruptive to the learning climate of the school.
A student shall not participate in any activity which may be termed gambling or wagering where the stakes are any other object or objects of value.
The school district reserves the right to punish behavior which is not conducive to good order and discipline in the schools, even though such behavior is not specified in the preceding written rules
Any instructions or announcements are enforceable after they appear in the memo one time and a student is subject to disciplinary action after the instruction or announcement appears in the memo three times.
The Drew Central Schools may produce school directories containing the names, addresses, phone numbers and grade level of students. The directories may be released by the school. Any parent of students under 18 years old and students 18 years or olde r may request that this information not be released. The principal must be notified by September 15 of the school year in writing if there is a request not to release the information in the directory.
Student with disabilities who engage in misbehavior are subject to normal school disciplinary rules and regulations. If a student with disabilities requires particular discipline procedures, they shall be adopted for that student and included in the I EP by the IEP team. If a student with disabilities is suspended or expelled from school, an alternative educational program will be provided. The counselor of each school will be the grievance officer to review discipline of students with disabilities i f requested by parents or students over the age of 18 years.
All students with disabilities will have an IEP meeting held when the student has been suspended for five (5) days. When a student has been suspended for ten (10) days, his IEP committee will meet, within three (3) days of the occurrence, to determine placement.
The due process rights of students and parents at Drew Central Schools are as follows:
Reasonable discipline may include the administration of corporal punishment to a student in the exercise of sound discretion by a certifies employee, provided that corporal punishment shall not be excessive or unduly severs (Act 333 or 1995).
Corporal punishment can be administered according to the following procedures:
Several means of discipline should be tried before assigning a student to detention hall. Examples are additional work, student conference, parent conference, etc. If a student's behavior is severe enough to warrant detention hall, before these actio ns can be used, the parent should be notified by the person assigning the detention hall. Students assigned to detention hall will report to the study hall room as soon as their class is dismissed for lunch. They will remain in detention hall until the bell rings for the fifth period.
The person in charge of detention hall will bring lunch from the lunchroom for students assigned to detention hall. No lunches will be brought from the lunchroom by anyone else, however, a student may bring lunch from home. A student assigned to dete ntion hall must notify the person in charge before the tardy bell third period if they want lunch from the lunchroom. The student must provide a lunch ticket to the person in charge at the time of the request for lunch. All lunches will be served with w hite milk. Tea or cokes will not be served with the lunches.
Teachers assigning students to detention hall must provide a work assignment for each student. Teachers should require the student to turn in this assignment to the detention hall keeper.
Teachers are to notify students of detention hall assignments and turn in a list of students assigned to detention hall to the principal's office by the end of each day. Each morning, a list of students assigned to detention hall that day will be publ ished in the memo. Teachers should also record the reason for the student assignment to detention hall on the list sent to the office.
The following penalties will occur if a student fails to report to detention hall:
The person in charge of the detention hall will keep accurate records of students in detention hall. The time of arrival for students and their assignments should be recorded by their name. Any student on the list for detention hall that fails to rep ort should have their name turned in to the principal's office before the start of the sixth period. A certified letter will be sent to parents when a child is suspended.
The person in charge of detention hall will also report to the principal's office the names of any students required to serve an extra day in detention hall because of tardiness or disruption during detention hall.
The principal or person in charge of detention hall will write up a set of conduct rules for detention hall. Each student entering detention hall will be asked to read the rules. Any student absent on the day of assignment to detention hall will serve the day on their first day back to school.
Due to detention hall being a punishment, there will be an assignment. If the student does not bring pencil, paper and book (if assigned), they will be excused that day and will serve the following two days.
Any student having to be called down two times during one day in detention hall will be sent to the office, parents will be notified. The student will serve two days unless the principal rules otherwise.
When a student is assigned to detention hall a third time, his/her parents or guardian will be notified. After a student has served three times, his/her parents or guardian will be notified, and a meeting with the principal and teachers will be held. When a student is assigned to detention hall for five (5) or more times during a semester, he/she will be assigned to alternative school. For each subsequent five (5) detention hall assignments, a student will be assigned to alternative school.
The purpose of the alternative school is to provide an opportunity for the student to reevaluate his/her role as a student. The alternative school is a structured environment using the "merit" system. If the student follows the rules of the alternat ive school, that student will "merit" the right to return to the regular classroom after the original assignment has been completed. The assignment to the alternative school can and will be extended if the student's conduct is not satisfactory.
A student may be assigned to alternative school only three (3) times during any single semester and only four (4) times during the entire school year. The first alternative school assignment will be for a minimum of three (3) days. The second assignm ent will be for a minimum of five (5) days. The third and fourth assignments will be for a minimum of ten (10) days. Assignments may be extended due to the seriousness of the violation. Any student qualifying for alternative school four (4) times durin g any single semester or five (5) times during the school year will be recommended for expulsion.
Each day missed of an alternative school assignment due to excused or unexcused absences must be made up. Unexcused absences will result in making the day up and serving one extra day for each unexcused absence. An absence will be excused by a note f rom a doctor's office if the note is received the day the student returns to school. If a student is sick but does not go to the doctor, the absence will be excused only if a parent/guardian calls the principal's office the day the absence occurs and con firms that the student is home sick.
While assigned to alternative school, a student may not participate in or attend any school activities involving Drew Central Schools at home or away. If a student attempts to do so, he/she will be asked to leave and will be assigned one extra day of alternative school.
If a student transfers to another school district before completing his/her alternative school assignment, that student will be required to complete the assignment before returning to regular classes at Drew Central.
Total cooperation from each student assigned to alternative school will be expected. Failure to report to alternative school when assigned may result in a recommendation for expulsion from school. Insubordination or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. If it is necessary to remove a student from alternative school before he/she completes the alternati ve school assignment, he/she will be recommended to the Drew Central school board for expulsion.
A copy of the rules of operation will be given to the student the first day of the alternative school assignment. Refusal to comply with these rules will result in extra days added to the original assignment. The first and second incidents of unsatis factory conduct will result in one extra day added to the original assignment. The third incident of unsatisfactory conduct will require a conference with a parent/guardian, the student, the alternative school director and the principal. The student wil l not return to school until a parent/guardian is able to come in for a conference. Parents will be informed that a fourth incident of unsatisfactory conduct will result in a recommendation for expulsion.
State laws and State Board of Education regulations permit local school officials to suspend students who are unwilling to behave in an acceptable manner and fail to abide by district attendance policies. Due process must be provided.
Suspension Procedure
A. The principal of any school or designee is authorized to suspend students form school for disciplinary reasons up to ten school days, including the day upon which the suspension was initially imposed.
B. Prior to such suspension, the principal or designee shall inform the student either orally or in writing about the infraction.
C. If the student denies the charges, the principal shall explain to him/her the evidence which forms a basis of the charges and shall permit the student to present his/her side of the story.
D. Additionally, the parent will be mailed a copy of the suspension and notice which shall include the reasons for the suspension and its duration.
E. When a student has been notified that he/she is suspended from school, he/she may remain away from school premises until the principal or designee reinstates him/her, except that a suspended student may return to the school premises when accompani ed by his/her parent or guardian for a studentparentprincipal conference.
F. If, in the conference, no decision is reached by the principal for reinstatement of the student or if any suspended student or his/her parent or guardian (when the student is a minor) requests a hearing before the superintendent, the principal or designee shall extend the suspension of the student and shall furnish the superintendent of schools with a full report on the suspension within a period of five days from the request.
G. The superintendent of schools or designee shall have the authority to revoke, terminate or otherwise modify the suspension and will notify the principal and parents of his actions within five days of receipt of the principal's report.
H. Notwithstanding the policy concerning suspension and expulsion, students may be suspended indefinitely without notice, hearing and the other rights provided herein having been first given if the school is undergoing a violent upheaval or if orderl y educational processes have otherwise been substantially disrupted. This would apply only in rare instances such as riots or where emergency circumstances make it unreasonable for the administration and board to consider the case within the usual ti me. In all such cases, notices, hearing and other rights shall be provided in accordance with the normal provisions at the earliest practical date after order is restored.
I. Students will NOT be allowed to make up work following a school-imposed suspension.
A. The principal of a school may recommend that a student be expelled from school with loss of credit. A written recommendation to the superintendent shall include a statement of charge against the student.
B. If the superintendent concurs with recommendation, he/she shall schedule a hearing before the school board.
C. The school board may expel a student for the remainder of the semester, for the remainder of the school year or permanently for conduct which seems to be of such seriousness as to make a suspension inappropriate where it finds that the student's continued attendance at school would be unacceptable disruptive to the educational program.
D. In every case of a hearing held by the school board regarding the expulsion of a student, the president of the board, or in his/her absence, another member selected by the board shall preside at the hearing. The student shall be entitled to repre sentation by a lawyer or lay counsel.
E. The superintendent or designee shall present evidence and may present witnesses or statements of those persons who have personal knowledge of the events or circumstances which give rise to the expulsion recommendation at the hearing.
F. The student or representative may then present witnesses or statements by witnesses with personal knowledge of events or circumstances relevant to the issues.
G. During the course of the hearing, if the board determines that the credibility of any of the witnesses is at issue, it will permit crossexamination by the student, the superintendent or their representatives of those witnesses whose credibility h as become an issue.
H. Crossexamination will be limited to the question or questions on which the credibility of the witness has become an issue.
I. The student may observe all evidence offered against him/her.
J. Members of the board may question any witness.
K. At the conclusion of the hearing, the board may discuss the matter and dispose of it by vote.
L. If the board does not expel the pupil with loss of credit, it may impose less severe disciplinary actions, such as longterm suspension, which may be with or without opportunity for makeup of school work. The board shall briefly state its findin gs in writing within ten days after the hearing.
M. The school administration has the responsibility to present the evidence to the board and the administration is entitled to open and conclude the hearings.
N. The president of the board or the presiding officer has the authority to limit unproductively long or irrelevant questioning by nonboard members.
When two or more students are charged with violating the same rule and have acted in concert and the facts are basically the same for all such students, a single hearing may be conducted for them if the president of the board believes the following con ditions exist:
If, during the hearing, the president finds that a student's interest will be substantially prejudiced by the group hearing, a separate hearing may be ordered for the student.
The Drew County School Within A School program (SWAS) is designed to continue educational service to students who would otherwise lose academic opportunity due to out of school suspension or expulsion. Placement there is mandatory to complete before returning to Drew Central. This program administrated by resource police officers with military background allows the student to maintain academic credit while learning personal discpline and leadership skills. The School Within A School is maintained through joint effort of the Drew Central Public Schools, Monticello Public Schools, Arkansas Juvenile Justice System, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
The Drew Central Alternative Learning Environment (DCALE) is an
educational setting which offers nontraditional/flexible instructional
methods that enable all students to participate in the education process.
The nontraditional/flexible instructional methods used
by the DCALE include, but are not limited to, flexible time frames,
variable credit delivery systems, applied learning, integrated curriculum,
and work-based learning. It is essential that students are highly
motivated and capable of working independently. Due to the fact that each
student works on an individualized program, as well as class programs,
successful independent work will be essential to achievement.
The main objective of the Drew Central Alternative Learning Environment is
to provide the opportunity for students to complete a high school diploma
or General Educational Development (GED) diploma. We offer this program in
order to deal with the areas in a
student's life that are causing the student to be "at risk". An academic
program is set up for each student on an individual basis. Upon entering
DCALE, each student is evaluated and an Individual Education Plan(IEP) is
developed to meet the student's needs. Students assigned to DCALE will be
governed by the Drew Central High School
handbook and polices, plus those enforced by the DCALE administrator and
school administration.
Personal and family problems, along with academic distress are situations
and conditions that are considered when evaluating a student for the DCALE
program. These situations can negatively affect a student's academic
progress and that will be taken into consideration by administration when
determining a student's academic future. These may include, but are not
limited to pregnancy, being a single, teen parent, personal or family
mental and physical inadequate emotional support and gang involvement.
Also any student who has exhausted the allowed A-school assignment and any
student whose classroom behavior is detrimental expulsion. A student will
be assigned to ALE for less than forty(40) consecutive school days. A
parent or guardian, school counselor, and at least one of the student's
teachers and other persons knowledgeable of the student, should
confer with the ALE administrator and the student to determine the
student's needs and to document how the ALE can meet those needs.
A student will be assigned to ALE for the remainder of the semester and/or
school year, depending on the student's behavior after being assigned to
ALE. Students will be evaluated on an "ongoing" basis to determine if
behavior has improved or if program should be adjusted to meet student's
immediate needs. If after a semester
in ALE, the student's behavior and grades have significantly improved
enough to warrant a chance to show that he or she has learned to behave in
an orderly fashion within the regular classroom setting, the DCHS
Administration and the DCALE administrator will evaluate the situation
meet with the student to discuss behavior, and allow student
to return to the classroom. This is one of the most important objectives
of the DCALE.
If for some unforeseen reason a student should refuse to complete his ALE
assignment or to act according to the DCALE guidelines, or has excessive
absences, that student will be recommended for immediate referral to our
juvenile court system. The student will then be recommended for such
placement as boot camp, residential placement, or DHS intervention.
In summary, admission to ALE will be determined by the DCHS administration
based on:
1. students' who would otherwise probably not earn a diploma, need to earn
a GED
2. students who have exceeded the limits of the discipline ladder
3. students who display disruptive behavior which interferes with the
student's own learning, or the educational process of others and requires
attention and assistance beyond what the traditional program provides;
behavior that severely threatens the general welfare of others; and /or
frequent conflicts of a disruptive nature while the student is under the
jurisdiction of the school, either in or out of the classroom.
While assigned to DCALE, students will adhere to the following:
1. DCALE students will not be allowed to "socialize" or otherwise
"associate" with the other Drew Central students while on campus. Students
will remain isolated at all times. Students will be accompanied by the
administrator and/or aide at the times.
2. DCALE students who are display disruptive discipline problems will not
be allowed to ride the Drew Central school buses. Once students who are
discipline problems are assigned to ALE, these students will be expected
to provide his/her own transportation to and from school. Other students
assigned to DCALE for non discipline reasons will be evaluated on an
individual basis, or on an as needed basis for transportation.
3. DCALE students will be given weekly assignment sheets with lessons due
on Friday. Students will have lessons form all their regular classes
along with life skills and will be guided by the DCALE administrator/
teacher while completing the lessons successfully.
4. Students will also be evaluated on a weekly basis. Students will be
told every week of the areas in which improvement is needed and success
have been attained.
5. Any student who becomes disruptive in the DCALE classroom will be dealt
with first by the administrator's guidelines. If the problem persists,
student will be taken to the high school and/or junior high school
principal, depending on the student's grade level.
6. ALE students will attend JTPA workshops that will help build character
and give positive instruction to the students.
7. ALE students will be taught "life skill" classes along with regular
classroom subjects. These classes will help the students learn basic
skills needed in everyday life to become self sufficient.
8. DCALE students will not be allowed to "wander" around campus without
being escorted by a member of the DCALE staff. In emergency situations,
reliable students will be trusted with a hall pass. Students who have had
serious discipline problems will remain in DCALE unless accompanied by
member of DCALE staff.
DCALE students will be confined to the DCALE building except for:
- Breakfast/ lunch in the cafeteria ( before lunch for high school
students)
- Periodic visits to the school library
- Physical education/ exercise two-three times a week
- Ten minute morning break (students remain inside for this break)
- Lunch (between senior high and junior high lunch. Students will only be
allowed to go outside if behavior has been satisfactory)
- School assemblies ( only if behavior has been satisfactory and with
prior approval from principal)
9. DCALE students will not be allowed to attend after school functions,
such as basketball games, choir concerts, etc. without prior permission
from his/her principal and DCALE administrator.
10. DCALE students will still be eligible for free/ reduced lunch program.
Dress Code
DCALE students will follow the district approved dress code policy in
the Drew Central High School Handbook.
Community Service Projects
It is important that a student see himself/herself as a part of a
larger community and not isolated individual. In an effort to create and
install this sense of purpose and belonging, all
students enrolled DCALE will from time to time participate in community
service projects. Projects will be designed to meet the individual needs
and interest of the student.
WORKSHOPS
DCALE student will participate in weekly workshops in conjunction
with adult education and JTPA students. A variety of pertinent topics
will be examined.
TESTING AND INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS
Upon admission to DCALE, all students will be given the TABE( Test of
Adult Basic Education) test for the purpose of placement in an individual
program.
Those students pursuing a GED diploma will be placed in an individual
program using the PLATO Learning System, GED preparation materials, and a
variety of supplemental materials as needed.
ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICY
1. All students enrolled in DCALE are required to attend class
daily from 8:00A.M. until 3:00P.M.
2. Taking into account individual circumstances and the value of
real world experiences, arrangements may be made for students who are
eligible to work:
A. Attendance is very important!
B. If a student holds a job and can provide documentation to
employment, he/she may be released at 12:00 to go to work. Student's
grades must be up to par, all assignments must be up to date, and student
must display appropriate behavior.
3. All attendance policies set forth by the State of Arkansas
and/or the Drew Central School District will apply to all DCALE students.
Any student missing an excess of ten(10) days per semester will be
referred to court.
4. A DCALE student requesting to leave campus prior to the end of
the school day must have a parent or guardian to check out.
5. Students are required to be attendance by 8:00A.M.. Any one
arriving after this time is considered tardy. Three tardies constitute one
absence according to school policy. THIS POLICY WILL BE STRICTLY
ENFORCED.
PLACEMENT IN THE DCALE PROGRAM IS A SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE
DREW CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IN AN EFFORT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
ALL STUDENTS. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS PLACEMENT IS A PRIVILEGE
PROVIDED ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW, A "NO
TOLERANCE" POLICY APPLIES TO DISCIPLINE INFRACTIONS. ALL
DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS ARE HANDLED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND
MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM.
It is the policy of the Drew Central School District not to discriminate on the basis of sex or race in the educational program, activities or employment policies as requested by Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments. Inquiries regarding complia nce with Title IX may be directed to Carolyn Andrews, 440 Highway 83 South, Monticello, AR 71655, phone 3675235, or the director of the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, D.C.
Grievances concerning sex discrimination in the Drew Central School District shall be presented in writing to Carolyn Andrews, at the above address. The complaint shall contain the reason for the grievance and the name of the person against whom alleg ations of discrimination are made. All persons involved in the complaint will be notified within five (5) days from the date of the complaint and action taken within ten (10) days to dispose of the complaint.
Any person not satisfied with the disposition of complaints may file an appeal in writing within five (5) days to President, Drew Central School Board, 440 Highway 83 South, Monticello, AR 71655. Adopted, 1996.
It is the policy of the Drew Central School District to provide equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, qualified handicap or veteran in its educational programs and activities. This includes, but is not limited t o, admissions, educational services, financial aid and employment. Inquiries concerning application of this policy may be refereed to:
Carolyn Andrews, Equity Coordinator 440 Highway 83 South Monticello, AR 71655 Phone: 3675235
Address and Telephone Numbers
Address:
Drew Central School
440 Highway 83 South
Monticello, AR 71655
Telephones:
Area Code is 870
Elementary Counselor 367-8285
Elementary School 367-6893
367-6894
Carolyn Andrews 367-5235
Gym & Cafeteria 367-6011
High School Counselor 367-5511
Senior High School 367-6076
Assistant HS Principal 367-0133
Superintendent 367-5369
Red Brick Elementary 367-3545
Vocational Building 367-8411
Bus Shop 367-3266
SR. HIGH JR. HIGH
8:00 First Bell 8:00 First Bell
8:02 1/2 Tardy Bell 8:02.5 Tardy Bell
8:02 1/2-8:57.5 First Period 8:02.5-8:57.5 First Period
9:02 1/2-9:55 Second Period 9:02.5-9:55 Second Period
10:00-10:52.5 Third Period 10:00-10:52.5 Third Period
10:57.5-11:50 Fourth Period 10:57.5-11:50 Fourth Period
11:50-12:17.5 LUNCH 11:55-12:50 Fifth Period
12:20-1:15 Fifth Period 12:50-1:17.5 LUNCH
1:20-2:12.5 Sixth Period 1:20-2:12.5 Sixth Period
2:17.5-3:10 Seventh Period 2:17.5-3:10 Seventh Period
End of Four Week Grading Period Send Out Progress Reports (Wednesday) September 15 September 20 November 17 November 21 (Tuesday) January 26 January 31 April 13 April 18 End of Nine Week Grading Period Send Out Report Cards October 20 October 30(Parent/Teacher Conference) December 19 January 12 March 9 March 16(Parent/Teacher Conference) May 24 May 31
Back to Index
2000 - 2001
High School Registration August 7-10
Pre-School Conference for certified personnel August 14-17
1st Day of School August 21
Closed for Labor Day September 4
Flex Day (No Students) October 4
1st Quarter (44 Days) October 20
End of 1st Nine Weeks October 20
Parent/Teacher Conference (12-6 pm) October 30
Flex Day (No Students) November 2
Closed for AEA Meetings November 3
Closed for Thanksgiving November 22-24 (Wed-Fri)
End of Semester December 19
Last Day of School Before Christmas December 19
(Tuesday)
First Day of School After Christmas January 2
(Tuesday)
Second Quarter (41 Days) January 5
School Closed for M. L. King’s Birthday January 15
Flex Day (No Students) January 16
Flex Day (No Students) February 28
End of Third Nine Weeks March 9
Third Quarter (44 Days) March 9
Parent/Teacher Conference (2:00 - 7:00 PM) March 16
Closed for Spring Break March 19-23
Flex Day (No Students) April 13
Graduation May 8 - 8:00 p.m.
Last Day of School May 24
Fourth Quarter (49 Days) May 24
Teacher Workday May 25
Total Instructional Days 178
Total Days for Personnel 185