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541 Possession of Weapons

POSSESSION OF WEAPONS

The Board believes weapons, look-a likes, other dangerous objects and any instrument used as a weapon in District facilities cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or present a threat to the health and safety of students, employees and visitors on the District premises or property within the jurisdiction of the District.

District facilities are not an appropriate place for weapons, look-a-likes, dangerous objects or any instrument used as a weapon.  Weapons, look-a-likes, other dangerous objects, and any instrument used as a weapon shall be taken from students and others who bring them onto District property or onto property within the jurisdiction of the District or from students who are within the control of the District.  Students bringing a weapon, look-a-like, other dangerous object or any instrument used as a weapon onto school property or onto property within the jurisdiction of the school may be suspended or expelled from school.

Parents/guardians of students found to possess a weapon, look-a-like, dangerous object or any instrument used as a weapon on school property shall be notified of the incident.  Confiscation of weapons, look-a-likes, dangerous objects or any instruments used as a weapon shall be reported to the law enforcement officials, and students shall be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.

Students bringing firearms to school or knowingly possessing firearms at school shall be expelled for not less than one year.  The superintendent/designee shall have the authority to recommend this expulsion requirement be modified for students on a case-by-case basis.  For purposes of this portion of this policy, the term "firearm" includes, but is not limited to, any weapon which is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, a muffler or silencer for such a weapon, or any explosive, incendiary or poison gas.

For purposes of this policy, the term “dangerous object” includes any instrument or device designed primarily for use in inflicting death or injury upon a human being or animal, and which is capable of inflicting death upon a human being when used in the manner for which it was designed.  The term “dangerous object” also includes any instrument or device or any sort whatsoever which is actually used in such a manner as to indicate that the individual intends to inflict death or injury upon the other, and which, when so used, is capable of inflicting death upon a human being.  In addition, dangerous objects or any instrument used as a weapon in the school includes any object used to intimidate, coerce, scare or threaten a student, school district employee or visitor.  Dangerous objects therefore include, but are not limited to, clubs, nunchakus, brass knuckles, knives regardless of blade length, stun guns, BB and pellet guns, toy guns used or displayed as real guns, and unloaded guns.

Weapons, firearms or other dangerous objects under the control of law enforcement officials shall be exempt from this policy.  The principal may allow authorized persons to display weapons or other dangerous objects or look-a-likes for educational purposes.  Such a display shall also be exempt from this policy.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent/ designee, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.