For the purposes of this code, the following definitions apply: 

Academic Honesty

Demonstrating and upholding the highest integrity and honesty in all academic work. Academic honesty is integral to the academic experience in school. Collusion, plagiarism (including use of A.I.), forgery and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Administrators

Any certificated person in a supervisory position such as principal, assistant principal, director, or assistant director in the Pine Bush Central School District.

Aggressive Bystanding

Purposefully obstructing the area around the incident in question to not allow others in and/or out of the area.

Artificial Intelligence (A.I)

Technology that enable computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem solving capabilities

Assault

Engaging in behavior intentionally or recklessly that causes physical injury to another person with or without a weapon, in violation of school district code of conduct and falls under one of these categories:

a) Physical Injury

Impairment of physical condition or substantial pain and includes, but is not limited to, black eyes, welts, abrasions, bruises, cuts not requiring stitches, swelling and headaches not related to a concussion.

 b) Serious Physical Injury

 Physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes death or serious and protracted disfigurement or protracted impairment of health or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ and requires hospitalization or  treatment in an emergency medical care facility outside of school, including but not limited to, a bullet wound, fractured or broken bones or teeth, concussions, cuts requiring stitches and any other injury involving risk of death or disfigurement.

 

Asynchronous Learning/Tutoring

Lessons and content that are available online to be accessed by students at any time depending on student availability.  

Board of Education

A group of elected officials in charge of overseeing the creation and review of the policies and regulations of the Pine Bush Central School District.

Bullying

Aggressive behavior that is intentional and involves an imbalance of power or strength. Bullying involves actions such as: hitting or punching (physical bullying), teasing or name-calling (verbal bullying), or intimidation through gestures or social exclusion.

Cyberbullying

Harassment or bullying that occurs through any form of electronic communication, (Ed. Law §11[8]) including, but not limited to, cell phones, computers, and tablets, or other communication tools, including social media sites, text messages, chat rooms, artificial intelligence and websites. (See definition of harassment or bullying as defined in Harassment and Bullying. and Commissioner’s regulation 100.2(kk)(1)(viii))

Digitization

The use of software, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or any other computer-generated or technological means. This includes, but is not limited to, adapting, modifying, manipulating or altering a realistic depiction or audio recording.

Discrimination

Discrimination against any student by another student or students and/or an employee or employees on school property or at a school function including, but not limited to, discrimination based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, height, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.

 

Disruptive Student

Any student who:

1. through his/her behavior, prevents another student from completing work, participating in class, or cooperating with the teacher, principal, or staff member;
2. undermines the authority of the teacher, other professional staff, principal, or support staff;
3. engages in any act, that disrupts any learning environment in the school;
4.  engages in any behavior that causes instruction, discipline, or learning to be interrupted;
5. by not adequately preparing for class, disrupts, postpones or otherwise interrupts the instruction and learning that is going on in the classroom/virtual learning.

 

Disruptive Student (Substantially)

Any student who demonstrates a persistent unwillingness to comply with the teacher’s instructions, repeatedly violates the teacher’s classroom/virtual learning behavior rules, or persistently interrupts the learning environment of the class.

 

Emotional Harm

Harm to a student’s emotional well-being through creation of a hostile school environment that is so severe or pervasive as to unreasonably and substantially interfere with a student’s education.

 

False Alarm

Causing a fire alarm or other disaster alarm to be activated knowing there is no danger, or through false reporting of a fire or disaster.

 

Gender

A person’s actual or perceived sex which includes a person’s gender identity or expression.

 

Harassment and Bullying

The creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation or abuse, including cyber bullying, that:

1. has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s education performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being; or
2. reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety; or
3. reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student; or
4. occurs off school property and creates or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption with the school environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property. 

Acts of harassment and bullying include, but are not limited to, acts based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, height, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.  For the purposes of this definition, the term “threats, intimidation or abuse” shall include verbal and non-verbal actions.

 

Homicide

Any intentional violent conduct that results in the death of another person.

 

Parent

Any parent, guardian, or other person acting in the capacity of a parent of a student in the Pine Bush Central School District.

 

Platform – Online sites where information is shared and communication occurs. Examples of online platforms that your student will be using are listed below: 

1. Google Meet – One method of video meetings with students.  Teachers will initiate a “Meet” for a virtual check-in or a synchronous learning activity.
2. Google Classroom – The most commonly used platform for teachers and students in PBCSD.

Professional Staff

Any certificated school personnel such as school counselors, school psychologists, nurses, social workers, therapists, librarians, coaches, trainers, and teaching assistants who deliver services in and out of the classrooms/virtual learning setting of the Pine Bush Central School District. 

 

Restorative Practices

Processes that proactively build healthy relationships and a sense of community to prevent and address conflict and wrongdoing. It represents a framework that identifies a continuum of both proactive (building relationships) and responsive approaches (repairing harm and restoring
relationships). Restorative practices allow individuals who may have committed harm to take full responsibility for their behavior by addressing the individual(s) impacted by the behavior. Taking responsibility requires understanding how the behavior impacted others, acknowledging that the
behavior was harmful, taking action to repair the harm and making changes necessary to avoid such behavior in the future.

School Bus 

Every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency or private school and operated for the transportation of pupils, children of pupils, teachers and other persons acting in a supervisory capacity, to or from school or school activities, or, privately owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of pupils, children of pupils, teachers and other persons acting in a supervisory capacity to or from school or school activities. 

School Function

Any school sponsored event or activity whether on or off campus, and/or in-person or virtual.

School Property 

1. Any materials, equipment or internet server on or in any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, parking lot, or land contained within the real property boundary line of a public elementary or secondary school. 
2. Any materials or equipment on or in any school bus as defined in Vehicle and Traffic Law §142.

Sexting 

Creating and/or altering, sending, receiving or forwarding sexual, suggestive, nude or nearly nude photos or messages through text messages, e-mails or other social media platforms.

Sexual Offenses

Sexual Assault

Sexual contact or behavior, usually physical, that occurs without the consent of the victim.

Other Sex Offenses (excluding Sexual Harassment)

Inappropriate sexual contact, including, but not limited to, touching another student on a part of the body that is generally regarded as private, which includes, but is not limited to, the buttocks, breasts, and genitalia, removing another student’s clothing to reveal underwear or private body parts, or brushing or rubbing against another person in a sexual manner or sexting. Other sex offenses shall also include, but not limited to, conduct that may be consensual or involve a child who is incapable of consent because of disability or s/he is under 17 years of age.

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Sexual Orientation

Actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Student 

Any individual under the age of 21 attending an elementary or secondary facility in the Pine Bush Central School District who is governed by this code. 

Staff

Any school related personnel such as substitute teachers, custodians, clerical staff, monitors, food service employees, security staff, bus drivers, and volunteers in the Pine Bush Central School District. 

Superintendent

The chief operational officer of the Pine Bush Central School District.

Synchronous Learning/ Tutoring

Lessons that are broadcast online live while the learner participates from another location with the teacher. Synchronous lessons may be recorded by teachers and posted so students can view at a later time.

Teacher

Any person holding a teaching certificate who is delivering classroom instruction in the Pine Bush Central School District.

Technology Acceptable Use Policy

The rules and expectations that guide the way our students use technology.

 

Virtual Learning

Learning using computers and the internet. Online instruction.

Violent Student

Any student who: 

1. plans, threatens to commit, attempts to commit, or commits an act of violence against a school employee or their property;
2. plans, threatens to commit, attempts to commit, or commits an act of violence against another student or any other person or their property;
3. plans, threatens to commit, attempts to commit, or commits an act of violence against him/herself;
4. possesses a weapon while on school property or at a school function; 
5. displays what appears to be a weapon while on school property or at a school function;
6. threatens the use of a weapon on school property or at a school function;
7. knowingly and intentionally damages or destroys the personal property of a school employee or other person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function; 
8. knowingly and intentionally damages or destroys school district property. 

Weapon

Any device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, homemade or commercially made, that is used for or readily capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. Such  items include but are not limited to the following: 

1. firearm as defined in 18 USC §921 of the Gun-Free Schools Act (also see District Policy #7360 Weapons in School and the Gun-Free Schools Act);
2. any other gun including a pistol, revolver, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, facsimile gun, disguised gun, zip gun, BB gun, pellet gun, or paint ball gun;
3. any knife such as a dagger, razor, stiletto, box cutter, shank, switchblade knife, gravity knife, butterfly knife, knuckle knife, hunting knife, or sword; 
4. brass knuckles;
5. sling shot; 
6. kung fu star; 
7. electronic stun gun or Taser; 
8. pepper spray or other noxious spray; 
9. hazardous chemical substances; 
10. any explosive or incendiary bomb.