Introduction

Once students have met the necessary admission requirements and have been accepted and enrolled at Scranton Preparatory School, the school warmly welcomes these students for the coming school year and will strive to provide them with a solid education in a supportive learning environment that nurtures their spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social development. Students and parents must always be mindful that attendance at Scranton Preparatory School is by invitation. It is not a “right” because this is a private school. Admission to and continued enrollment in this school include responsibilities regarding conduct, both inside and outside the classroom and school, and students are expected to conduct themselves in such a manner as to be a credit both to themselves and to their school.

Life at Scranton Prep is founded on honesty, mutual trust, and consideration for others. All students are expected to abide by the rules and regulations that have been established to ensure the well-being of the entire community, as well as the rights of each member of the community. If a student or his or her parents or guardians are unwilling to accept these rules, the student should not enroll at Scranton Prep.

In order to protect its standards of scholarship, discipline and character, Scranton Preparatory School reserves the right, and students and parents or guardians concede to the school the right to require the withdrawal of any student at any time, for any reason deemed sufficient in the sole discretion of the school and its administrators. By the student’s attendance at the school, a student and his or her parents or guardians acknowledge the important obligations and restrictions contained in this handbook and agree to be bound by the terms of this handbook.

Students attending Scranton Preparatory School relinquish certain rights they might otherwise be entitled to if they were attending a public school. For example, a student’s freedom of speech is limited in many important respects here at our school. Speech, either written or oral, contrary or disruptive to the philosophy and purposes of our school is prohibited. Another important right all students at Scranton Preparatory School surrender involves searches and seizures. School administrators may search a student’s person and belongings (including, but not limited to, school bags and electronic devices) if there is a reasonable belief, in the sole opinion of the school administrator, that a violation of a school rule or regulation has occurred. Any unauthorized or offending items found may be seized. Additionally, student desks and lockers, which are at all times under the joint control of the school and the student to whom the desk or locker has been assigned, may be searched by school administrators at any time, for any reason or for no reason at all.

Students should have absolutely no expectation of privacy with regard to any item in their desks or lockers.

Another important right that a student and his or her parents or guardians relinquish when they decide to have a student attend this school is the right to initiate legal proceedings against the school, the Board of Trustees and those charged with governance, and/or any individuals acting on behalf of the school, such as the school administrators, teachers, staff or any of their agents for any matter relating to academic or disciplinary decisions or other matters covered within this handbook. Each student and his or her parents or guardians, by their acceptance of enrollment at Scranton Preparatory School agree to and accept the school’s rule and policy that students, parents, and guardians may not bring any civil action in any local, state, or federal court or in any administrative agency or body to challenge any school decision on academic or disciplinary matters, including any decision relating to the rules, regulations, procedures, or programs covered within this handbook. Students and parents or guardians agree that any challenge to any school academic or disciplinary action or relating to the rules, regulations, procedures, or programs covered in this handbook may only be challenged or appealed within the hierarchy of the school, subject to the limitations contained in this handbook. This includes any decision relating to a student’s enrollment at the school or termination of that enrollment.

While any student and his or her parents or guardians are of course free to consult with legal counsel regarding any school decision taken with respect to a student, the school emphasizes that students and parents or guardians are not permitted to have legal counsel present during any meetings with school administrators. School administrators are not obligated to meet with legal counsel at any time.

There are several grounds for disciplinary action or expulsion set forth in this handbook. It should be noted, however, that any listing of prohibited conduct is set forth by way of example only and to provide guidance to the student and his or her parents or guardians. It is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of improper conduct or resultant disciplinary action.

At all times, whether at school or away from school, students are expected to maintain the standards of Scranton Prep by conducting themselves with courtesy, thoughtfulness, and responsibility. A Scranton Prep student’s conduct should always be based on consideration for others. In the absence of more specific regulations, these general guidelines should govern the student’s behavior.