Students are going to have to make sure they take a good, long look at their Code of Conduct handbook when they go back to school in the fall.
Superintendent William Skilling announced at the Oxford Community Schools Board of Education meeting on June 13 a few additions.
The first addition is to Code 62, ‘Sexual Harrassment.?
As it is written in the Code of Conduct, ‘The pulling down (commonly referred to as pantsing) or up of another’s clothing resulting in the exposure of undergarment leading to indecent exposure in nudity.?
This also includes if a student pulls down or up their own clothing. A few cases have included students getting so excited about the end of the school year, they pull their pants down.
‘It is becoming more common,? said Skilling and added he has witnessed a few incidents.
‘Two eighth graders at the end of last year decided it was time to drop their drawers and expose themselves,? he said.
The result was they were banned from riding the bus for a year.
The code of conduct didn’t have anything including pantsing before.
The disciplinary steps for offenders could be anywhere from temporay suspension for five to ten days, long term suspension, or expulsion, depending on how much is shown and the grade level.
The next addition is a a warning to coincide with Code 63, ‘Sexual Conduct.?
With the technological advances in cell phone and internet communication, the warning needed to be voiced to let students know certain images seen as obscene or pornographic being sent or posted will not be tolerated.
If they are involved with the transferring, it will be reported to law enforcement and could be prosecuted.
It may start out as a joke or a text message between two people in a relationship, but if a risqu? photo or message gets into the wrong hands ? it will spread like a wildfire and can ruin someone’s reputation or life.
‘Another thing kids don’t seem to understand is once they post a picture ? it’s out there forever,? said Skilling. ‘Once they send a nude photo of themselves, either via cell phone or whatever, it can be up on YouTube or some other website such as Facebook or MySpace.?
While many students may not think it could happen to them, a 14-year-old Pinckney girl took photos of herself last summer and sent them to her friends as a joke. It was passed on to 100 of her classmates and expanded to Brighton and Hartland High Schools. Several students were expelled and charged for distribution of child pornography.
The addition to the Code of Conduct states: ‘WARNING: The taking, disseminating, transferring, or sharing of obscene, pornographic, lewd or otherwise illegal images or photographs, whether by electronic data transfer or otherwise (commonly called texting, sexting, emailing, etc.) may constitute a CRIME under state and/or federal law. Any person taking, disseminating, transferring, or sharing obscene, pornographic, lewd, or otherwise illegal images or photographs will be reported to law enforcement and/or other appropriate state or federal agencies, which may result in arrest, criminal prosecution, and LIFETIME inclusion on sexual offender registries.?
Showing concern for the students and wanting to make sure it doesn’t happen to them, the school board went through ideas to make sure students know of the changes and the consequences. Skilling said the school administrators will determine in August the best way to make sure students know and understand the consequences, whether it be during class period or during an assembly.
Every student receives a Code of Conduct handbook at the beginning of the year. They sign an agreement, stating they understand the rules and consequences.
Skilling admitted most sign without reading everything.
‘We need to make sure they understand especially this,? he said.