All policies of the Dougherty County Board of Education are important, but the following are seven that parents should be familiar with and keep for handy reference:

1.Computer/Internet Use Guidelines: The Dougherty County School System is committed to providing all students and employees with appropriate access to computer technology. Simultaneously, the School System is as always extremely concerned with protecting the physical and psychological well-being of the children and students of Dougherty County. This policy provides guidelines for the safe and proper use of computers and the Internet in the Dougherty County School System that seeks to achieve both of these goals.

2. Students may be charged for the replacement/repair cost due to loss or abuse of school property. This includes band instruments, uniforms, and athletic equipment. Students who do not pay fees for extracurricular activities or charges for replacement and repair of school property within 30 days shall not be allowed to participate in non-educational extracurricular activities.

2. Lost and damaged textbooks. A student who loses or damages a textbook will not be denied the use of a textbook in class; however, he or she will not be issued another textbook until the lost or damaged textbook has been paid in full. All students are required to pay for lost or damaged textbooks. These students are issued a textbook to use in the classroom until the textbook is paid for. Students that have not paid for a textbook within thirty days will have their parents contacted and be suspended home until the parent returns for a conference to discuss payment or a payment plan with the school administrator. If the parent does not return the next day with the student, the school will allow the student to return and attend I.S.S. until contact is made with the parent and a payment plan is worked out.

3. Terroristic Threats Policy. All threats of violence will be taken seriously; students and staff are urged to report all such threats to school administrators. Threats of violence are subject to disciplinary action by the school system and to criminal prosecution.

4. Injury to a Teacher. Students will be suspended for acts of physical violence resulting in injury to a teacher. In addition, a student disciplinary tribunal will be conducted for students committing acts of physical violence against a teacher.

5. Student Code of Conduct: Elementary, progressive discipline - 5 levels; Middle and High School, progressive discipline - 3 levels. Parents will sign a form indicating that they have read the Student Code of Conduct. The form is to be returned to the school. The Student Code of Conduct includes a glossary of discipline terms and the levels of discipline.

• Elementary Code of Conduct  
• Middle and High Code of Conduct

6. House Bill 372 (registering to vote at school). This bill provides that each eligible student will be given an opportunity, arranged by the school administrators, to register to vote at school during the month of April each year. This bill became effective July 1, 2001.

7. Retention Guidelines. Children with prior retention shall be referred to the SST. All students repeating the same grade for the third year or students with multiple retentions are required to successfully attend summer school before they are permitted to the next grade. Students must also meet state criteria for promotion (see Board Policy IHE).