The Smyrna School District is committed to a restorative and trauma-informed approach to student behavior. Restorative practices are both a preventative and responsive approach to student behavior focused on building and repairing relationships. Our goal is to build healthy communities, increase social learning, decrease anti-social behavior, repair harm, and restore relationships in an effort to educate the whole child. Restorative practices is not just a response to misbehavior, but an inclusive process that engages all members of a school community. Through use of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), we are able to blend social and emotional development with academic growth to ensure we are meeting the needs of each student.

The Smyrna School District subscribes to the philosophy of progressive discipline and recognizes and expects teachers to use effective classroom management skills and strategies to handle classroom behaviors and disruptions. Those skills and strategies include, but are not limited to:  seat changes, proximity, reviewing and reteaching classroom and school expectations, conversations with student(s) (both with and without parent/guardian), calming corner access, warnings, and time outs.  Therefore, each school administrator has the discretion to determine the necessary punitive action based upon the severity and/or regularity of each offense.  Each school administrator will select among the punitive action options outlined for each infraction in the student Code of Conduct. The consequences listed in this Code do not have to be used sequentially. The options listed below can be applied or not applied as discipline at the discretion of the specific Administrator, School Administrative team, and/or District Administrative team.

The following Discipline Code of Conduct is in force:

• On school property prior to, during, and following regular school hours;
• On a school bus for any purpose. Infractions may result in removal from bus;
• At all Smyrna School District sponsored events and other activities at which school administrators or staff have jurisdiction over students;
• Off school property resulting in criminal charges.

The Discipline Code Of Conduct shall apply to out-of-school conduct by a student if the District believes that the nature of such conduct indicates that the student presents a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of other students and staff.  Out-of-school conduct rising to this level of severity may result in an expulsion recommendation of up to/including 180 school days and shall include but is not limited to:

• Acts of violence, which are punishable by law.
• Sexual offenses, which are punishable by law.
• The sale, transfer or possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, which would constitute an offense punishable by law.
• Felony charges.