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Zero tolerance, major offenses and other offenses cover everything from dress code violations to homicide.
By DONNA WINCHESTER
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 9, 2001
The Pinellas County school district's Code of Student Conduct, which was revised in 1999, divides offenses into three categories: zero tolerance, major offenses and other offenses.
Offenses under the zero tolerance category include homicide, sexual battery, kidnapping or aggravated battery; battery upon, or threat toward, a school employee; possession, use or sale of alcohol, drugs or drug paraphernalia; bomb threats, false fire alarms, or general threats to the school population; arson; and breaking into school property.
Zero-tolerance offenses result in a 10-day out-of-school suspension, recommendation for expulsion or reassignment, and law enforcement referral where appropriate.
Major offenses include robbery, vandalism or trespassing, use of profanity toward a school employee, and continuous disruptive behavior. They result in out-of-school suspension.
Three additional types of major offenses carry specific consequences: sexual harassment results in in-school or out-of-school suspension, and reassignment or expulsion; fighting results in up to a 10-day suspension and completion of peer mediation, conflict resolution or anger management training; and use or possession of tobacco results in a parent conference, referral to law enforcement, and anti-tobacco education. Subsequent tobacco-related offenses could result in out-of-school suspension.
Other offenses include tardiness and dress-code violations. Consequences are relatively minor, but repeated violations can result in out-of-school suspension.