City of Casa Grande

PARTICIPANT BEHAVIOR STANDARD AND DISCIPLINE PLAN

The following Participant Behavior Standard and Discipline Plan have been prepared to help your child experience a successful and enjoyable time at the Teen Center. Please take time to read this carefully and go over it with your son/daughter.

*          Participants will be courteous and respectful of adults, volunteers and fellow participants

*          Participants will obey rules of the facility

*          Participants will show respect for city property and personal property of others

Education Code:   ARS 15-842 Arizona State Law makes parents fully responsible for losses of and damages to educational property by students.

Fees, Fines and Assessments: Fees, fines, etc. are payable by check or cash. Checks should be made payable to the City of Casa Grande. There will be a fee charged for returned checks in the amount of the banks charge to the City of Casa Grande.

Enforcement of Facility Rules: Facility rules will be enforced at all times, including, but not limited to: While at the Teen Center, and while going to and from the Teen Center.

Suspension: All participants are expected to observe accepted standards of our society. There is good cause to suspend participants who exhibit continued and willful disobedience. (Please refer to Participant Behavior Standard).

Administrative Suspension: Discipline at the Teen Center will be administered with firmness, fairness and consistency. We realize that the parent has a great responsibility in the area of discipline. We feel it is important for the Teen Center and parent to work together toward this goal. (Please refer to Participant Behavior Standard and Discipline Plan)

Participant Behavior: If a participant becomes aware of any potentially dangerous and/or illegal situations regarding weapons, drugs, alcohol, fights, property damage, theft, etc., or has information regarding such, he/she is requested to report it to a staff member or adult volunteer.

Admittance: Once a participant arrives at the Teen Center and then leaves, he/she will not be re-admitted. Those participants who leave before check-out time will be asked to sign or swipe out by name and time for verification.

Personal Property: All personal property (backpacks, purses, containers, etc.) are subject to search. The Community Services Department and Teen Center is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen property.

Appropriate Use of Teen Center Computers and Internet Services:   Teens will sign up for time to use the computers at the Teen Center. You must leave your Resident Youth Card at the front desk and you may pick it up when are finished and logged off. There will be time limits for use. Please see additional handouts regarding wireless internet access policy and rules for use of the teen center computers and the Internet

The following is a list of general rules to guide participant behavior at the Casa Grande Teen Center. The list is not to be considered all-inclusive. Parents should promote cooperation and agreement between the home and Teen Center in an attempt to develop citizenship and high standards of behavior in our youth.

Assault/Battery Upon any city of Casa Grande Employee or Teen Center Volunteer: It is not permissible to commit assault or battery upon others while at the Teen Center. The City of Casa Grande Police Department will be notified and all applicable state and federal laws will be enforced.

Assault, Sexual/Battery: It is not permissible to commit sexual assault or battery upon others while at the Teen Center. The Casa Grande Police Department will be notified and all applicable state and federal laws will be enforced.

Bicycles/Skate Boards: Participants may ride bicycles and skate boards to the Teen Center, providing that all traffic laws are obeyed. Best practice recommends participants to wear a helmet while riding their bicycles. Bicycles should be locked to a bike rack to prevent theft. The City of Casa Grande assumes no responsibility for thefts or vandalism.

Defiance, Refusal to Obey Authority: Participants are expected to follow the instruction of the City of Casa Grande Community Services Department staff and Teen Center Volunteers. If a participant disobeys any employee or Teen Center Volunteer either by action or word, he/she will be considered defiant. Severe defiance will result in suspension.

Participants at the Teen Center have the responsibility to dress and appear in a manner that promotes a safe, neat, clean and wholesome environment. Participants are expected to dress appropriately. 

The final authority for what is appropriate, clean, safe and non-disruptive shall rest with the City of Casa Grande Community Services Department and Teen Center Volunteers.

Extortion/Robbery/Blackmail: The Casa Grande Teen Center administrators will notify Parents and

Police and recommend mandatory expulsion of a participant for extortion, robbery or blackmail.

False Information: Participants are to properly identify themselves to all City of Casa Grande staff and Teen Center Volunteers. Participants are not to forge signatures nor falsify any information concerning the Teen Center. Providing false information may result in disqualification from the Teen Center.

Fighting is Prohibited: Participants are to use staff or Teen Center Volunteers to discuss problems they are having with other participants. If a fight occurs, all participants, including bystanders who provoke and encourage such behavior will be subject to suspension. Teen Center staff and volunteers will recommend participant(s) expulsion for causing serious physical injury to another person, except in self-defense.

Firecrackers or Other Explosives: State law prohibits the possession and use of firecrackers or other explosives.

Gambling: Any form of gambling is prohibited.

Gangs: Wearing, carrying or physically displaying gang paraphernalia or making gestures that symbolize gang membership is prohibited. Engaging is an activity that it gang related is prohibited.  Any gang activity will be reported to the City of Casa Grande Police Department and all applicable state and federal laws will be enforced.

Harassment/Hate Crimes: It is not permissible to harass others while at the Teen Center. The Casa Grande Police Department will be notified and all applicable state and federal laws will be enforced.

Hazing: It is against the law for a participant to engage in any hazing activity or threaten to engage in any activity that causes or is likely to cause bodily harm or personal degradation to another participant. Threats or other forms of hazing should be immediately reported to Casa Grande staff or Teen Center Volunteers.

Illegal Substances, Drugs and Alcohol: Use of, being under the influence of, or possession of any illegal substance at the Teen Center or at any city-sponsored activity will be reported to the Casa Grande Police Department and is grounds for immediate suspension.

Substances: Permanent felt pens, aerosol spray cans of any type, glue, and liquid white-out are not to be brought to the Teen Center. 

Interpersonal Relationships: Appropriate personal relationships are encouraged. The Teen Centers policy is one of “hands-off.” Hugging and kissing are not appropriate while at the Teen Center. Sexual harassment will not be tolerated.

Loitering: Participants are not to loiter anywhere outside the Teen Center or in the parking lot. Once a participant signs out of the Teen Center, they should leave the premises, including the parking lot.

Serious Injury, Attempting to Cause: If a participant attempts to cause serious injury to another person, except in the case of self-defense, it will be recommended they be expelled from the Teen Center. The Casa Grande Police Department will be notified and all applicable state and federal laws will be enforced.

Swearing/Profanity: Participants are not to use profanity or vulgar language. Swearing will not be tolerated. Participants will be counseled to be aware of their language. The circumstances will determine if more severe consequences are needed. Final decisions on what is appropriate language shall rest with the Casa Grande Staff and Teen Center Volunteers.

Theft: Participants have the responsibility to taking care of their own possessions. Make sure that bicycles are locked. Money should be kept in a safe place at all times. Theft is a serious violation of the law and will be dealt with severely. Participants are discouraged from bringing large amounts of money or valuable items to the Teen Center. Staff and Volunteers cannot hold money for any participant.

Threats: Threats of personal injury upon other participants are strictly prohibited and will be dealt with severely.

Tobacco, Possession of Tobacco and Smoking: If a participant of the Teen Center has in his/her possession, tobacco or cigarettes, cigarette lighters or matches, this is grounds for suspension. Participants who are with other participants who are smoking should make a responsible decision to remove themselves from this area. Otherwise, they, too, may be suspended. The Casa Grande Police Department will be notified when participants are in possession of tobacco products.

*          Personal respect for others should be taken into consideration for participants and management.

*          Cell phones/pagers should be used in the multipurpose room ONLY.

*          Cell phones/pagers must be silenced in the computer lab, TV area and during certain evening activities.

Vandalism: Damaging city property or the property of others will not be tolerated. Depending upon circumstances, a police report will be made. Parents will be liable to pay for damages.

Weapons: Will not be allowed in or around the Teen Center or at any city sponsored event or activity. If a staff person sees, a weapon on a person, said person will be asked to leave the weapon in their vehicle.