PTHS Student Handbook 2026-2027

1. ​ A student must be given the opportunity to present information on his/her own behalf prior to suspension. The suspension shall be reported immediately by phone to the parents or guardians of each suspended student and to the Superintendent of Schools. The report to the parents/guardians shall be made by letter through the U.S. mail. A copy of this letter will be sufficient notification to all others. The suspension will begin immediately unless a formal appeal has been made to the appropriate administrator. 2. ​ The suspension letter shall give a full statement of the reasons for the suspension and notice to the parents or guardian of their right to review. The procedure for review, if requested, shall be as follows: a. ​ All requests for review shall be made by the parents or guardians within ten days after receipt of “Notice of Suspension” and shall be made to the person ordering the suspension. b. ​ The parents or guardians requesting the review shall appear and discuss the suspension or expulsion with the Board of Education or a Board-appointed Hearing Officer. Hearings shall be heard within ten days after receiving the request for review. c. ​ Thereafter, if a hearing officer is used, he/she shall report to the Board, by written summary, the evidence heard at the meeting. d. ​ Upon request of the report, the Board may take such action as it finds appropriate. Hearings thereon shall be held in executive session for the protection of the student involved. 3. ​ A student shall be reinstated after suspension by the Principal or his/her representative only. Further continuance of school is contingent upon the conduct of the student being consistent with that which is expected of good school citizens. Reinstatement may occur only after a parental conference involving appropriate school personnel. DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ●​ Behavioral Interventions - Behavioral interventions shall be used with students with disabilities to promote and strengthen desirable behaviors and reduce identified inappropriate behaviors. The School Board or an appointed designee will establish and maintain a committee to develop, implement, and monitor procedures on the use of behavioral interventions for children with disabilities. ●​ Discipline of Special Education Students - The District shall comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 and the Illinois State Board of Education’s Special Education rules when disciplining special education students. No special education student shall be expelled if the student’s particular act of gross disobedience or misconduct is a manifestation of his or her disability. PREVENTION OF AND RESPONSE TO BULLYING, INTIMIDATION, AND HARASSMENT Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment are important district and school goals. Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, sex, sexual orientation, gender orientation, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, physical appearance, socioeconomic status, academic status, order of protection status, homelessness, actual or marital status, parenting status, pregnancy, parenting status, association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in each of the following situations: 1. ​ During any school-sponsored education program or activity. 2. ​ While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities.