These rules are intended to promote maximum safety, develop a positive climate for living,  encourage courtesy and respect, maintain a good atmosphere for learning, and protect the rights  and property of schools and others.  Any violation of the following rules may result in disciplinary  action being taken by the school. 

A student shall not commit any act not listed herein that constitutes a felony, misdemeanor, or  violation of an ordinance. 

For purposes of this section of the Code of Conduct, the term "Substance" shall include, but not be  limited to, the following: alcohol; illegal drugs; un-prescribed drugs; narcotics; hallucinogens; amphetamines; barbiturates; marijuana; steroids; caffeine tablets; K2, spice, posh, "legal weed", or  any other marijuana substitute; look-alike drugs; or any substance that is represented to be, to  contain, to mimic, or be used to produce the same or similar effects as illegal drugs, narcotics,  hallucinogens, amphetamines, barbiturates, marijuana, alcohol, CBD products, stimulants,  depressants, or other intoxicants; or any other controlled substance as defined under the laws of  Ohio or federal law. 

A student shall not possess, solicit, use, conceal, sell, offer to sell, purchase, be under the influence  of, show evidence of consumption, supply, distribute, or transmit any substance, or otherwise  violate board policy.      

"Possession" includes, but is not limited to, retention of a Substance on the student's person or in a  purse, wallet, locker, desk, or vehicle.  Included in this prohibition is the possession of drug  paraphernalia, which includes, but is not limited to, rolling papers and other items used to inject,  inhale, administer, deliver, ingest or otherwise consume a Substance.  

No student shall possess any counterfeit " Substance," as the term is defined under "Alcohol and  Drugs." No student shall possess any counterfeit money,  nor shall any student make, sell, offer to  sell, give, package, conceal, supply, transmit, or deliver a counterfeit Substance.  Possession is  defined under "Alcohol and Drugs."   

No student shall directly or indirectly represent a counterfeit Substance as a Substance that is  prohibited by the Code of Conduct by describing, either with words or conduct, its effects as being  the same or similar to the physical or mental effects associated with the use of a Substance.   

1. Any Substance that bears, or whose container or label bears, a trademark, trade name, or other  identifying mark used without authorization of the owner or rights to such trademark, trade  name, or identifying mark; 
2. Any unmarked or unlabeled contraband that is represented to be a Substance prohibited by  the Code of Conduct, which is manufactured, processed, packaged, or distributed; c. Anything that is represented to be a Substance prohibited by the Code of Conduct but does not  fall within the definition of a "Substance." 
3. Anything that a reasonable person would believe to be a Substance prohibited by the Code of  Conduct because of its similarity in shape, size, color, markings, labeling, packaging,  distribution, or the price for which it is sold or offered for sale.   

A student shall not possess, transmit, or conceal a dangerous weapon, dangerous instrument, or  “look-alike” counterfeit weapon or instrument.  Such items include, but are not limited to,  explosives, bullets, fireworks, mace, firearms, knives, BB or pellet guns, or any object that can  reasonably be considered a dangerous instrument.  Look-alike weapons include, but are not  limited to, any object a reasonable person might consider, under the circumstances, to be a  weapon or dangerous instrument. 

Additionally, ORC Section 2923.122 makes it a felony for any person to knowingly convey, attempt  to convey, or possess any deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto or on any property owned  by or controlled by, or to any activity held under the auspices of, a school.  A violation may result in the student being expelled for a period of up to one calendar year. Violators of the Code of  Conduct may be referred to civil authorities.  See board policy.

No student shall induce panic, i.e., cause the evacuation of any school building or otherwise cause  serious public inconvenience or alarm, by: 

1. initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime,  or other catastrophe, knowing that such a report or warning is false.  Examples include, but are  not limited to, pulling a fire alarm when you know there is no fire, making a bomb threat when  you know there is no bomb, and making a fake “hit list.” 
2. threatening to commit an offense of violence, as that term is defined in ORC Section 2917.31.   Examples include, but are not limited to, threatening to kill, assault, kidnap, rape, or rob  someone; to commit extortion; to provoke a riot; to commit arson; or to discharge a firearm at  or into a school. 
3. committing any offense with reckless disregard of the likelihood that its commission will cause  serious public inconvenience or alarm.  For purposes of this policy, reckless disregard means  perversely disregarding a known risk that your conduct is likely to cause serious public  inconvenience or alarm, and being heedlessly indifferent to the effects of your actions on  others. 

Any student who violates this rule will be subject to school discipline, in accordance with board  policy and the Code of Conduct.  In addition, any student who violates this rule may be referred to  the authorities.  Under Ohio law, any person who “induces panic” is guilty of a felony, regardless of  whether anyone is hurt or the school suffers economic harm.  Students may be expelled for one  calendar year.  See ORC Section 2917.31. 

A student shall not initiate a fire alarm or initiate a report warning of a fire, bombing, bomb threat,  or other catastrophe or emergency without cause, or give false information or falsely report  school incidents.  A violation may result in the student being expelled for a period of up to one  calendar year.  

A student shall not knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to any school building or  school property or private property of another, including the private property of school employees  on school property.  Parents, guardians, or custodians shall be held financially responsible for any  such property damage, by their child, pursuant to O.R.C. 3109.09, 2307.70, and any other applicable  sections of law.  A student could be expelled for up to one calendar year.  The building administrator  will determine the extent of the damage and will assign discipline. 

A student shall not commit an act of extortion, threatened extortion, or threaten reprisals in order  to secure an object, benefit, or service from another person.

This is the act of physically touching or hitting, throwing objects at, or making physical threats to a  student or employee of the school system, or any other person, while on school property or while  at a school event. This includes spitting or forcing bodily fluid onto a person. A violation may  result in the student being expelled for a period of up to one calendar year. 

A student shall not disrupt, attempt to disrupt, or urge others to disrupt the educational process,  normal school operations, or any school or school-sponsored activity by violence, force, noise,  coercion, threat, intimidation, fear, passive resistance, or other disorderly conduct

A student shall not burn or attempt to burn any part of any building or objects therein, or any  other property belonging to another person or to Pickerington Schools. 

Students are discouraged from bringing valuable items to school. The school cannot assume  responsibility for losses or damages.   

A student shall not steal or attempt to steal property. If a student finds an item that does not belong to them, they must immediately turn it in to a staff member. A person commits a theft when they: 

1. Obtains or exerts unauthorized control over property of the owner (including computer  software or copyrighted material); or 
2. Obtains by deception control over property of the owner; or 
3. Obtains by threat control over property of the owner; or 
4. Obtains control over stolen property, knowing the property to have been stolen or under circumstances that would lead them to reasonably believe that the property was stolen, and they: 
   1. intends to deprive the owner of the use or benefit of the property; or
   2. knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the property in such a manner as to deprive the  owner of such use or benefit; or
   3. uses, conceals, or abandons the property, knowing such use, concealment, or abandonment probably will deprive the owner of such use or benefit. 

Harassing, hazing, intimidation, bullying, and/or dating violence behavior by any student/school  personnel in the District is strictly prohibited, and such conduct may result in disciplinary action,  including suspension and/or expulsion from school. Harassment, hazing, intimidation, bullying, and/or dating violence means any intentional written, verbal, electronic, graphic, or physical acts,  including electronically transmitted acts, either overt or covert, by a student or group of students toward other students or school personnel with the intent to haze, harass, intimidate, injure,  threaten, ridicule or humiliate.  Such behaviors are prohibited on or immediately adjacent to  school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity; in any District publication; through the use of  any District-owned or operated communication tools, including but not limited to District e-mail  accounts and/or computers; on school-provided transportation; or at any official school bus stop. 

Hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying, or dating violence can include many different  behaviors.  Examples of conduct that could constitute prohibited behaviors include, but are not  limited to: 

1. physical violence and/or attacks;
2. threats, taunts, and intimidation through words and/or gestures;
3. extortion, damage, or stealing of money and/or possessions;
4. exclusion from the peer group or spreading rumors;
5. repetitive and hostile behavior with the intent of harming others through the use of information  and communication technologies and other web-based/online sites (also known as “cyber  bullying), such as the following:
   1. posting slurs on websites, social networking sites, blogs, or personal online journals;
   2. ending abusive or threatening e-mails, website postings, or comments and instant  messages;
   3. using camera phones to take embarrassing photographs or videos of students and/or distribute or post the photos or videos online; and
   4. using websites, social networking sites, blogs, or personal online journals, e-mails or  instant messages to circulate gossip and rumors to other students.
6. excluding others from an online group by falsely reporting them for inappropriate language to  internet service providers. 

The possessing, taking, disseminating, transferring, or sharing of nude, obscene, pornographic,  lewd, or otherwise illegal images or photographs, whether by electronic data transfer or  otherwise (commonly called texting, emailing, or sexting, etc.) may constitute a crime under state  and/or federal law.  Any person possessing, taking, disseminating, or sharing nude, obscene,  pornographic, lewd, or otherwise illegal images or photographs may be punished under this Code of Conduct and may be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. 

Students shall not engage in inappropriate sexual misconduct on school grounds or at school  sanctioned events. 

A student shall not use abusive, obscene, profane, or offensive language, gestures, or signs toward  another student, school employee, or adult.

Ohio law prohibits pupils from smoking and/or using and/or possessing tobacco in any area  under the control of the school district or at any activity supervised by any school in that district. E-cigarettes, vaping, juuling, IQOS, or the use of other similar devices used to inhale or ingest foreign substances will be treated as a drug violation. 

Therefore, a student shall not smoke, otherwise use, possess, buy, sell, attempt to sell, distribute, or  burn tobacco in any form, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, vaping  devices, cigars, clove cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and/or any other nicotine product.   Students may be assumed to be smoking if any one of the following conditions exists;

1. odor of smoke present,
2. more than one person in a restroom stall,
3. or refusing to come out of the stall if asked. 

A student shall not falsely represent, attempt to falsely represent, or lie concerning any  information to be used by or given to school officials; use the name or identity of another person;  or forge any school forms or information. 

A student shall not distribute or sell any material that has not been authorized by an  administrator. 

A student shall not fail to comply with reasonable requests or directives of adults or school  employees. 

A student shall not knowingly make, sell, or offer to sell, receive, or distribute any substance that is  available to purchase without a prescription. 

A student shall not be in any unauthorized area of school grounds or any Pickerington Schools  building without permission. 

A repeated violation of any rule in the Student Code of Conduct is subject to additional penalties.