AF Amistad High School Family Handbook 2017-2018 | 78 Note: Past disciplinary incidents may not be considered if they were determined in a Manifestation Determination Review to have occurred as a result of a scholar’s documented disability. Where administrators presented the case in support of the charges against the scholar, such administrative staff shall not be present during the deliberations of the Presiding Officer either on questions of evidence or on the final discipline to be imposed. The superintendent/designee may, after reviewing the incident with administrators, and reviewing the scholar’s records, make a recommendation to the Presiding Officer as to the appropriate discipline to be applied. The Presiding Officer shall make findings as to the truth of the charges, if the scholar has denied them, whether the school has followed proper procedures, and in all cases the disciplinary action, if any, to be imposed. In keeping with the Gun Free Schools Act, it shall be the policy of the Board to expel a scholar for one full calendar year whenever the scholar is in the possession of a firearm. The Presiding Officer shall modify the term of the expulsion on a case-by-case basis. The Presiding Officer shall report its final decision in writing to the scholar, the Parent or Guardian, and the Board of Directors if conducted by a Hearing Officer, within 10 days of the hearing, or if the scholar is a minor, also to the parents/guardians, stating the reasons on which the decision is based and the disciplinary action to be imposed. Said decision shall be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing. Only the Board of Directors, through a designated panel of directors or the hearing officer authorized by the board, can expel a scholar. Notice of expulsion and the conduct for which the scholar was expelled, shall be included on the scholar’s cumulative educational record. Such notice, except for notice of an expulsion based upon the possession of a firearm or deadly weapon, shall be expunged from the cumulative educational record if the scholar graduates from high school. When a scholar withdraws from school after having been notified that an Expulsion Hearing is pending, the hearing will naturally be canceled. Achievement First will maintain written records of all suspensions and expulsions, including the name of the scholar, a description of the offending behavior, the disciplinary action taken, and a record of the number of days a scholar has been suspended or removed for disciplinary reasons. The Scholar/Parent may appeal an Expulsion Decision to the full Board of Directors within 10 days of the decision by submitting the Statement of Reasons for Appeal. The Board of Directors shall review the record, including all documents and recordings related to the hearing, and may affirm or reverse the decision of the Presiding Officer. The Board’s role is not to re-hear the evidence, but to determine based on the record whether there a) is sufficient evidence to indicate that a scholar has committed an offense or a pattern of behavior that meet this policy’s definition of an expellable offense and b) the school has followed the policies outlined in the