The Zero Tolerance for Fighting Policy became effective on February 24, 1997. It's an anti-violence policy that makes your school a safer place for learning. About 95% of the students in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System do not use violence as a solution to solve problems. With your help, your school can be 100% fight-free.
School principals will call the appropriate law enforcement authorities for every fight involving students who are 14 years of age or older. Appropriate law enforcement authorities include assigned School Security Officers and Youth Resource Officers.
If there are no assigned School Security Officers or Youth Resource Officers available, the local law enforcement authorities will be called: Baker Police Department (within Baker city limits) Zachary Policy Department (within Zachary city limits) EBR Parish Sheriff's Department Central Substation (within the Central area) School Drug Task Force (within the remainder of East Baton Rouge Parish).
These law enforcement authorities will investigate the fight and recommend one of the following actions: issuing the student a misdemeanor summons; releasing the student to a parent or guardian with the agreement that both will appear in Juvenile Court; taking the student directly to the Juvenile Detention Facility; or arresting the student.
Suspension & Expulsion
Students involved in a fight at school will also be subject to suspension or expulsion as stated in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. Pushing, shoving, and non-aggressive self defense are not considered as fighting, but once a punch is thrown, a "fight" has occurred. Since pushing and shoving leads to fighting, and are violations of school policy, students will be subject to suspension or expulsion as stated in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. Non-aggressive self defense allows the student to defend himself (herself) against an attack, but only to the point where the attacker backs off.
Counseling
Students who are suspended or expelled will be required to undergo counseling before being admitted to an alternative education program and/or before being readmitted to school. Counseling will include anger management and conflict resolution. It will be provided and supervised by the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Parents will be advised and encouraged to participate.
Effective
This Zero Tolerance for Fighting Policy is in effect from the time the student leaves home for school until the time the student returns home from school. It is also in effect during all school-related activities.
Student Responsibility
It is the student's responsibility to alert a principal, teacher, coach, etc., to any hostile attempt directed at himself (herself). Administrators are then required to take immediate action to prevent further hostile attempts.