c. Hearing Officer Script

5. Student is given an opportunity to explain one’s account of the events. Clarifying questions may be asked by the hearing officer during the student’s statement but they must be relevant to the case being discussed. 6. After these items are covered, the discussion should move in to the impact the student’s behavior had on the community, other choices which could have been made, etc. 7. The hearing officer should only consider information relevant to the hearing. This includes any incident reports or written statements received in addition to notes taken by the hearing officer.

Hearing Etiquette

During every hearing, remember these tips for being an effective hearing officer:

1. Objectively listen to everything that is said. 2. Examine the time/date sequence of the incident. Ask clarifying questions to follow-up on contradictions. 3. Prepare your questions in advance. Avoid questions which are not relevant to the hearing. 4. Do not forget to ask the “obvious” questions in order to clarify a point and to make sure important information is accurately understood. 5. Avoid jumping from one line of questioning to another; attempt to examine one area completely before moving on. 6. Maintain your concentration throughout the hearing and remain attentive. Good body language and eye contact should be demonstrated throughout the hearing. 7. Be sure that you clarify any conflicting information before you enter the decision-making process. a. Continue to ask questions until you have all of the necessary facts regarding the incident. b. Do not wait until you are deciding the outcome and then start guessing at reasons why the information presented was conflicting. 8. Never accuse a student or participate in heated arguments. Maintain your composure even if others do not. 9. Remember that a decision about responsibility should never be made prior to a hearing. A decision should be made based on a preponderance of evidence considering the testimony provided by the student during the hearing in addition to all reports and statements received regarding the incident.