While recognizing that students may require disciplinary action in various forms, the Board of Education cannot condone the use of unreasonable force and fear as an appropriate procedure in student discipline.

Professional staff should not find it necessary to resort to physical force or violence to compel obedience. If all other means fail, staff members may always resort to removal of the student from the classroom or school through suspension or expulsion procedures.

Professional staff as well as service personnel staff, within the scope of their employment, may use and apply reasonable force and restraint to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to others, to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects upon or within the control of the student, in self-defense, or for the protection of persons or property. Staff shall be trained to utilize restraint methods.

Corporal punishment shall not be permitted. If any employee threatens to inflict, inflicts, or causes to be inflicted unnecessary, unreasonable, irrational, or inappropriate force upon a student, s/he may be subject to discipline by this Board and possibly charges of child abuse as well. This prohibition applies as well to volunteers and those with whom the County contracts for services.

The Board shall adopt policies providing for the training of school personnel in alternatives to corporal punishment and for the involvement of parent(s), guardian(s) or custodian(s) in the maintenance of school discipline. The Board shall provide for the incorporation and implementation in the schools of a preventive discipline program which may include the responsible student program and a student involvement program which may include the peer mediation program. The Board shall provide in-service training for teachers and principals relating to assertive discipline procedures and conflict resolution. The Board may also establish cooperatives with private entities to provide middle educational programs which may include programs focusing on developing individual coping skills, conflict resolution, anger control, self-esteem issues, stress management and decision-making for students and any other program related to preventive discipline.

The Superintendent shall provide administrative guidelines which shall include a list of alternatives to corporal punishment.

WV State Board of Education Policy 4373
WV Code § 18A-5-1(e)