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JICIA - WEAPONS, VIOLENCE, AND SCHOOL SAFETY

The School Board believes that students and staff are entitled to learn and work in a school environment free of violence, threats and other disruptive behavior. Students, school staff, volunteers, and visitors are expected to conduct themselves with respect for others and in accordance with Board policies, school rules, reasonable unwritten behavior expectations, and applicable state and federal laws.

School staff and volunteers are required to immediately report incidents of prohibited conduct to the building administrator for investigation and appropriate action. Students who are subjected to or observe prohibited conduct are strongly encouraged to report it to a staff member or administrator.

  1. Prohibited Conduct

    Students, school staff, volunteers, and visitors are prohibited from engaging in the following conduct on school property, while in attendance at school or at any other school-sponsored activity, or at any time or place that such conduct directly interferes with the operations, discipline, or general welfare of the school:

    1. Possession and/or use of articles commonly used or designed to inflict bodily harm and/or to threaten, intimidate, coerce, or harass another person. Examples of such articles include but are not limited to firearms, BB guns, pellet guns, any other kind of gun, ammunition, explosives, crossbows, brass knuckles, switchblades, knives, chains, clubs, Kung Fu stars, and nunchucks;

    2. Discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of school property;

    3. Use of any object, although not necessarily designed to be a weapon, to inflict bodily harm and/or to threaten, intimidate, coerce, or harass another person. Examples of such objects include but are not limited to bats, belts, picks, pencils, compasses, articles capable of ignition (e.g., matches, lighters), files, tools of any sort, and replicas of weapons (including toys);

    4. Violent, threatening, or menacing behavior, including but not limited to fighting, assault, and/or battery, taking hostages, threats to commit violence against persons or property (e.g., verbal or written death threats, threats of bodily harm, bomb threats), stalking, or blocking access to school property or facilities;

    5. Verbal or written statements (including those made on or through a computer or other electronic device) which threaten, intimidate, or harass others; verbal or written statements which tend to incite violence and/or disrupt the school program; blackmail; extortion; or demands for money or property;

    6. Intentional damage to school or personal property;

    7. Stealing or attempting to steal school or personal property;

    8. Lewd, indecent, or obscene acts or expressions of any kind;

    9. Violations of the school unit's drug/alcohol and tobacco policies;

    10. Violations of state or federal laws; and

    11. Any other conduct that may be harmful to persons or property.

  2. Exceptions to Prohibition Against Possession and Use of Weapons on School Property

    1. The prohibition on the possession and discharge of a firearm does not apply to law enforcement officials.

  3. Disciplinary Action

    1. Students
      Principals may discipline, suspend and/or recommend expulsion of students who violate this policy based upon the facts of each case and in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
      Conduct which violates this policy is deliberately disobedient and deliberately disorderly within the meaning of 20-A MRS § 1001(9) and will be grounds for expulsion if found necessary for the peace and usefulness of the school. Such conduct may also be grounds for expulsion under other provisions of 20-A MRS § 1001 (9 and 9-A) that specifically prohibit the use and possession of weapons, infractions of violence, and possession, furnishing, and trafficking of scheduled drugs.
      Students who are found to have brought a firearm or to have possessed a firearm at a school (as both terms are defined by federal law), shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year, unless this requirement is modified by the Superintendent on a case-by-case basis in writing.
      All firearms violations shall be referred to law enforcement authorities as required by law. Other violations of this policy shall be referred to law enforcement authorities at the discretion of the Superintendent.
      Students with disabilities shall be disciplined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws/regulations and Board Policy JKF.

    2. School Staff and Volunteers
      School staff members who violate this policy shall be disciplined in accordance with any applicable collective bargaining agreement or school unit procedure.
      Volunteers who violate this policy may, at the Superintendent and building administrator's discretion, have their volunteer authorization revoked or restricted, depending on the circumstances of the particular case. Violations of this policy may be referred to law enforcement authorities.

    3. Visitors Visitors who violate this policy may be required to leave school property and law enforcement may be notified of violations.

    4. Psychological Evaluation/Risk Assessment The Superintendent is authorized to request a psychological evaluation of a student who violates this policy when, in the Superintendent’s opinion, such an evaluation will assist in assessing the risk the student poses to school safety if the student were to remain in school or return to school after a suspension or expulsion.
      All such evaluations shall be performed at the school unit's expense. If the parents/guardians and/or student refuse to permit a requested psychological evaluation, the Superintendent and the Board may draw any reasonable inferences from the student's behavior concerning the risk the student poses to school safety for purposes of determining appropriate action.

    5. Staff/Student Training and Procedures
      The Superintendent is authorized to institute training programs for staff and students designed to support the goal of providing a safe, orderly, and respectful school environment. The Superintendent is also authorized to implement any administrative procedures necessary to carry out this policy.

  • 20 USC§ 7151 (Gun-Free Schools Act)
  • 5 MRS§ 4681 et seq.
  • 7-A MRS§ 2(9); 2(12-A)
  • 20-A MRS §§1001(9), (9-A), (15); 6552
  • P.L. 2005, ch. 307

Cross References:

Adopted:

  • May 13, 2003

Revised:

  • January 9, 2008
  • September 10, 2013
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