STUDENTS

GOOD CONDUCT RULE

To retain eligibility for participation in all Davenport Community School District High Schools and Intermediate Schools extracurricular activities, students must conduct themselves as good citizens both in and out of school at all times. Students who represent the school in an activity are expected to serve as good role models to other students and to the members of the community.

Definition of Terms:

·                 Extracurricular – Any activity in which students are representing their school and the Davenport Community School District and where their participation does not directly impact an academic grade or the achievement of established standards and benchmarks.
·                 Co-curricular – Any activity in which students are representing their school and the Davenport Community School District and where their participation has a direct impact on an academic grade or the achievement of established standards and benchmarks.
·                 Curricular – Any course of study offered by a school that directly impacts an academic grade and the established standards and benchmarks.
·                 Competition/Performance – A specific event that is a component of an extracurricular program whether it is a contest, a special activity, such as but not limited to prom or homecoming, or a school sponsored trip that is part of an extracurricular activity.

Applicable Activity Programs:

The Good Conduct Rule applies to all extracurricular activities, including but not limited to:

·                 Inter-scholastic sports (sanctioned or non)
·                 Dance Team
·                 Pompon Team
·                 Cheerleading
·                 Color Guard
·                 Winter Guard
·                 ROTC Drill Team
·                 Speech & Debate
·                 Royalty Courts
·                 Elected Offices
·                 National Honor Society
·                 Extra-curricular clubs (ex., Chess Club, Game Club)
·                 Class Officers
·                 Band (extra curricular activities)
·                 Choirs, including Show Choirs (extra curricular activities)
·                 Student Senate
·                 Any other activity where the student represents the Davenport Community School  District outside the classroom

Covered Behaviors:

A student may lose eligibility under the Good Conduct Rule for any of the following behaviors:

·                 Possession, use or purchase of tobacco products, regardless of the student’s age.
·                 Possession, use, or purchase of alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine. (“Use” includes having the odor of alcohol on one’s breath.)
·                 Possession, use, or purchase of illegal drugs or the unauthorized possession, use or purchase of otherwise lawful drugs.
·               Engaging in any act that results in or could lead to an arrest or citation in the criminal or juvenile court system, excluding minor traffic offenses.  This includes harassment and or hazing.

          If a student transfers into the DCSD from another school or school district and the student had not yet completed a period of ineligibility for a violation of a Good Conduct Rule in the previous school or school district, the student shall be ineligible if the administration determines that there is general knowledge in our school district of the fact of the student’s violation in the previous district.  The period of ineligibility shall follow the guidelines of the DCSD penalties and will take into account the amount of the penalty already served at the previous school or school district. 

          A student who transfers from one high school to another within the DCSD and had not yet completed the period of ineligibility at the first school for violation of the Good Conduct Rule will finish the period of ineligibility at the new school when it is determined the student would otherwise be eligible.

Reporters:

          All reports and information from a reliable source will be investigated by school administration.  Reliable information may include, but is not limited to student self reporting, police reports, notification from juvenile court services, statements from adult witnesses, statements from student witnesses, or information from social networking sites such as Facebook.  Anonymous reports will not be considered.  Each school administration will determine the reliability of a reporting source and any information presented.

Determination of violation:

          A student who is accused of violating the Good Conduct Rule will be notified of the alleged violation and attend a review of the information that supports the allegation.  The school administration shall also contact the parents/guardian verbally and follow up in writing.  A member of the school administration will conduct the review.  The student will be given an opportunity to present his/her case in response to the alleged violation.  The school administrator shall review all information and circumstances relevant to the allegation and shall make a decision regarding the alleged violation of the Good Conduct Rule.

Penalties (examples of the number of playing dates and penalties are listed in the Appendix)

Any student who, after a review before the administration, is found to have violated the Good Conduct Rule, during the school year or summer, is subject to a loss of eligibility as follows:

First Offense: Suspension from one-third of the season’s allowed contests or performance dates.

Second Offense: Suspension from one-half of the season’s allowed contests or performance dates.

Third Offense: Suspension from athletic competition or participation in activities as outlined in the Applicable Activity Programs for 365 calendar days.

The number of contests or performance dates served on suspension is computed using the allowed number of games or competition dates as set by the IHSAA (Iowa High School Athletic Association) or IGHSAU (Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union) for a season.  Post season competitions are not part of this formula but will be used as part of the ineligibility period.

The period of ineligibility attaches immediately upon a finding of a violation if the student is currently engaged in an extracurricular activity and, if not, or if not completed during the current activity, is begun or carried over to the time the student seeks to go out for the next activity or contest. If the period of ineligibility is not completed with the current activity, the balance of the ineligibility will carry over to the next activity.  If the student is involved in multiple activities at the time the ineligibility is to be served, the ineligibility shall apply to all applicable activity programs. However, if the period of time between the finding of a violation and an activity is 365 calendar days or more, the student shall not serve an ineligibility period for the violation.

 Students are not allowed to join any sport after the first legal competition date of the season, as determined by the IHSAA/IGHSAU, and apply their ineligibility to that sport in order to avoid the consequence during another sport.  A student must complete a season or sport in good standing for an ineligibility period to be accepted.  If a student drops out or is dismissed from an activity prior to the completion of the period of ineligibility and season, the entire penalty will be applied to the next activity the student participates in, subject to the 12 month limitation above. An ineligible student shall attend all practices or rehearsals but may not "suit up" or participate in contests (any level) during the designated ineligibility period

If the student is ineligible at the time of the violation of the Good Conduct Rule, the penalty for the violation of the Good Conduct Rule shall not begin until the student regains eligibility.

The penalties shall accumulate in intermediate school, and then the student will begin again at the start of ninth grade and the penalties will accumulate during grades 9-12.

No partial games/events will be served.  A fraction of a game/event will be rounded up.  Example: one half of a basketball season is ten and one-half games.  This would be rounded up to eleven games

Reduction in Penalty

On the first offense, if a student comes forward and reports within forty-eight (48) hours of the violation of the Good Conduct Rule (or in the event the student is unable to report the parent/guardian may) to a coach, administrator, or activity sponsor (or can prove a good faith effort was made to do so) the penalty may be reduced by the administration to one playing date.  This reduction shall only apply to the first offense.

Suspension/Expulsion Under the Good Conduct Rule:

If a student receives a disciplinary out of school suspension or expulsion because of a violation of the Good Conduct Rule, the applicable penalty will include competitions/performances during the time of the suspension or expulsion.  If the student is serving a suspension or expulsion when the Good Conduct Rule is violated, the applicable penalty will be applied at the end of the suspension or expulsion.

Appeals

Any student who is found by the administration to have violated the Good Conduct Rule may appeal this determination. The appeal must be made in writing within three (3) school days of being advised of the penalty for the violation. A rationale for the appeal is to be included in the letter.  This letter is to be sent to the Davenport Community School District Director of Athletics. Appeal is made to the Good Conduct Rule Appeal Committee, consisting of the assistant principals of athletics from the three high schools, the District Director of Athletics, and one disinterested high school administrator.  A meeting of the Good Conduct Rule Appeal Committee will take place within five school days of the receipt of the letter of appeal during which the student, parent/guardian will have the opportunity to meet with the committee and present their case.  Student and parent/guardian may obtain legal counsel.  A decision will be made and communicated to the student and parent/guardian within three days of the committee meeting. The Good Conduct Rule Appeal Committee decision is final.

Appendix

Allowed sport competition events/dates with first and second violation penalties.

Fall

Boys golf – 12 dates                           1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 6 dates
Boys cross country – 10 dates             1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 5 dates
Girls cross country – 10 dates             1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 5 dates
Football – 9 games                             1^st offense – 3 games  2^nd offense – 5 games
Girls swimming – 12 dates                   1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 6 dates
Volleyball – 14 dates                          1^st offense – 5dates     2^nd offense – 7 dates

Winter

Boys basketball – 21 games                1^st offense – 7 games  2^nd offense – 11 games
Girls basketball – 21 games                1^st offense – 7 games  2^nd offense – 11 games
Boys swimming – 12 dates                 1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 6 dates
Wrestling – 15 dates                           1^st offense – 5 dates    2^nd offense – 8 dates
Boys bowling – 12 dates                    1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 6 dates
Girls bowling – 12 dates                     1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 6 dates

Spring

Boys golf – 12 dates                           1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 6 dates
Boys track – 12 meets*                       1^st offense – 4 meets   2^nd offense – 6 meets
Girls track – 12 meets*                       1^st offense – 4 meets   2^nd offense – 6 meets
Girls soccer – 17 dates                        1^st offense – 6 dates    2^nd offense – 9 dates
Boys soccer – 15 dates                       1^st offense – 5 dates    2^nd offense – 8 dates
Boys tennis – 12 dates                         1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 6 dates
Girls tennis – 12 dates                          1^st offense – 4 dates    2^nd offense – 6 dates

Summer

Softball – 40 games                             1^st offense – 14 games            2^nd offense – 20 games
Baseball – 40 games                            1^st offense – 14 games            2^nd offense – 20 games

*ineligibility for track meets will start with the first outdoor track meet and not include indoor meets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. A football player is found to have violated the Good Conduct Rule during the season.  It is his first violation and he has to serve one-third of the season.  There are two regular season games left.  After sitting for the two games, the team makes the playoffs.  Is the player eligible for the playoff game?

A. No. The player has not completed the penalty, so he is ineligible for the first playoff game.

Q2. Same scenario as Q1 but the team wins the first playoff game and has a second round game.  Is the student eligible for the second round playoff game?

A. Yes. He has served his three game penalty and is now eligible.

          Q3. A volleyball player is found to have violated the Good Conduct Rule for the first time.  She is also involved with the musical that is going on at the same time.  Does she serve her penalty in both activities?

A. Yes.  If the activities are occurring at the same time, the penalty is served in both activities.

Q4. A student who transfers into a Davenport High School from a neighboring district was found to have violated the first school’s Good Conduct Rule for the second time before the transfer.  What penalty does the student have to serve if she is participating in softball?

A. If the student in question would otherwise be immediately eligible for softball, the amount of penalty to be served depends on the amount of the penalty was served at the previous school.  If the athlete served one-half of the penalty at the previous school, then one-half of the penalty for a second violation would be served in Davenport.  In this case the athlete would serve a ten game penalty.  If none of the penalty was served at the previous school, then the entire penalty for a second violation of the Good Conduct Rule would be applied.

Q5. Parents move residence from the attendance area of High School B to High School A in Davenport.  Their son failed a class in the previous term.  After enrolling in High School A, the student is found to have violated the Good Conduct Rule and will serve a seven game ineligibility period during basketball.  Are the academic and Good Conduct Rule ineligibility penalties served at the same time?

A. No.  The Good Conduct Rule penalty will be served after the academic ineligibility is served.  In this case the penalty for the Good Conduct Rule will be served starting with the first game played after thirty days of ineligibility for the academic ineligibility.

Q6. A student is found to have violated the Good Conduct Rule for the third time on February 20^th 2011.  She is now suspended from athletic competition or participation in activities as outlined in the Applicable Activity Programs for 365 calendar days.  In May of 2012, she decides to tryout for softball and makes the team.  Is she eligible for participation?

A. Yes.  The 365 calendar day penalty has passed and she is now eligible.

Q7. A student is found to have violated the Good Conduct Rule for the first time on October 1^st, 2011.  He is not currently involved in any athletics or covered activities.  In November of 2012, the student goes out for wrestling.  Is he eligible?

A. Yes.  More than 365 calendar days have passed since the finding of the violation.

Q8. A student is found to have violated the Good Conduct Rule for the first time on October 1^st, 2011.  She is not currently involved in any athletics or covered activities.  In February of 2012, the student goes out for track and field. Is she eligible?

A. No.  Less than 365 calendar days have passed since the finding of the violation.  In the case of track and field, the student will serve a penalty of four meets, starting with the first outdoor meet of the season.

Q9. A student is found to have violated the Good Conduct Rule on May 2^nd, 2011.  Her next activity is being nominated for the homecoming court in September 2011.  Can she be on the court and be voted homecoming queen?

A. No.  Royalty Courts is one of the activities covered under the Good Conduct Rule.

·         Adopted 4/27/98; Revised 6/14/10; Revised 8/11