Lamar County School District

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Revised July 27, 2011
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Lamar County School District

• 2011-2012
• High School
• Parent/Student
• Handbook
• Highlights

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DRUG FREE SCHOOLS

• The Lamar County School Board resolves to have
  the most Drug Free School environment possible.
  The District and School Board, through its
  Administration and Police Department, will
  vigorously seek out those who use, sell, or come
  to school under the influence of drugs or
  alcohol. Students who violate the School District
  Policies in regard to use, possession, or sale of
  drugs will be subject to the strongest discipline
  to include alternative school placement and
  expulsion. The District will be using its own
  drug dog to conduct drug searches at all of its
  schools on a regular basis.

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Hazing/Stalking

• Student behavior that harasses or threatens other
  students or school personnel will not be
  tolerated. The
• Lamar County School District shall treat hazing,
  as defined in MS Code 37-11-37 through 45
  97-3-105 107. The honor system will be used
  whereby those who are hazed will be expected to
  report the hazing or will be held just as
  responsible as those doing the hazing. If the
  hazing is related to initiation into teams,
  clubs, or organizations, removal from the
  activity will be immediate and automatic. Other
  consequences will be determined by the severity
  of the hazing.
• This policy is not limited to on-campus
  activities.

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The Following Signed Forms are Required for All
Students

• Note Absolutely no medication shall be
  transported by a child to or from school. It must
  be transported by a parent/guardian only to the
  school office.

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Food Services Program

• Breakfast 1.75
• Reduced Breakfast .30
• Adult Breakfast 2.00
• Student Lunch 2.50
• Reduced Lunch .40
• Adult Lunch 3.25

• Free and reduced lunch forms are always available
  to students/families
• Payments can be made weekly or monthly.
• Students are NOT allowed to leave during lunch
  break nor are they allowed to send for other
  purchased lunch items during lunch.
• No carbonated beverages.

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The goal of the Lamar County School District is
to assure that parents, families, and schools
work together to insure each student is
successful and a productive citizen in todays
world. Lamar County School District will involve
parents in the success of each student!

• Academic successes
• Tutoring opportunities
• Attendance issues
• Academic interventions
• Discipline issues

• Club involvement
• Extra-curricular activities
• Scholarship opportunities
• Booster clubs opportunities
• Drop out prevention

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Early Dismissal for Bad Weather

• LCSD is in constant contact with the Emergency
  Management Agency. In case of an early dismissal
  due to impending bad weather, notification will
  be made on
• WDAM-TV FM 94.3
• FM 95.9 FM 97.3
• FM 98.1 FM 100.3
• FM103.7 FM 104.5

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Attendance

• All students attending a Lamar County School must
  attend a minimum of 84 days in a one credit
  course and 42 days in a ½ credit course
• All absences other than school activities, those
  accompanied by a doctors excuse, or those due to
  out of school suspension are counted in the total
  number of absences allowed.
• For any absence, the student must bring a note
  from parent/guardian or doctor to validate the
  absence within 2 days of the students return to
  school. (This is a new state law.)
• Students/Parents/Legal Guardians are responsible
  for keeping up with student absences.
• Principal will notify parents/guardians about
  excessive absences.

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Student Check-Out Procedures

• Students must present parent note to school
  office by 830 a.m. for verification of
  check-out.
• Students cannot be checked out by phone calls
  Parents must physically come and check student
  out.

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Tardies

• Students are expected to be in class promptly.
• Unexcused tardies will result in disciplinary
  action.
• School principals will determine appropriate
  disciplinary action when students are tardy to
  class or school.

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New Grading Scale
A 90-100 Superior Work B 80-89 Above Average
Work C 70-79 Average Work D 65-69 Below
Average Work F 0-64 Failing Work I Incomplete
Work
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Exemptions

• Senior Exemptions
• 85 average in class with no more than 2 absences
  in a half-credit course and no more than 4
  absences in a full credit course. School business
  absences do not count against student.
• Grades 9 11 Exemptions
• 90 average in class same absence policy as above.

Note If a student reaches level 5 on the
discipline ladder, he/she automatically loses
exemption status in all classes. Also, if a
student receives 2 long forms from the same
teacher, he/she loses exemption privilege in that
class.
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Subject Area Testing Program

• Students are required to pass the following state
  tests in order to graduate
• English II multiple choice and writing
• Algebra I
• Biology
• U.S. History

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Correspondence Courses

• Only one unit can be earned through
  correspondence that counts toward graduation.
  Approval is at the discretion of the principal,
  and approval will not be granted for English II,
  English III, English IV, Biology I, U.S. History,
  Algebra I, or any lab based science course.

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Traditional Diploma Graduation

• Requirements refer to the LCSD handbook
• All high schools are now on a 4 x 4 schedule and
  by 2010-2011 all seniors will be required a total
  of 28 credits to graduate from Lamar County
  School District.
• The five state subject area tests must be passed.
• Exhibition of achievement (Senior Project) must
  be completed.
• Look at other important information regarding
  graduation in the handbook.

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Traditional Diploma Graduation Continued

• Seniors will be limited to one block per semester
  of early dismissal for one of the following
• Dual enrollment
• Career Directed Learning
• School to Work (special services)

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Graduation Optionsfor Students With Disabilities

• Lamar County School District students with
  disabilities will have three graduation options,
  as follows
• Students with disabilities may enroll in an
  academic course of study aimed at obtaining a
  Standard Lamar County School District High School
  Diploma.
• Students with disabilities may obtain a
  Graduation Certificate of Completion as specified
  in the Mississippi Code 837-16-11.
• Students with disabilities may enroll in an
  occupational course of study aimed at obtaining a
  Lamar County School District Occupational
  Diploma. The student must have an approved
  portfolio, containing a collection of evidence of
  the students knowledge, skills, and abilities,
  related to the occupational core curriculum. The
  primary postgraduate goal for students enrolled
  in the occupational course of study is
  competitive employment.

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GED Option Program

• Lamar County will provide a program of GED
  preparatory instruction as a part of the
  Alternative Education Program. The legislation
  mandates that students who are enrolled in an
  approved GED Program shall not be classified as
  dropouts and that the school district will
  continue to receive Minimum Program funding for
  the students while they are enrolled in the GED
  Program. Students placed in the GED Program shall
  not be eligible to participate in regular
  academic courses or other programmatic activities
  within the school district, including athletics,
  choir, band, or any other extra curricular
  activities except that a GED student may
  participate in existing job and skill development
  programs or in programs developed in conjunction
  with the GED Program and the Vocational Education
  Director.

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Student Dress Code9 12

• A copy of the dress code can be downloaded from
  our homepage at www.lamarcountyschools.org.

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Attendance

• Students must attend a minimum of 168 days. No
  more than 6 days in a semester course or 12 days
  in a year long course are allowed. Exceptions are
  school business, medical excuses or OSS. All
  excuses must be turned into the office within 2
  days. (This is a new state law!) Other absences
  may be excused but will still count in the 6/12
  total. Students with excused absences can make up
  their work, but students that have absences due
  to OSS must make up work in Saturday school.

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Disciplinary Policies and Procedures
Refer to the student handbook
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Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation

• Please refer to the student handbook for more
  information

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Discipline Ladder
Refer to student handbook

• Fighting 1st offense begins at Level 5
• Use, sale, possesion, or under the influence
  drugs and/or drug paraphenalia or counterfeit
  1st offense begins at Level 6
• Possession of weapons 1st offense begins at
  Level 6
• Pornography in any form Steps 5 - 8

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Discipline Guide

• 1. Fighting
• Level I Pushing, shoving, wrestling, trying to
  throw a punch, inciting a fight
• Level II Vicious, blood, fist fight
• Level III Habitual discipline problem,
  previously warned, 2nd fight or more in a year
• Consequences
• Level I Step 5 1 day suspension
• Level II Step 5 5 days suspension, referral
  to youth court
• Level III Step 6 6 days suspension, 9 weeks
  at Alternative School, referral to youth court

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Discipline Guide - Continued
2. Weapons Level I Weapons other than a gun
found on person, vehicle Level II Using,
threatening or brandishing any weapon, possession
of a gun on person or in vehicle Consequences Le
vel I Step 6 6 days suspension 9 weeks at
Alternative School, referral to youth court Level
II Step 7 6 days suspension, expulsion and/or
Alternative School, referral to youth court
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Discipline Guide - Continued
3. Over the Counter Medications
Supplements Level I Handling, passing it to
another student Level II Brought to school to
sell, give away, trade, or consumption on
campus Consequences Level I Step 5 3 days
suspension Level II Step 6 6 days suspension
9 weeks at Alternative School
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Discipline Guide - Continued
4. Alcohol Prescription drugs Level I Under
the influence (consumed off campus),
possession Level II Brought to school,
consumption on campus Consequences Level I
Step 6 6 days suspension 9 weeks Alternative
School, referral to youth court Level II Step 6
6 days suspension one semester at Alternative
School, referral to youth court
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Discipline Guide - Continued
5. Illegal Drugs Level I Possession Level II
Use, under the influence, selling, trading,
giving away Consequences Level I Step 6 6
days suspension one semester Alternative
School, referral to youth court Level II Step 7
6 days suspension one year Alternative School
or expulsion, referral to youth court
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Youth Court
Criminal behavior if committed by a student may
result in referral to Lamar County Youth Court or
the appropriate Judiciary. The following is a
list of offenses that may be reported

• Possession of weapons
• Possession of drugs
• Possession of alcohol
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Simple assault
• Disorderly conduct
• Abuse of a Teacher or Principal
• Threatening and intimidation
• Public intoxication
• Unexcused absences

• Malicious mischief
• Cyber stalking
• Vandalism
• Gambling
• Trespassing
• Rape
• Sexual battery
• Bomb threats
• Defacing or destroying school property

• And other criminal offenses of the Mississippi
  Code

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Remember

• School Bus Transportation is a privilege! You CAN
  be denied bus transportation.
• Fighting aboard a school bus will result in
  automatic expulsion from the bus for one school
  year.
• Cameras are placed on school buses to monitor
  your behavior.
• Only students and school officials are allowed to
  ride on buses. Parents or any other persons
  cannot board a bus.
• Riding another bus from your assigned bus
  requires a written note from a parent or guardian
  to be approved by your principal.
• It is against the law to pass a stopped school
  bus!

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Tobacco

• NOT permitted in any form

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Possession of Pagers, Cellular Phones, Radios, or
Other Electronic Devices

• In order to maintain a quiet and orderly
  learning environment, students are not allowed to
  use or have turned on any cellular phone/ mobile
  devices while at any Lamar County School
  beginning with the time of students arrival to
  any campus and the ending bell of the school day.
  This includes the use in hallways, restrooms,
  offices or any other place on campus students
  may NOT take a pass out of class to use their
  phones. As of the 2011-2012 school year, Kindles
  and other E-Book Reader devices will be allowed
  with a separate parent permission form.
• Use is interpreted as using any cell
  phone/mobile device function or feature
  (out-going calls, in-coming calls, text
  messaging, camera use, game-playing, or any other
  use), not just the sending or receiving of calls.
  Cell phones/mobile devices must be turned off,
  not silent or vibrate, and kept out of sight.
  Students may store their devices in their
  pockets, purse, book bag, etc. OUT OF SIGHT AND
  TURNED OFF at all times during the school day
  unless deemed appropriate by the instructor.
• Violation of the cell phone/mobile device policy
  will be referred for insubordination and the
  following disciplinary action will occur
• First offense The cell phone/mobile device is
  confiscated and will be held until the end of the
  day after which time the parent/guardian will
  pick up the phone. The student will serve 1 day
  in school suspension.
• Second offense The cell phone/mobile device is
  confiscated and will be held until the end of the
  day after which time the parent/guardian will
  pick up the phone. The student will serve one
  day out of school suspension.
• Third offense The cell phone/mobile device is
  confiscated and will be held until the end of the
  day after which time the parent/guardian will
  pick up the phone. Three days of out of school
  suspension
• Further offenses will result in further
  suspensions.

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Automobile/Motorized Vehicle Use

• Parking lots are off limits during school hours
• Students may not return to their vehicle during
  school.

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Extra Curricular Policiesand Procedures

• Students must have an overall 75 or higher
  average and must pass 5 units of credits the
  previous year.
• Students must earn 3 units of credit with an
  overall 75 average the first semester to be
  eligible the second semester.

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Whos Who

• Clubs, Class Officers and Homecoming court-
• During the previous semester and current year, a
  student cannot
• Reach step 5 or above on the discipline ladder
• Receive more than two office referrals