JFCJ - DANGEROUS WEAPONS IN THE SCHOOL

Schools should be an example of what is required regarding the observance and respect for law in society at large. Schools also must be highly conscious of the health, safety, and welfare of students, staff, and the public.

State and federal laws as well as board policy forbids the bringing of dangerous or illegal weapons to school or school sponsored activities. Any weapon taken from a pupil shall be reported to the pupil’s parents. Confiscation of weapons will be reported to law enforcement. Appropriate disciplinary or legal action or both shall be pursued by the building principal.

A dangerous weapon is defined as any firearm, or air-gun, knife or device, instrument, material or substance, whether animate or inanimate, which is calculated or designed to inflict death or serious bodily harm.

No firearms are permitted on any school premises, school vehicle or any vehicle used for school purposes, in any school building or other building or premises used for school functions. An exception would be weapons under the control of law enforcement personnel, starting guns while in use at athletic events, firearms or air-guns at fire ranges, gun shows, authorized supervised school training sessions for the use of firearms and to the ceremonial presence of unloaded weapons at color guard ceremonies. Any violations shall be reported to local law enforcement authorities.

Any student bringing a firearm to school, except as provided by law, shall be expelled for not less than twelve months and will be referred to law enforcement authorities. The Superintendent shall have the authority to recommend to the school board that this expulsion requirement be modified on a case-by-case basis. This policy shall be implemented in a manner consistent with IDEA and Section 504. For the purpose of this portion of this policy, the term “firearm” includes any weapon which is designed to expel a projectile by action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, a muffler or silencer for a weapon, or any explosive, including any poison gas.