II. Administration (formerly
#5153)
E.
Risk Management
4. School Safety,
Emergency and Crisis Response Plans
d. Weapons
and Violence in Schools
1. Policy Statement
The purpose of this policy is
to ensure a school environment that is conducive to learning. The underlying belief of this policy is that
all children have the right to be educated in a safe and nurturing
environment. Therefore, each school
shall enforce a policy of zero tolerance for weapons and violence in school.
2. Definitions
Weapons – The term “weapons” shall
include, by way of illustration, the following enumerated items: any loaded or unloaded firearm (e.g., pistol,
blank pistol, signal pistol, starter pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, etc.);
any knife (e.g., Bowie, Direk, lock-blade, hunting, pen, pocket, switchblade,
utility, etc.): any razor (e.g., straight, regular, retractable, etc.); any
defensive weapon (e.g., gas repellent, mace, stun gun, etc.); any martial arts
device (e.g., Chinese stars, nunchaku, etc.); any explosive device; or any tool
or instrument which school administrative staff could reasonably conclude as
being capable of inflicting bodily harm (e.g., blackjack, chain, club knuckles,
night stick, pipe, studded bracelet, etc.); or which by virtue of its shape or
design gives the appearance of any of the aforementioned (e.g., air pistol, air
rifle, BB gun, toy gun, etc.). In
addition, any animal which could be used to inflict bodily harm will also be
considered in this category.
Assault – Assault is defined as an act of
physical violence or an aggravated threat of physical violence by a student(s)
on another student(s), staff member(s), or others on school grounds. School grounds shall mean the property of any
elementary, middle or high school, all buildings and vehicles used by the
Narragansett School Department, including any portion of any building,
structure, stadium, field or vehicle, which at the time of an assault was being
used for an activity sponsored by or through the school department. When considering what constitutes aggravated
assault, the factors to be weighed include:
age of student(s) involved, seriousness of bodily injury, the state of
mind of the individual(s) involved, and any other factors deemed relevant to
the school principal or designee.
In addition,
any individual who has reasonable cause to know that any person is carrying any
of the noted weapons, or has knowledge that a person has committed an assault,
shall notify the building principal or his/her designee regarding such
information. Failure to provide this
information may be grounds for disciplinary action not to exceed the suspension
noted herein.
Suspension – Suspension is defined as that act by a
school administrator or by a school committee that removes a student from
school for a specified period of time, not more than one-hundred-eighty (180)
days.
1. A short term suspension is
removal from a school for up to ten (10) days, the first five (5) days of which
may be imposed by a designated building administrator and up to five (5)
additional days by the Superintendent or designee.
2. A long term suspension is
removal from a school for more than ten (10) days and must be approved by the
School Committee.
3. An educational instructional
program will be provided through tutoring, placement into an alternate
educational program, or other appropriate activity to ensure the continuation
of appropriate education for the student.
3. Police Involvement
a.
In all cases involving weapons or aggravated assault in schools or
on school grounds, local police shall be called, and all confiscated weapons
are to be turned over to the police department.
b.
A log of all confiscated weapons will be kept by school
administrators and will be available to be reviewed by the local police
department on a monthly basis.
4. Statement of
Enforcement
This
policy will be implemented according to the due process provisions applicable
to regular and special education students.
For students with disabilities, the implementation of this policy will
be in accordance with approved local procedures, as well as state and federal
regulations governing the suspension or removal of special education students
from school programs. Principals or
their designee will make the determination as to whether or not a particular
incident constitutes an aggravated assault.
4. Enforcement of
Zero Tolerance for Weapons and Violence Policy
a.
Any student found to be in possession of a weapon, or involved in
an aggravated assault, as defined herein, shall be subject to immediate
discipline which may include, at the sole discretion of the administrator,
immediate suspension in accordance with applicable due process provisions. During this suspension, the administration
will take the necessary steps in determining any additional action which may
include a recommendation for long-term suspension.
b.
Decisions regarding the specific length of a student’s suspension will
be made by the appropriate authority.
Any student suspended from school cannot participate in school functions
or be on school premises.
Reference: Rhode
Island General Law 16-2-17