Section 3 — Student Conduct and Safety

Our Commitment to Safe Schools

Creating and maintaining safe schools for students, staff, and visitors is one of ECS's highest priorities. The district works in partnership with the Emanuel County Emergency Management Agency and local, state, and federal law enforcement to develop and maintain emergency plans for every school.

If you see something, say something.

Agency	Contact
Emanuel County Sheriff's Department	478-237-7526
Swainsboro Police Department	478-237-8967 or police@cityofswainsboro.org
Twin City Police Department	478-763-4140

Emergency Drills and Alert System

All ECS schools conduct emergency drills throughout the school year. The Centegix Alert System is used in all schools to notify students and staff of emergencies.

Alert Color Guide:

Color	Alert Type
🔴 Red	Lockdown
🟡 Yellow	Lockout
⚪ White	Hold
🔴 Green	Evacuate
🔵 Blue	Severe Weather

Other Signals:

Signal	Meaning
Continuous long sounds or verbal instructions	Fire Drill
Verbal instructions	Tornado Alert
Three sounds or verbal instructions	All Clear

What Parents Should Do During an Emergency

During an emergency, the most helpful thing a parent can do is stay calm and stay away. Here is what we ask:

Do not call or come to the school. Phone lines must stay open for emergency communications. Traffic near the school can block first responders.
Do not try to contact your child. Students need to focus on instructions from school staff.
Keep your contact information current. Update your emergency contacts, phone numbers, and email addresses as soon as anything changes. List multiple contacts in case you cannot be reached.
Monitor ECS communications. Emergency information will be sent through the district's mass notification system (phone, email, and text) and posted on:
- ECS website: www.emanuel.k12.ga.us
- ECS Facebook and social media pages
- Local media: Swainsboro Radio, The Blade, WTOC, WSAV, WJBF, WJCL

School Closings and Delayed Dismissal

The Superintendent makes decisions about school closings or schedule changes in consultation with county and municipal public safety agencies. The safety of students, staff, and families is always the top priority.

Parents will be notified of closings or delays as early as possible through the district messaging system and local media.
During severe weather, dismissal may be delayed until conditions are safe.
Schools can safely continue operations and food service through most utility outages. Do not come to pick up your child for a utility outage unless you receive specific instructions from the school.

Emergency Student Release and Reunification

During or after an emergency, students will be released only to authorized adults following safe reunification procedures.

Students will be released from a designated area — not from classrooms or hallways.
Adults picking up students must show valid photo ID.
Students may only be released to individuals listed as emergency contacts in school records.
Noncustodial parents must be listed in the student's emergency contact information and show proper identification.
If a parent or authorized contact cannot be reached, the student will remain under staff supervision until pickup.
If students must be moved off campus, an alternate pickup location will be announced through the district messaging system and local media at the time of the event.

After a crisis, school counselors and school psychologists are available to provide emotional support to students and staff. Contact your school's principal or district Safety Coordinator with any questions: Rusty Kea — 478-237-6674 or rkea@emanuel.k12.ga.us

School Bus Transportation

Bus transportation is a privilege, not a right. It may be suspended based on a student's conduct. All school rules apply on the bus and at bus stops — both are considered extensions of the school campus.

Bus Stop Rules

Arrive at your stop 5 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. Buses cannot wait for late students.
Wait 12 feet away from traffic in an orderly line.
Do not speak to strangers or get into a vehicle with anyone you don't know. Report this to your driver, teacher, or parent immediately.
Keep electronics packed away while boarding. You must be able to hear at all times.
Respect the property and peace of the neighborhood around your stop.
If you miss the bus, go home and get help — never walk to another stop.

Rules on the Bus

Follow the bus driver's instructions at all times.
Stay seated while the bus is moving. Keep hands, feet, and head inside the bus.
Be completely quiet at all railroad crossings.
No eating, drinking, or chewing gum. No glass containers.
No profane, vulgar, or obscene language or gestures.
No fighting, roughhousing, pushing, shoving, or physical contact of any kind.
No tobacco, vaping, alcohol, drugs, weapons, or fireworks.
No use of electronic devices, mirrors, lasers, or reflective devices that could distract the driver.
No damage to any part of the bus interior or exterior.
Personal belongings are the student's responsibility. The district is not liable for items left on the bus.

Parents are not permitted to view bus videos due to the privacy rights of other students. Video footage may be used in disciplinary hearings.

Bus Supervision Policy (O.C.G.A. / Policy 2104.4)

For the safety of young children at bus stops:

Age	Supervision Requirement
8 and under	Must have a visible adult present at the bus stop
9–12	May be alone for brief periods (less than 2 hours), based on maturity
13 and older	May be left alone and may babysit (up to 12 hours, with parental authorization)

Bus Discipline Procedures

The school principal — not the bus driver — handles all bus discipline. Drivers may reassign seats but do not administer discipline directly.

Elementary School:

Offense	Consequence
1st	Driver speaks with student or reassigns seat; contacts administrator if unresolved; documents actions
2nd	Principal counsels student; student placed on probation; parents contacted
3rd	1-day bus suspension
4th	3-day bus suspension
5th	5-day bus suspension
6th	10-day bus suspension
Subsequent	10+ days; additional discipline at principal's discretion

Middle / High School:

Offense	Consequence
1st	Principal counsels student; student placed on probation; parents contacted
2nd	1-day bus suspension
3rd	3-day bus suspension
4th	5-day bus suspension
5th	10-day bus suspension
Subsequent	10+ days; additional discipline at principal's discretion

Serious offenses (bullying, physical assault or battery on the bus) will require the parent or guardian to meet with school officials and sign a school bus behavior contract. The contract may include assigned seating, ongoing parental involvement, and suspension from bus privileges.

Student Dress Code (Grades 6–12)

Students are expected to dress neatly and appropriately at all times — at school, on the bus, and at school events. The principal or designee makes the final call on any questionable item of clothing or appearance.

Administrator Discretion Notice: All dress code provisions are enforced at the discretion of the school principal or designee in a manner consistent with applicable state and federal law.

High school students enrolled in pathway programs with required uniforms (JROTC, CTE, etc.) may wear those uniforms throughout the school day, provided they meet program requirements.

Standard School Day — Required Attire

Item	Requirements
Tops	Solid white, black, gray, or khaki polo or oxford shirt; or the school's designated color. Shirts with official collegiate logos are permitted. Political messages or symbols are permitted on clothing, accessories, and jewelry to the same extent that other non-offensive messages and logos are permitted, consistent with state law and the First Amendment. Insignia must be no larger than a credit card. Shirts more than 3 inches below the natural waist must be tucked in. No more than two chest pockets. School spirit shirts and sanctioned club shirts are allowed.
Bottoms	Solid khaki or black pants, slacks, shorts, skirts, skorts, or capri pants. Must be standard twill, cotton, or polyester. Must be worn at the natural waist with a belt. Shorts, skirts, and skorts must be no more than 2 inches above the knee.
Layering — Over Shirt	Jackets, windbreakers, sweaters, vests, sweatshirts, or fleece in school-approved colors. Hoods may not be worn inside the building. No prints, plaids, or camouflage.
Cold Weather Gear	Jackets and coats in solid gold, white, red, black, gray, khaki, brown, or combinations (e.g., Letterman jackets). No trench coats or dusters. No logos larger than a credit card.
Under Shirt	Solid white, black, or school color undershirt, camisole, or turtleneck.
Shoes	Safe and appropriate shoes required at all times. No bedroom shoes, heelies, stilettos, or heels taller than 3 inches. No flip flops or athletic shoes in lab settings.
Socks / Tights / Hose	Solid neutral, black, white, gray, or school color only.

Always Prohibited

Hats, caps, visors, scarves, rollers, sweatbands, bandannas, or sunglasses inside the building

Torn, ripped, or holey clothing that exposes skin or undergarments
Denim jeans, skirts, or shorts of any kind
Leggings, jeggings, yoga/exercise pants, or athletic shorts
Knit pants or footless tights
Sagging clothing — clothes must fit properly
Body piercings except earrings or a small nose stud. No grills, fronts, nose bars, chains, or gauges.
Clothing, jewelry, or accessories displaying offensive, obscene, vulgar, or gang-related content. Political or ideological messages are not prohibited solely on the basis of their viewpoint, provided they do not otherwise violate the standards above.
Visible tattoos depicting nudity, vulgarity, or gang imagery
Extreme hair colors (blue, pink, purple, green, etc.) or styles that disrupt the learning environment. No mohawks.
Belts with oversized, ornate, or offensive buckles

Dress Down / Spirit Days

On designated dress-down days, the following apply in addition to general standards:

No see-through, sheer, or mesh garments. Undergarments must not be visible.
No tank tops, halter tops, low-cut tops, or midriff-baring clothing
No sundresses cut lower than the shoulder blades in the back, or with cut-out areas
Skirts, shorts, and dresses must be no more than 2 inches above the kneecap
All shirts more than 3 inches below the waist must be tucked in
No chains or chained wallets
No clothing bearing alcohol, tobacco, sexual, or offensive references
Same shoe requirements apply
Hair must be a natural color and style. No hats, caps, or bandannas. No sunglasses indoors (except prescribed eyewear with principal's approval).

Dress Code — Non-Compliance Consequences

Incident	Consequence
1st	Warning, parent contact, student must correct clothing
2nd	Loss of privileges, after-school detention, or ISS
3rd	Addressed under Code of Conduct; consequences based on severity and discipline history

Exceptions — A student is not considered non-compliant when:

Within the first 2 weeks after transferring from another school system
The principal has authorized a dress-down day or given special permission
A teacher or advisor has obtained principal approval for a specific uniform (band, JROTC, sports team, etc.)

Search and Seizure

School administrators may search students, lockers, and vehicles when there is reasonable suspicion that a violation of school policy or law has occurred. Metal detectors may also be used on a random basis before, during, or after school.

Type of Search	Conditions
Personal search (student's person or belongings)	Reasonable suspicion that student possesses a weapon or prohibited item. Search will not be intrusive. Refusal to submit results in a 10-day suspension and a principal’s recommendation for expulsion, with eligibility for re-enrollment.
Locker search	Lockers are school property. May be searched at any time, without notice or student consent.
Vehicle search	Students park on campus as a privilege. Exteriors may be inspected at any time. Interiors may be searched with reasonable suspicion of illegal or unauthorized items.
Campus safety searches	Drug- and weapon-sniffing canines and metal detectors may be used district-wide on unannounced dates in cooperation with law enforcement.

Any illegal or contraband materials found during a search will be turned over to the appropriate authorities.

Law Enforcement on Campus

Georgia law authorizes law enforcement to come onto school campuses to interview or arrest students. While ECS will make every effort to notify parents beforehand, the school cannot prevent law enforcement from carrying out their duties.

Georgia law does not require law enforcement to have a parent present when questioning a juvenile.
Law enforcement officers will be asked to sign a release form before removing a student from school.
School staff are required by law to report certain criminal acts to law enforcement, including: aggravated battery; carrying a deadly weapon at a public gathering; possession, use, sale, or transfer of marijuana or illegal drugs; certain sexual offenses; and terroristic threats.