SERIES 1000 Community Relations
1316 Community Relations
Relations Between Public and School Personnel
Conduct on School Property
The Board of Education expects mutual respect, civility and orderly conduct among all individuals on school property or at school events. District staff will treat parents and other members of the public with respect and expect the same in return. The Board is committed to maintaining orderly educational and administrative processes in keeping schools and administrative offices free from disruptions and preventing unauthorized persons from entering school/district grounds. In order to ensure awareness and understanding of this policy, it will be referenced in each handbook as Policy 1316.
This policy promotes mutual respect, civility and orderly conduct among Board members, district employees, parents and the public. It is not intended to deprive any individual of his/her right to freedom of expression, but only to maintain to the extent possible and reasonable, a safe, harassment-free environment for students and staff.
In the interest of presenting Board members and district employees as positive role models to the students as well as to the community, the Board encourages positive communication and discourages volatile, hostile or aggressive actions. The Board seeks public cooperation with this endeavor.
Based upon the above, the Board expects that no person on school property or at a school event shall:
- Injure, threaten, harass or intimidate a staff member, Board member or any other person;
- Curse and use obscenities;
- Disrupt or threaten to disrupt school or office operations;
- Damage or threaten to damage another’s property;
- Damage or deface district property;
- Violate any Connecticut law or town/city ordinance;
- Smoke or otherwise use tobacco products;
- Consume, possess, distribute, or be under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs, or possess dangerous instruments or weapons;
- Impede, delay, or otherwise interfere with the orderly conduct of the district’s educational program or any other activity occurring on school property;
- Enter upon any portion of the school premises at any time for purposes other than those which are lawful and authorized by the Board;
11. Operate a motor vehicle in a risky manner or in violation of an authorized district employee’s directive; or
12. Violate other district policies or regulations or an authorized district employee’s directive.
Community Relations
Disruptions
- Any individual who disrupts or threatens to disrupt school/office operations, threatens the health and safety of students or staff, willfully causes property damage; uses loud and/or offensive language which could provoke a violent reaction; or who has otherwise established a continued pattern of unauthorized entry on district property, will be directed to leave the school or district property promptly by the Superintendent, Principal or designee.
- If any member of the public uses obscenities or communicates in verbal or written language in a demanding, loud, insulting and/or demeaning manner, the administrator or employee to whom the remarks are directed will calmly and politely admonish the speaker to communicate civilly. If corrective action is not taken by the abusing party, the district employee will verbally notify the abusing party that his/her participation in the meeting, conference or conversation is terminated and, if the meeting or conference is on district premises, the offending person will be directed to leave promptly.
- Disruptions on the part of a staff member or behavior that would be considered insulting or demeaning toward others by a staff member would be treated as described above. Appropriate disciplinary action is to be taken in accordance with applicable Board of Education policies and the current collective bargaining unit agreement.
- When an individual is directed to leave under circumstances outlined in paragraphs 1 or 2, the Superintendent, Principal or designee shall inform the person that he/she may be guilty of a misdemeanor in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes and contact local agencies to report the incident.
- When an individual is in violation of the school conduct policy, the Superintendent, Principal or designee may inform the person that he/she may be suspended from attending any activities, in person, held within any district facility. The Superintendent, Principal or designee will determine the length in which the suspension will remain in effect.
Safety and Security
The Superintendent or designee will ensure that a safety and/or crisis intervention techniques program is provided in order to raise awareness on how to deal with these situations if and when they occur.
When violence is directed against an employee, or theft against property, employees shall promptly report the occurrence to their Principal or supervisor and file a written report.
Once a written report is provided, the Superintendent or designee will conduct an investigation pertaining to the incident in question to determine if a violation of Policy 1316 occurred. If it is determined a violation has occurred, the Superintendent or designee, shall provide a written warning to the person(s) of violation and subsequent corrective action. Correct action includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Involvement of local authorities.
- Suspension from attending all activities, in person, held within any district facilities for a determined period of time.
- Indefinite suspension from attending all activities, in person, held within any district facility.
Relations Between Public and School Personnel
- (cf. 1110.1 - Parent Involvement)
- (cf. 1120 - Public Participation at Board of Education Meetings)
- (cf. 1250 - Visits to Schools)
- (cf. 1251 - Loitering or Causing Disturbances)
- (cf. 1310 - Relations Between the Public and School Personnel)
- (cf. 1312 - Public Complaints)
- (cf. 1330 - Use of School Facilities)
- (cf. 1700 - Otherwise Lawful Possession of Firearms on School Property)
- (cf. 6145.71 - Use of Alcohol by Adults)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
- 1-225 Meetings of the government agents to be public.
- 1-232 Conduct of the meeting
- 10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rule(s), policies, and procedures
- 10-238 Petition for hearing by board of education
- 10-239 Use of school facilities for other purposes
- 53a-185 Loitering in or about school grounds: Class C misdemeanor
Policy Revised: April 21, 2025