• Student Responsibilities, Rights, Limitations:

    Criminal Acts – Any act occurring on school premises or at school-sponsored events which is contrary to the laws of the State of Washington, the ordinances of the City of Othello, or Adams County is prohibited by these regulations. Parents, Police, and juvenile authorities will be notified of all criminal acts and restitution may be required as part of the corrective action taken by the school.  Students may be emergency expelled and/or have a formal hearing as students may face short term suspension, long term suspension, or expulsion for violation of the criminal acts policy. Some specific criminal acts are defined as follows:

    1. Dangerous behavior - A person shall not cause damage to property or physically injure others or oneself, or behave in such a way as could reasonably cause damage to property or physically injure any person.
    2. Impairing/Controlled substances – A student shall not possess, use, transmit, sell, distribute, be under the influence of, or show evidence of having used any narcotic or hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, alcoholic beverage, or any other controlled, dangerous, or impairing substance on school district property or any school authorized function.  
    3. Damage– A student shall not intentionally or negligently cause or attempt to cause damage to school or private property while under the school’s jurisdiction. Restitution may be required and student grades, transcripts, and diplomas will be withheld until all fees and fines have been paid.
    4. Extortion, Blackmail, Coercion, or Theft – A student shall not obtain money, property, or procure any wrongful act by extortion, blackmail, or coercion, (to force someone to do something against his/her will by force, threat of force, or intimidation), etc.
    5. Weapons - A student shall not possess, handle or transfer any weapon or any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon.
    6. Gang Activities and Intimidation - Examples of gang activity or promotion of gang activity includes gang attire (to be determined by a building administrator and/or school resource officer), gang related drawings, symbols, and/or gang related hand signs, noises, or gestures.  A student may be suspended or expelled if the student is a member of a gang and knowingly engages in gang activity on school grounds.  (RCW 28A.600).  Gang intimidation is a class C felony and is defined in RCW 28A.600.455.
    7. Tobacco/E-cigarettes – The use and/or possession of tobacco or electronic cigarettes is not permitted on school property, including modes of transportation, at any time before, during, and after school, and/or weekend school activities.
    8. Disruptive Conduct – A student shall not use violence, defiance, disobedience, force, noise, coercion, threat, intimidation, fear, passive resistance, or any other conduct, which causes the substantial and material disruption or obstruction of any lawful mission, process, or function of the school; neither shall he/she incite or enable other students to engage in such conduct.
    9. Cooperation with School Personnel – Refusal to comply with such written rules and regulations or to follow such reasonable directions of school authorities shall constitute cause for discipline, suspension, or expulsion.
    10. Refusal to Identify Self – All students must, upon request, identify themselves to school district employees in the school building, on school grounds, or at school-sponsored events.
    11. Speech and Assembly – Students are entitled to verbally express their personal opinions in such a manner and at such times as it does not disrupt or interfere with the educational process or with the freedom of others to express themselves. All student meetings on school district property may function only as scheduled and may be regulated by school authorities as to time, place, and manner.
    12. Withholding Records – School districts may withhold a student’s grades, diploma, and transcripts until the student has fulfilled all of his/her responsibilities to meet the OHS code of conduct. This includes actions that students may make during the graduation ceremony.