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DRUGS/ALCOHOL/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

In the interest of creating a healthy environment the following rules will be strictly enforced:

1.    The use or possession of narcotics; illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia; "look-alike drugs;"
        intoxicants; mood altering substances; controlled substances, or any substance, which is
        conveyed or implied as a drug, while on school property, transportation or during
        school related activities is strictly forbidden.
2.     If a student must take either a prescribed or legally un-prescribed drug, the student must
        notify the school authority regarding the drug's use. A note from a parent or legal
        guardian explaining the specifics of the drug's use is necessary. In addition the school
        may request that the substance be kept by the school authority's delegated person during
        school hours. If a student secures authorization to use a prescribed drug, or legally
        un-prescribed drug during school hours, he/she is strictly forbidden from dispensing the
        drub to another person.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION RESPONSES TO VIOLATIONS OF THIS AREA ARE
COVERED WITHIN THE CATEGORY "D" OFFENSES AND WILL INCLUDE
POLICE INVOLVEMENT.

USE OF TOBACCO/TOBACCO PRODUCTS

The use of tobacco and tobacco products by minors is inconsistent with the law, not in
keeping with good health practices, and violates many fire and safety regulations. Therefore, no
tobacco products are to be used or in the possession of students while on school property or while
under the jurisdiction of the school's authority. SMOKING - The use or possession of cigarettes,
cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, etc., is strictly forbidden.

This infraction will be handled as a Category "C" violation. In addition, a fine, as
determined by the district justice, will be imposed.

ATTENDANCE

Unexcused or illegal absence from the Berks Career and Technology Center will be
considered a Category "B" offense. See attendance policy, beginning on page 1.

WEAPONS

It is unlawful for anyone to possess lethal weapons in a school building or on school
property. No pupil shall possess or knowingly assist or accompany any pupil who possesses any weapon
on or in any property of the school district; such property shall include, by way of example and not
limitation, grounds, buildings, vehicles, locations at which activities of the school district are taking
place, any vehicles used to transport pupils to and from school or school related activities, and
locations where pupils await such vehicles.

The term "weapon" refers to any loaded or unloaded firearm (including pellet guns, B.B. guns,
and look-alike firearms); any explosive device of any kind; any Bowie knife, straight-bladed dagger,
lock-blade knife, hunting knife or any knife or knife-like instrument with a sharp cutting edge; or any
other tool or instrument, that is not reasonably related to education, such as chains, metal spikes brass
knuckles, night-sticks, saps, axe handles, etc.

A student is in possession of an illegal and/or banned item(s) under this policy when such
item(s) is found on the person of the student, or under his/her control, on property being used by the
school or at any school function or activity, or any school event held away from school, or while
student is on his/her way to or from school.

Any professional staff member or school employee shall immediately inform the building
administrator, who will conduct a complete investigation. Upon confiscation, the building
administrator must immediately notify and/or summon:
1.     The local police.
2.     The director.
3.     The parents of any and all students involved in the incidents.
4.     The student's sending school principal.

Upon reasonable suspicion of possession of a weapon, the building administrator will request
the student to volunteer to be searched by a school official (in the presence of a witness). If the
student(s) resists being searched, the building administrator will immediately summon the police and
request assistance in this matter from the local police. Every effort will be made to notify the
parent(s) as soon as possible the building administrator will collaborate with the director and develop
a public statement, as well as determine the most effective method for informing school personnel.
An immediate ten-day out-of-school suspension will occur. The director will notify the sending
school district superintendent to make recommendations for withdrawal from the Berks
Career and Technology Center.

TELEPHONES / PAGERS

Section 1317.1 of the Public School Code indicates that
possession of telephone pagers is prohibited.

1.     The possession by students of telephone paging devices, commonly referred to as cell
        phones, and/or beepers, shall be prohibited on school grounds, at school sponsored
        activities and on busses or other vehicles provided by the school district.
2.     The prohibition contained in section (1) shall not apply in the following cases,
        provided that the school authorities approve of the presence of the beeper in each case:
        a.     A student who is a member of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or rescue
                squad, and who is geographically located at a campus making response to such
                an emergency call practical.
        b.     A student who has a need for a beeper due to the medical condition of an
                immediate family member. (Added by L. 1989, Act 103 (1), eff. 12/22/89.)
        c.     Possession of cellular phones is prohibited.

Under both exceptions to the prohibition of beepers, listed in the school code above, the
student must provide a request in writing from the proper authority, stating the specific need for the
"beeper/pager."
Any unauthorized pagers will be confiscated, only to be released to the parent or
guardian, Disciplinary action will fall under Category "C."

LASER POINTERS

Possession of laser pointers are strictly prohibited. If used harassment charges will be filed.
All laser pointers will be confiscated and only to be released to a parent or guardian. This offense is
a Category "C" violation.

UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES

Any student activity, which not only violates the school's behavioral code, but constitutes a violation
of the township, state or federal code of law, may involve the intervention of the particular law
agency with jurisdiction. While the individual violations which could occur are too numerous to list
within the behavioral code, examples of such activities include but are not limited to the following: the possession/sale/distribution of stolen property; gambling; possession of
firearms/illegal weapons/hazardous substances; the unlawful use of telephone, mail or any
communication medium; false alarm or a bomb hoax and disorderly conduct.

SEXUAL, AND ETHNIC, RACIAL, RELIGIOUS OR LIFESTYLE HARASSMENT

It is the policy of the Berks Career and Technology Center to maintain a learning and
working environment that is free from sexual harassment.

It shall be a violation of Joint Operating Committee policy for any member of the staff to
harass a student through conduct or communications of a sexual nature as defined below. It shall also
be a violation of this policy for students to harass other students through conduct or communications
of a sexual nature as defined below.

Sexual Harassment shall consist of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,
and other inappropriate verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when made by any
member of the school staff to a student or when made by any student to another student
when:

1.     Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of
        an individual's employment or education.
2.     Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for
        academic or employment decisions affecting that individual.
3.     Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's
        academic or professional performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive
        employment or educational environment.

Sexual harassment, as defined above, may include but is not limited to the following: verbal
harassment or abuse; pressure for sexual activity; repeated remarks to a person with sexual or
demeaning implications; unwelcome touching; suggesting or demanding sexual involvement
accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one's grades, job, etc.

Any person, who alleges sexual harassment by any staff member or student in the school, may
use the school's complaint procedure or may complain directly to his/her immediate supervisor,
building administrator, guidance counselor or other individual designated to receive such complaints.
Filing of a complaint or otherwise reporting sexual harassment will not reflect upon the individual's
status; nor will it effect future employment, grades or work assignments.

The right to confidentiality, both of the complainant and of the accused, will be respected
consistent with the school's legal obligations, and with the necessity to investigate allegations of
misconduct and to take corrective action when this conduct has occurred.

A substantiated charge against a staff member in the school shall subject such staff member to
disciplinary action, including discharge.

A substantiated charge against a student in the school shall subject that student to student
disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion, consistent with the student discipline code.

REFERRALS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Any referrals for disciplinary action will be documented in full by the involved parties with an accurate account of the incident. Disciplinary action at the Berks Career and Technology Center is progressive as demonstrated by the chart below*:

Step 1: Category A	Every student receives a copy of this handbook, attends a disciplinary orientation assembly, and gets at least one warning from their instructors before they are sent to a Building Administrator. These combined elements represent Step 1.
Step 2: Category A	Discipline hearing with Administrator, which may result in a one-day Berks Career and
Step 1: Category B	Technology Center suspension; written and/or verbal notification of parents and home school; written record of incident placed in student's file.
Step 3: Category A	Discipline hearing with Administrator, which may result in a three-day out-of-Berks Career
Step 2: Category B	and Technology Center suspension; written and/or verbal notification of parents and home
Step 1: Category C	school; record of incident filed.
Step 4: Category A	Discipline hearing with Administrator, which may result in a five-day out-of-Berks Career
Step 3: Category B	and Technology Center suspension; written and/or verbal notification of parents and home
Step 2: Category C	school; record of incident filed; parental conference before re-admittance of the suspended student.
Step 5: Category A	Discipline hearing with Administrator; which may result in a ten-day out-of-Berks Career and
Step 4: Category B	Technology Center suspension; written and/or verbal notification of parents and home school;
Step 3: Category C	record of incident filed; parental conference before re-admittance of the suspended student.
Step 1: Category D	Final Step: At this point the student will be considered a flagrant violator of school policies and beyond

All Categories reasonable control; therefore, the Administration may seek the student's withdrawal from the Berks Career and Technology Center by the sending school.

* ANY MISCONDUCT, ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR OR UNCOOPERATIVE ATTITUDE DURING THE DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS MAY ADVANCE THE DISCIPLINARY STEP.