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ACE-AP: Violent & Threatening Behavior

THREATENING BEHAVIOR

A true threat is a statement made orally, in writing, or using another medium that would be perceived by a reasonable person to be a serious expression of intent to harm, commit assault, or damage school property.

REPORTING

Any student or employee who has knowledge of a threat shall report it to the building principal, the school resource officer assigned to the building, or the superintendent. Failure to report a known threat may result in disciplinary consequences up to and including suspension for students and termination of employment for staff in accordance with policy, law, and, when applicable, the negotiated agreement.

THREAT ASSESSMENT

Upon receipt of a threat report, the building principal shall contact the superintendent and bring the building threat assessment team together. The team shall determine if the report constitutes a true threat as defined above and if, given the nature of the threat, it should be handled internally or turned over to law enforcement. The team shall make these determinations based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

  • The detail, specificity, context and content of the threat;
  • The amount of disruption the threat has caused or may cause to the educational environment;
  • Whether or not the team can identify the source of the threat; anonymous threats may be turned over to law enforcement;
  • When the source of the threat can be identified, the team shall consider, to the extent possible, the individual’s:
    • State of mind;
    • Relationship with peers;
    • Age;
    • Domestic life;
    • Ability to carry out the threat (e.g., access to weapons);
    • Past behavior.
  • If any laws have been violated;
  • The identity and potential motives of the individual reporting the threat.

The threat assessment may involve interviews with district staff, students, and parents. The team may, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other applicable records laws, release threat assessment findings to law enforcement when deemed necessary.

When law enforcement and/or the team, having considered the totality of the facts obtained through the threat assessment, verifies that a threat is true, the district shall take necessary and timely measures to safeguard students, staff, and district property.

DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES FOR THREATENING BEHAVIOR

Regular Education Students

A student who is found to have made a true threat will be subject to disciplinary measures, including, but not limited to, suspension and/or expulsion. When deemed to be a necessary safety precaution, the district may require alternative placement or appoint supervision during the periods of suspension and/or expulsion for threatening behavior.

Special Education Students

Special education students found to have made a true threat will be disciplined in accordance with applicable policies and laws pertaining to the discipline of special education students.

Staff

Employees found to have made a true threat shall be subject to disciplinary consequences up to and including termination of employment in accordance with policy, law, and, when applicable, the negotiated agreement.

Students and employees may also be subject to the filing of criminal charges and/or referred to counseling services for treatment.

VIOLENT BEHAVIOR

The district prohibits all acts of violence and aggression, including, but not limited to, possession of a weapon or dangerous instrument, physical assault, vandalism of district property, stalking, gang affiliation and/or activity, or terroristic acts.

Violators of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary consequences, determined by the seriousness of the act, including, but not limited to, expulsion for students, discharge for employees, and exclusion from school premises in accordance with applicable policy and law. In addition, the district may take legal action against the perpetrator.

Students and employees may also be subject to the filing of criminal charges and/or referred to counseling services for treatment.

Adopted: 11/24/2015

Reviewed:

Revised:

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