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Administrative and teaching personnel may take actions regarding student
behavior, other than those specifically provided in this policy and the Student
Discipline Act, which are reasonably necessary to aid the student, further
school purposes, or prevent interference with the educational process. Such
actions may include, but need not be limited to, counseling of students, parent conferences,

referral to restorative justice practices or services,
rearrangement of schedules, requirements that a student remain in school
after regular hours to do additional work, restriction of extracurricular activity,
or requirements that a student receive counseling, psychological evaluation,
or psychiatric evaluation upon the written consent of a parent or guardian to
such counseling or evaluation. Disciplinary consequences may also include inschool
suspension, Saturday School, and any other consequence authorized
by law. District administrators may develop building-specific protocols for the
imposition of student discipline.
Any disciplinary action taken by staff must be consistent with the requirements
of other applicable laws, including but not limited to the IDEA, Section 504,
and Title IX.
In this policy, references to "Principal" shall include building principals, the
principal's designee, or other appropriate school district administrators.
Any statement, notice, recommendation, determination, or similar action
specified in this policy shall be effectively given at the time written evidence
thereof is delivered personally to or upon receipt of certified or registered mail
or upon actual knowledge by a student or his or her parent or guardian.
Any student who is suspended or expelled from school pursuant to this policy
may not participate in any school activity during the duration of that exclusion
including adjacent school holidays and weekends. The student activity
eligibility of a student who is mandatorily reassigned shall be determined on
a case-by-case basis by the principal of the building to which the student is
reassigned.
Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade Students
Notwithstanding any other provision of this policy, an elementary school shall
not suspend a student in pre-kindergarten through second grade unless the
student brings a deadly weapon as defined in section 28-109 on school
grounds, in a vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by a school being used for
a school purpose or in a vehicle being driven for a school purpose by a school
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employee or his or her designee, or at a school-sponsored activity or athletic
event. As an alternative to suspension, the school district may take any action
authorized by law, including those provided in section 79-258.
Makeup Work for Suspended Students
Any student who is suspended must be given an opportunity to complete any
classwork and homework missed during the period of suspension, including,
but not limited to, examinations (“makeup work”). Any makeup work must
be completed and turned in within 2 school days after completion of the
suspension. This makeup guideline shall be provided to the student and a
parent or guardian at the time of suspension. Suspended students may not
be required to attend the school’s alternative program for expelled students
in order to complete classwork or homework.
Short-Term Suspension
The Principal may exclude students from school or any school function for a
period of up to five school days (short-term suspension) on the following
grounds:
1. Conduct constituting grounds for expulsion as hereinafter set forth; or,
2. Other violations of rules and standards of behavior adopted by the Board
of Education or the administrative or teaching staff of the school, that occur
on or off school grounds, if such conduct interferes with school purposes or
there is a connection between such conduct and school.
The following process applies to short-term suspension:
1. The Principal shall make a reasonable investigation of the facts and
circumstances. Short-term suspension shall be imposed only after a
determination that the suspension is necessary to help any student, to
further school purposes, or to prevent an interference with school
purposes.
2. Prior to commencement of the short-term suspension, the student will be
given oral or written notice of the charges against the student. The student
will be advised of what he or she is accused of having done, be given an
explanation of the evidence the authorities have, and be given an
opportunity to explain the student's version of the facts.
3. Within 24 hours or such additional time as is reasonably necessary, not to
exceed an additional 48 hours, following the suspension, the Principal will
send a written statement to the student, and the student's parent or
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guardian, describing the student's conduct, misconduct or violation of the
rule or standard and the reasons for the action taken. An opportunity will
be given to the student, and the student's parent or guardian, to have a
conference with the Principal ordering the short-term suspension before or
at the time the student returns to school and shall document such effort in
writing. The Principal shall determine who, in addition to the parent or
guardian, is to attend the conference.
4. Students who are short-term suspended must be given the opportunity to
complete classwork and homework missed during the period of suspension,
including but not limited to examinations, as provided herein.
Emergency Exclusion
Students may be emergency excluded from school pursuant to the board's
separate policy on emergency exclusion or state law.
Weapons and/or Firearms
Weapons. No student may possess, handle, or transmit any weapon while
on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at any school activity or event off
school grounds except as permitted by this policy. Definition of
Weapon. The term “weapon” means any object, device, instrument,
material, or substance which is capable of causing injury in the manner it is
used or intended to be used.
Firearms. No student may bring, possess, handle or transmit a firearm on
school grounds, in a school owned vehicle, or at a school activity or event off
school grounds, except as permitted by this policy. Definition of
Firearm. The term “firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921, means any weapon
(including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be
converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or
receiver of any such weapon, any firearm muffler or firearm silencer, or any
destructive device (excluding an antique firearm).
Exceptions Regarding Firearms and Weapons. The only exceptions for a
student to bring or possess a weapon, including a firearm, are as follows:
1. The issuance of firearms to or possession of firearms by members of the
Reserve Officers Training Corps when training or
2. Firearms which may lawfully be possessed by the person receiving
instruction under the immediate supervision of an adult instructor who may
lawfully possess firearms.
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Consequences - Firearm. Any student who brings a firearm, as that term
is defined in 18 United States Code 921, to school will be expelled from school
for one calendar year. The superintendent of schools and the board of
education shall have the authority to modify the expulsion requirement on a
case-by-case basis.
Consequences – Weapon. State law and this policy provide that any
student who violates this policy by knowingly bringing, possessing, handling
or transmitting a weapon, other than a firearm, on school grounds, in a school
owned vehicle, or at a school activity or event off school grounds may be
suspended on a long-term basis, mandatorily reassigned, or expelled for the
remainder of the school year in which the expulsion takes effect (if the
misconduct occurs during the first semester) or the remainder of the second
semester, summer school, and the first semester of the following school year
(if the misconduct occurs during the second semester).
Confiscation of Firearms and Weapons. Administrative and teaching
personnel are statutorily authorized, without a warrant, to confiscate any
firearm or weapon possessed in violation of this policy. Any firearm that is
confiscated by school personnel shall be delivered to a peace officer as soon
as practicable. Such firearms are subject to being destroyed by law
enforcement authorities.
Report to Law Enforcement Authorities. All school personnel are required
to report any violation of this policy to a principal or the superintendent of
schools. Pursuant to state and federal law, school personnel are required to
report to law enforcement authorities when a student brings a firearm to
school.
Long-Term Suspension
Students may be excluded by the Principal from school or any school function
for a period of more than five school days but less than twenty school days
(long-term suspension) for any conduct constituting grounds for expulsion as
hereinafter set forth. The process for long-term suspension is set forth below.
Expulsion
1. Meaning of Expulsion. Expulsion means exclusion from attendance in all
schools, grounds and activities of or within the system for a period not to
exceed the remainder of the semester in which it took effect unless the
misconduct occurred (a) within ten school days prior to the end of the first
semester, in which case the expulsion shall remain in effect through the
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second semester, or (b) within ten school days prior to the end of the
second semester, in which case the expulsion shall remain in effect for
summer school and the first semester of the following school year, or (c)
unless the expulsion is for conduct specified in these rules or in law as
permitting or requiring a longer removal, in which case the expulsion shall
remain in effect for the period specified therein. Such action may be
modified or terminated by the school district at any time during the
expulsion period.
2. Summer Review. Any expulsion that will remain in effect during the first
semester of the following school year will be automatically scheduled for
review before the beginning of the school year. The review will be
conducted by the hearing officer who conducted the initial expulsion
hearing, or a hearing officer appointed by the Superintendent in the event
no hearing was previously held or the initial hearing officer is no longer
available or willing to serve, after the hearing officer has given notice of
the review to the student and the student's parent or guardian. This review
shall be limited to newly discovered evidence or evidence of changes in the
student's circumstances occurring since the original hearing. This review
may lead to a recommendation by the hearing officer that the student be
readmitted for the upcoming school year. If the school board or board of
education or a committee of such board took the final action to expel the
student, the student may be readmitted only by action of the
board. Otherwise the student may be readmitted by action of the
Superintendent.
3. Suspension of Enforcement of an Expulsion: Enforcement of an
expulsion action may be suspended (i.e., "stayed") for a period of not more
than one full semester in addition to the balance of the semester in which
the expulsion takes effect, and as a condition of such suspended action,
the student may be assigned to a school, class, or program/plan and to
such other consequences which the school district deems appropriate.
4. Alternative School or Pre-expulsion Procedures. The school shall
either provide an alternative school, class or educational program for
expelled students, or shall follow the pre-expulsion procedures outlined in
NEB. REV. STAT. 79-266.
5. Conclusion of Expulsion. At the conclusion of an expulsion, the school
district will reinstate the student and accept nonduplicative, gradeappropriate
credits earned by the student during the term of expulsion from
any Nebraska accredited institution or institution accredited by one of the
six regional accrediting bodies in the United States.
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Grounds for Long-Term Suspension, Expulsion or Mandatory
Reassignment:
The following conduct constitutes grounds for long-term suspension,
expulsion, or mandatory reassignment, subject to the procedural provisions
of the Student Discipline Act, NEB. REV. STAT. § 79-254 through 79-296, when
such activity occurs on school grounds, in a vehicle owned, leased, or
contracted by a school being used for a school purpose or in a vehicle being
driven for a school purpose by a school employee or by his or her designee,
or at a school-sponsored activity or athletic event:
1. Use of violence, force, coercion, threat, intimidation, or similar conduct in
a manner that constitutes a substantial interference with school purposes.
The board has determined that the use of synthetic media such as
deepfakes may constitute “similar conduct”;
2. Willfully causing or attempting to cause substantial damage to property,
stealing or attempting to steal property of substantial value, or repeated
damage or theft involving property;
3. Causing or attempting to cause personal injury to a school employee, to a
school volunteer, or to any student. Personal injury caused by accident,
self-defense, or other action undertaken on the reasonable belief that it
was necessary to protect some other person shall not constitute a violation
of this subdivision;
4. Threatening or intimidating any student for the purpose of or with the
intent of obtaining money or anything of value from such student;
5. Knowingly possessing, handling, or transmitting any object or material that
is ordinarily or generally considered a weapon (see also board policy on
weapons and firearms);
6. Engaging in the unlawful possession, selling, dispensing, or use of a
controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance, as defined in
section 28-401, a substance represented to be a controlled substance, or
alcoholic liquor as defined in section 53-103.02 or being under the influence
of a controlled substance or alcoholic liquor (note: the term “under the
influence” for school purposes has a less strict meaning than it does under
criminal law; for school purposes, the term means any level of impairment
and includes even the odor of alcohol on the breath or person of a student;
also, it includes being impaired by reason of the abuse of any material used
as a stimulant);
7. Public indecency as defined in section 28-806, except that this prohibition
shall apply only to students at least twelve years of age but less than
nineteen years of age;
8. Engaging in bullying as defined in section 79-2,137 and in these policies;
9. Sexually assaulting or attempting to sexually assault any person if a
complaint has been filed by a prosecutor in a court of competent jurisdiction
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alleging that the student has sexually assaulted or attempted to sexually
assault any person, including sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults
which occur off school grounds not at a school function, activity, or event.
For purposes of this subdivision, sexual assault means sexual assault in the
first degree as defined in section 28-319, sexual assault in the second
degree as defined in section 28-320, sexual assault of a child in the second
or third degree as defined in section 28-320.01, or sexual assault of a child
in the first degree as defined in section 28-319.01, as such sections now
provide or may hereafter from time to time be amended;
10. Engaging in any other activity forbidden by the laws of the State of
Nebraska which activity constitutes a danger to other students or interferes
with school purposes; or
11. A repeated violation of any of the following rules if such violations
constitute a substantial interference with school purposes:
a. The use of language, written or oral, or conduct, including
gestures, which is profane or abusive to students or staff
members. Profane or abusive language or conduct includes, but
is not limited to, that which is commonly understood and intended
to be derogatory toward a group or individual based upon race,
gender, national origin, or religion;
b. Dressing or grooming in a manner which violates the school
district’s dress code and/or is dangerous to the student's health
and safety, a danger to the health and safety of others, or which
is disruptive, distracting or indecent to the extent that it interferes
with the learning and educational process;
c. Violating school bus rules as set by the school district or district
staff;
d. Possessing, using, selling, or dispensing tobacco, drug
paraphernalia, an electronic nicotine delivery system, or a tobacco
imitation substance or packaging, regardless of form, including
cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and any other form of
tobacco, tobacco derivative product or imitation or electronic
cigarettes, vapor pens, etc.;
e. Possessing, using, selling, or dispensing any drug paraphernalia
or imitation of a controlled substance regardless of whether the
actual substance possessed is a controlled substance by Nebraska
law;
f. Possession of pornography, including creation, possession,
dissemination, accessing, sale, or any other use of synthetic
media, such as deepfakes;
g. Sexting or the possession of sexting images (a combination of sex
and texting - the act of sending sexually explicit messages or
photos electronically), including creation, possession,
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dissemination, accessing, sale, or any other use of synthetic
media, such as deepfakes;
h. Engaging in hazing, defined as any activity expected of someone
joining a group, team, or activity that humiliates, degrades or
risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's
willingness to participate. Hazing activities are generally
considered to be: physically abusive, hazardous, and/or sexually
violating and include but are not limited to the following: personal
servitude; sleep deprivation and restrictions on personal hygiene;
yelling, swearing and insulting new members/rookies; being
forced to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire in public;
consumption of vile substances or smearing of such on one's skin;
branding; physical beatings; binge drinking and drinking games;
sexual simulation and sexual assault;
i. Bullying which shall include cyberbullying, defined as the use of
the internet, including but not limited to social networking sites
such as Facebook, cell phones or other devices to send, post or
text message images and material intended to hurt or embarrass
another person. This may include, but is not limited to; continuing
to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further
contact with the sender; sending or posting threats, sexual
remarks or pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech); ganging up on
victims by making them the subject of ridicule in forums, and
posting false statements as fact intended to humiliate the victim;
disclosure of personal data, such as the victim's real name,
address, or school at websites or forums; posing as the identity of
the victim for the purpose of publishing material in their name that
defames or ridicules them; sending threatening and harassing
text, instant messages or emails to the victims; and posting or
sending rumors or gossip to instigate others to dislike and gang
up on the target;
j. Violations of the district’s acceptable computer use policy;
k. Knowingly possessing, handling, or transmitting any object or
material that is ordinarily or generally considered a simulated or
“look-a-like” weapon;
l. Using any object to simulate possession of a weapon;
m. Knowingly making a false statement or knowingly submitting false
information during the Title IX grievance process or any other
school investigation or making a materially false statement in bad
faith in the course of a Title IX grievance proceeding or any other
school investigation;
n. Violation of the school’s audio and video recording policy; and
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o. Any other violation of any board policy, handbook provision, or
rule or regulation established by a school district staff member
pursuant to authority delegated by the board.
Due Process Afforded to Students Facing Long-term Suspension or
Expulsion
The following procedures shall be followed regarding any long-term
suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment:
1. The decision to recommend discipline shall be made within two school days
after learning of the alleged student misconduct. On the date of the
decision to discipline, the Principal shall file with the Superintendent a
written charge and a summary of the evidence supporting such charge.
2. The Principal shall serve the student and the student's parents or guardian
with a written notice by registered or certified mail or personal service
within two school days of the date of the decision to recommend long-term
suspension or expulsion. The notice shall include the following:
a. The rule or standard of conduct allegedly violated and the acts of the
student alleged to constitute a cause for long-term suspension, expulsion, or
mandatory reassignment, including a summary of the evidence to be
presented against the student;
b. The penalty, if any, which the principal has recommended in the charge
and any other penalty to which the student may be subject;
c. A statement that, before long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory
reassignment can be invoked, the student has a right to a hearing, upon
request, and that if the student is suspended pending the outcome of the
hearing, the student may complete classwork and homework, including, but
not limited to, examinations, missed during the period of suspension pursuant
to district guidelines which shall not require the student to attend the school
district's alternative programs for expelled students in order to complete
classwork or;
d. A description of the hearing procedures provided by the act, along with
procedures for appealing any decision rendered at the hearing;
e. A statement that the principal, legal counsel for the school, the student,
the student's parent, or the student's representative or guardian has the right
(i) to examine the student's academic and disciplinary records and any
affidavits to be used at the hearing concerning the alleged misconduct and (ii)
to know the identity of the witnesses to appear at the hearing and the
substance of their testimony; and
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f. A form on which the student, the student's parent, or the student's
guardian may request a hearing, to be signed by such parties and delivered
to the principal or superintendent in person or by registered or certified mail
to the address provided on the form.
3. When a notice of intent to discipline a student by long-term suspension,
expulsion, or mandatory reassignment is filed with the superintendent, the
student may be suspended by the principal until the date the long-term
suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment takes effect, if the
principal determines that the student must be suspended immediately to
prevent or substantially reduce the risk of (a) interference with an educational
function or school purpose or (b) a personal injury to the student himself or
herself, other students, school employees, or school volunteers.
4. Nothing in this policy shall preclude the student, student's parents,
guardian or representative from discussing and settling the matter with
appropriate school personnel prior to the time the long-term suspension,
expulsion, or mandatory reassignment takes effect.
5. If a hearing is requested within five days after receipt of the notice, the
Superintendent shall recommend appointment of a hearing examiner within
two school days after receipt of the hearing request. The student or the
student’s parent or guardian may request designation of a hearing examiner
other than the hearing examiner recommended by the superintendent if notice
of the request is given to the superintendent within two school days after
receipt of the superintendent’s recommended appointment. Upon receiving
such request, the superintendent must provide one alternative hearing
examiner who is not an employee of the school district or otherwise currently
under contract with the school district and whose impartiality may not
otherwise be reasonably questioned. The student or the student’s parent or
guardian must, within five school days, select a hearing examiner to conduct
the hearing who was recommended or provided as an alternative hearing
examiner, and shall notify the superintendent in writing of the selection. The
superintendent must appoint the selected hearing examiner upon receipt of
such notice.
6. The hearing examiner must, within two school days after being
appointed, give written notice to the principal, the student, and the student’s
parent or guardian of the time and place for the hearing.
7. The hearing shall be held within a period of five school days after
appointment of the hearing examiner, but such time may be changed by the
hearing examiner for good cause with consent of the parties. No hearing shall
be held upon less than two school days' actual notice to the principal, the
student, and the student's parent or guardian, except with the consent of all
the parties.
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8. The principal or legal counsel for the school, the student, and the
student's parent, guardian, or representative have the right to receive a copy
of all records and written statements referred to in the Student Discipline Act
as well as the statement of any witness in the possession of the school board
or board of education no later than forty-eight hours prior to the hearing.
9. If a hearing is requested more than five school days following the receipt
of the written notice, but not more than thirty calendar days after receipt,
the Superintendent shall appoint a hearing examiner. The hearing will be
held according to the requirements of section 79-269. The student shall
be entitled to a hearing but the consequence imposed may continue in
effect pending final determination.
10. If a request for hearing is not received within thirty calendar days
following the mailing or delivery of the written notice, the student shall not
be entitled to a hearing.
In the event a hearing is requested, the hearing, hearing procedures, the
student's rights and any appeals or judicial review permitted by law shall be
governed by the applicable provisions of the Nebraska Student Discipline Act
(NEB. REV. STAT. § 79-254 to 79-294).
Reporting Requirement to Law Enforcement
Violations of this section will result in a report to law enforcement if:
1. The violation includes possession of a firearm;
2. The violation results in child abuse;
3. It is a violation of the Nebraska Criminal Code that the administration
believes cannot be adequately addressed solely by discipline from the
school district;
4. It is a violation of the Nebraska Criminal Code that endangers the health
and welfare of staff or students;
5. It is a violation of the Nebraska Criminal Code that interferes with school
purposes;
6. The report is required or requested by law enforcement or the county
attorney.
After School Sessions and Detentions
Teachers and administrators may require students to stay after
school or to serve a detention when the student violates any of
the rules contained in this handbook or violates classroom-specific
conduct rules set by individual teachers.
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Students who ride the bus home from school will be given a 24-
hour notice of after-school time or a detention so that the parents
may make plans to pick up the student the following day.
• After-school sessions will not exceed 30 minutes from
the time of dismissal and are to be served in the
teacher's room. A student who fails to attend an after
school session may be given a detention by an
administrator or may face additional disciplinary
consequences up to and including long-term suspension
and/or expulsion.
• Detentions are 30 minutes, served in the central
office or the detention room designated by the
building principal.
It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to arrange
transportation for their child following a detention. If a parent or
guardian fails to pick up their child and no communication or plan has been
made with the school, the situation may be considered a matter of child
abandonment and reported to the appropriate authorities.
Adopted on: 8/12/2024
Revised on: 7/14/2025
Reviewed on: ________________________