Principals have the authority to make disciplinary judgments regarding in-school suspension (ISS) and short-term (nine days or less) out-of-school suspension (OSS). OSS/expulsions which exceed nine days require a district-level due process hearing.
Students are to notify an administrator or staff member when illegal items are found in the school building or on the school campus. Students are advised not to pick up or handle illegal items.
School officials may search a student and his/her possessions if there is reasonable suspicion the student is in possession of an item that is illegal, against school rules or threatens the health, safety or welfare of any person. School-owned and maintained property including, but not limited to, student devices, backpacks, lockers, desks, files, and other storage areas are subject to inspection/search at any time without permission of the individual using the property. At the discretion of school administrators, metal detectors and drug or weapon sniffing dogs may be utilized at school or at any school function, including activities which occur outside normal school hours or off campus.
State law requires that certain criminal offenses committed by a student while on school property or at a school function be reported by the school principal to the appropriate law enforcement authority and the district attorney. The crimes include aggravated battery, carrying a deadly weapon at a public gathering, any illegal activity involving drugs, or any criminal sexual offense.
Any student who has been arrested, charged, or convicted of a felony or an offense which would be considered to be a felony if the student were an adult may be placed in an alternative school setting, suspended, or expelled if it is determined by school officials that the student’s presence at school is reasonably certain to cause substantial disruption to the education climate or will adversely affect the safety or wellbeing of other students or staff.
WARNING! It is a felony for any person to carry, possess, or have under such person’s control while at a school building, school function, or school property, or on a bus or other transportation furnished by the school, any weapon or explosive compound. The term “weapon” means and includes any pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, any other knife, straight-edge razor, razor blade, spring stick, metal knucks, black jack, nunchucka, suriken, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a way as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chuck, any bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon, or fighting chain, or any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two parts or pointed blades which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, or any weapon of kind, and any stun gun or taser.
WARNING! Any person who commits the offense of aggravated battery upon a student or teacher or other school personnel within a school safety zone (areas within 1,000 feet of any school campus or other school facility) shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than five nor more than 20 years.
Acts of Physical Violence Against School System Employees:
The Oxford School District Board of Trustees is required by Mississippi law to hear any case alleging an assault or battery or an act of physical violence against a teacher, school bus driver or other school official or employee. The principal will determine all issues of fact and intent and submit all findings and recommendations to the Superintendent.
