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, but not limited to the unauthorized use of AI or AI agents ), forgery and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Administrators

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

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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

1. Generative AI: Writing, pictures, or sounds that seem like they were made by a person. It learns from a lot of data and can copy how people create and adapt.
2. Traditional AI: Computer programs that follow set rules and instructions. Once they’re made and start running, they don’t learn or change based on new information.
3. Agentic AI (or AI Agents): Systems that can create their own unique content, execute complex and multi-step tasks with little to no human oversight. Similarly to Generative AI, AI Agents not only learn from their environment and adapt to new situations but also have autonomy and complex execution capabilities as noted above, which are not present in Generative AI.

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

DASA defines harassment and bullying as the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation, or abuse, including cyberbullying. This includes threats, intimidation, and abuse that occurs verbally, non-verbally, or in any form of electronic communication. that: (a) 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 (b) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety; or (c) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical
injury or emotional harm to a student; or (d) 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.

The CROWN Act

DASA was amended in 2021 to add the following definitions for the terms race and protective hairstyles to be consistent with The CROWN Act: Race shall include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles shall include, but not be limited to, such hairstyles as braids, locks, and twists. Examples include a report regarding the punishment, differential treatment or humiliation
of a student, or exclusion of a student from a school function, athletic team, or school yearbook, based on hair texture or protective hairstyle, or the request to alter or actual alteration of a protective hairstyle. CRR 100.2 (kk)

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)).

DASA

The Dignity for All Students Act, or DASA, is a state law intended to create a learning environment free of discrimination and harassment for all students. The law states that no student shall be subjected to discrimination, harassment, or bullying (including cyberbullying) by employees or students on school property, or off school property at a school function, electronically, and when the act may create a risk of substantial disruption at school.

DASA protects all students. DASA explicitly mandates the reporting of all incidents of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination based on, but not limited to, a person’s race, color, weight, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender (which includes gender identity and/or expression), or sex. This includes any act(s) of harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, and/or discrimination of students by other students as well as school personnel.

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/Insubordination

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/Insuborinate (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 that takes place in the context of “harassment or bullying” through creation of a hostile school environment that is so severe or pervasive as to unreasonably and substantially interfere with a student’s education.

Elopement

In an educational setting, elopement is when a student leaves a designated safe area—such as a classroom, playground, or the school building—without permission or adult supervision.

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.

Homicide

Conduct that is intentional or engaged in with reckless disregard for
another person’s life that results in the death of another person.

Inappropriate Behavior

Any action, communication, or conduct—whether physical, verbal, written, or electronic—that substantially disrupts the educational environment or order and discipline of the school, violates district policies, or compromises the safety, dignity, and well-being of students, staff, or visitors.

Internet-Enabled Devices

“Internet-enabled devices” means and includes any smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, smart glasses or other device capable of connecting to the Internet and enabling the user to access content on the Internet, including social media applications.

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 below may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:: 

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

Professional Staff

Any certificated school personnel including, but not limited to, all levels of district- and building- level administration, teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, social workers, speech and language pathologists, library media specialists, coaches, and teaching assistants. In addition, nurses, athletic trainers, occupational therapists, physical therapists and other related services providers who deliver services in and out of the classrooms/virtual learning settings of the Pine Bush Central School District are also regarded as
professional staff under this code.

Restorative Practices

Processes that proactively build healthy relationships and a sense of community to prevent and address conflict and wrongdoing. Restorative practices represent 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) harmed or negatively impacted by the objectionable behavior. Taking responsibility requires understanding how the behavior harmed or negatively 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. While restorative practices are encouraged to be utilized in many circumstances, restorative practices may not be appropriate in certain circumstances.

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.
3. Any district building or facility.

Sexting/Transmission of Lewd, Obscene, Vulgar or Plainly Offensive Images

Creating and/or altering, sending, receiving or forwarding, and/or encouraging the creation, alternation or dissemination of sexual, suggestive, nude or nearly nude photos and/or messages that are lewd, obscene, vulgar and/or plainly offensive through physical means, text messages, emails or any social media, or virtual platforms. 

Sexual Offenses

A) Unwanted Sexual Conduct: Sexual contact or behavior, usually physical, that occurs without the consent of the recipient of such contact or behaviors, including but not limited to sexual assault.

B) 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.

C) 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 executive 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.

Violent Behavior

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.

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. possesses a weapon while on school property or at a school function; 
4. displays what appears to be a weapon while on school property or at a school function;
5. threatens the use of a weapon on school property or at a school function;
6. 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; 
7. 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. Any firearm as defined in the Gun-Free Schools Act, 18 USC §921 of the Gun-Free Schools Act (including a starter gun, which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; the frame or receiver of such firearm; any firearm muffler or silencer; or any destructive device). See also 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, dirk, razor, stiletto, box cutter, cane sword, 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 and/or. 
11. any other device, instrument, material or substance that can cause physical injury, serious physical injury or death when used to cause physical injury, serious physical injury or death.