Good Conduct Rule

per Ames Community School District Policy 503.4 – revised July 25, 2022

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The Good Conduct Rule outlined in the document above is transcribed below.

Eligibility
The following academic eligibility rules are established to be in compliance with the academic
eligibility rules of the state associations governing cocurricular activities.

1. To be academically eligible for activities, a student must be passing all courses at
   the end of the previous semester. (For special education ruling, see #3.)
2. An INCOMPLETE at the end of the semester means the student has not yet
   completed the course requirements and results in ineligibility until the work is completed
   and the teacher submits a passing grade to the office.
3. A student with a disability who has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) shall
   not be denied eligibility on the basis of scholarship if the student is making adequate
   progress, as determined by school officials, towards the goals and objectives on the
   student’s IEP.
   

Good Conduct
Good conduct consists of behavior that reflects the generally accepted social and moral
requirements of the community, is legal, and at all times reflects respect for and sensitivity to
others. Violations will be addressed according to policy 503.1 Student Conduct. Consequences
may include, but not limited to, ineligibility and or community service.

Violation
Student athletes who engage in illegal and/or ticketed actions anywhere, excluding laws and
ordinances regulating the use of motor vehicles under which a violation is classified as a simple
misdemeanor, are suspended from the athletic program pending completion of an investigation.
The athletic director will begin an investigation of a student athlete through information obtained
from staff members, law enforcement officials, juvenile court officers, and the
student/parent(s)/guardian(s) in question. Cooperation of the student is vital to the investigative
process and thus, is rewarded through reduced consequences.

Consequences
A student who self-reports his/her offense to a head coach, administrator, or the athletic director
within 72 hours will receive a reduction in game dates missed. Game suspensions will take place
in the sport the student athlete is currently involved in or his/her next sports season whenever
that occurs. Student athletes will also be required to perform five (5) hours of community service within
the athletic department per offense as described by the athletic director.

Suspension Guidelines (Athletics)

# of Athletic Game Dates in a season	Self Report #1 Offense	No Self Report #1 Offense	Self Report #2 Offense	No Self Report #2 Offense	#3 Offense
7-10	1	2	3	4	One year
11-15	2	3	4	5	One year
16-21	3	4	5	6	One year
22+	4	5	6	7	One year

Important Notes

• All disciplinary rules of policy 503.1 Student Conduct Code apply to interscholastic
  athletics.
• A student athlete who incurs a violation after self-reporting or being reported will have
  a conference (in person or by phone) with the athletic director to review the details of
  the consequences. Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified in writing of the suspension
  and are welcome to attend the suspension conference.
• During the suspension, the student athlete is required to attend practices but will not
  dress for the suspended competitions.
• A student who quits the sport prior to completion of the suspension or the season will
  not be credited for any suspension service time.
• When assessing the penalty, the head coach will validate enforcement of game dates
  based on the level of competition the athlete has been classified up to that point. Junior
  varsity athletes on a varsity team will follow a varsity schedule timeline in dates of
  suspension.
• If fewer game dates remain to be played at the time of the violation, the ineligibility shall
  carry over into the next sports season in which the student participates.
• Good Conduct violations will accumulate over a four-year period while the student is in
  high school.
• All students begin high school with a clean slate. High School begins the day after the
  last scheduled class day for eighth grade.
• The student athlete must “earn” his/her prior status back on the team as determined by
  the coach.

Due Process
Whenever a student is declared ineligible by the athletic director/principal for a good conduct
violation, the following shall apply:
A. The student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be invited to the school for a
conference. At that time, the length of the period of ineligibility and a specific explanation
of the reasons for ineligibility will be given in writing; open discussion will follow.
B. Should the student and/or his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) feel the penalty is unjustified or
unfair, they may appeal within Five (5) days of written notice in the following manner:

1. A three-member panel shall review the case. The review panel shall be
   appointed by the principal within two (2) days of the appeal and shall consist of three
   (3) staff members to be chosen by the student if desired.
2. The student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be notified when and where
   the review panel will meet, and they shall be allowed to appear before the review panel.
   The panel shall meet within a period of three (3) days of their appointment by the
   principal.
3. The review panel shall consider the circumstances and evidence and make its
   findings and recommendation in writing to the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) and to
   the principal within two (2) days. Responsibility for the decision rests solely and finally
   with the principal.
4. Following the decision, the student and/or his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be
   given Five (5) school days to file an appeal with the Superintendent.
5. During the appeal procedure, the student will be ineligible. Every effort will be
   made to ensure a timely process during the appeal process.
6. When an appeal is submitted after the last day of school, the limit shall consist
   of all weekdays, Monday through Friday.

Last Revised: July 25, 2022