8405 - SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY
The School Board is committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and drug-free environment in all of the District’s schools.
School crime and violence are multifaceted problems that need to be addressed in a manner that utilizes all available resources in the community through a coordinated effort of District personnel, law enforcement agencies, first responders, and families. The Board further believes that school administrators and local law enforcement officials must work together to provide for the safety and welfare of students while they are at school or a school-related event or are on their way to and from school.
The Superintendent, in conjunction with the School Safety Specialist, shall develop a School Safety and Security Plan with input from representatives of the local law enforcement agencies; the local Fire Marshall(s) or his/her designee(s); representative(s) from emergency medical services; members of the Board; building administrators; representative(s) from the local emergency management agency; School Resource Officer(s); local mental health agencies; teachers and staff; parents; and/or students.
School Safety Specialist
The Superintendent is responsible for designating a school administrator to serve as the District's School Safety Specialist. The School Safety Specialist is responsible for the supervision and oversight for all school safety and security personnel, policies, and procedures in the District. The School Safety Specialist's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- reviewing policies and procedures for compliance with Florida law and applicable rules;
- providing necessary training and resources to students and staff in matters relating to youth mental health awareness and assistance; emergency procedures, including active shooter training; and school safety and security;
- serving as the District liaison with local public safety agencies and national, State, and community agencies and organizations in matters of school safety and security;
- conducting a school security risk assessment in accordance with Florida law at each District school using the school security risk assessment tool developed by the Office of Safe Schools;
- coordinating with appropriate public safety agencies, as defined in F.S. 365.161, that are designated as first responders to a school's campus to conduct a tour of such campus once every three (3) years and to provide recommendations related to school safety;
Any changes related to school safety, emergency issues, and recommendations provided by the public safety agencies will be considered as part of the recommendations by the School Safety Specialist to the Board.
- providing, or arranging for the provision of, youth mental health awareness and assistance training to all school personnel as set forth in F.S. 1012.584;
The training program shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
- an overview of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders and the need to reduce the stigma of mental illness;
- information on the potential risk factors and warning signs of emotional disturbance, mental illness, or substance use disorders, including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, and self-injury, as well as common treatments for those conditions and how to assess those risks; and
- information on how to engage at-risk students with skills, resources, and knowledge required to assess the situation, and how to identify and encourage the student to use appropriate professional help and other support strategies, including, but not limited to, peer, social, or self-help care.
- an overview of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders and the need to reduce the stigma of mental illness;
The District's School Safety Specialist shall earn, or designate one (1) or more individuals to earn, certification as a youth mental health awareness and assistance trainer as set forth in F.S. 1012.584.
Recommendations of the School Safety Specialist
Based on the findings of the school security risk assessment, the School Safety Specialist must provide recommendations to the Board which identify strategies and activities that the Board should implement in order to improve school safety and security. Annually, the Board will review the school security risk assessment findings and the recommendations of the School Safety Specialist at a publicly noticed Board meeting to provide the public an opportunity to hear the Board members discuss and take action. The School Safety and Security Plan is, however, confidential and is not subject to review or release as a public record.
The School Safety Specialist shall report the school security risk assessment findings and the Board's action(s) to the Office of Safe Schools no later than thirty (30) days after the Board meeting.
As a part of the School Safety and Security Plan, the Board shall verify that it has procedures in place for keeping schools safe and drug-free that include (see also, Form 8330 F15 entitled Checklist of Policies and Guidelines Addressing No Child Left Behind Act of 2001):
- safety and security best practices;
- appropriate and effective school discipline policies that prohibit disorderly conduct, the illegal possession of weapons and the illegal use, possession, distribution, and sale of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs by students;
- security procedures at school and while students are on the way to and from school;
- prevention activities that are designed to maintain safe, disciplined and drug-free environments;
- a code of conduct or policy for all students that clearly states the responsibilities of students, teachers, and administrators in maintaining a classroom environment that:
- allows a teacher to communicate effectively to all students in the class;
- allows all students in the class the opportunity to learn;
- has consequences that are fair, and developmentally appropriate;
- considers the student and the circumstances of the situation; and
- is enforced accordingly.
- allows a teacher to communicate effectively to all students in the class;
Safety and Security Best Practices
The Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures for the prevention of violence on school grounds, including the assessment and intervention with individuals whose behavior poses a threat to the safety of the school community.
Persistently Dangerous Schools
The Board has set forth the rules with regard to expected behavior in Policy 5500 - Student Conduct and has established the consequences for violating the policy on student conduct in Policy 5600 - Student Discipline. The Board recognizes that not only Federal, but also State law requires that the District report annually incidents which meet the statutory definition of violent criminal offenses that occur in a school, on school grounds, on a school conveyance, or at a school-sponsored activity, as well as those incidents that would be a Gun-Free Schools Act violation. It is further understood that the Florida Department of Education will then use the data for the offenses identified in the Department’s Unsafe School Choice Option Policy to determine whether or not a school is considered "persistently dangerous".
Pursuant to the Board’s stated intent to provide a safe school environment, school administrators are expected to respond appropriately to any and all violations of the Student Code of Conduct, especially those of a serious, violent nature. In any year where the number of reportable incidents of violent criminal offenses in any school exceed the threshold number established in State law, the Superintendent shall convene a meeting of the building administrator, representative(s) of the local law enforcement agencies, and any other individuals deemed appropriate for the purpose of developing a plan of corrective action that can be implemented in an effort to reduce the number of these incidents in the subsequent year.
The Superintendent shall make a report to the Board about this plan of corrective action and shall recommend approval and adoption of it.
In the unexpected event that the number of reportable incidents in three (3) consecutive school years exceeds the statutory threshold and the school is identified as persistently dangerous, the Superintendent shall offer parents and eligible students the opportunity to transfer to another school within the District that serves the same grades. If there is another school within the District serving the same grades, the transfer shall be completed in a timely manner. If there is not another school within the District that serves the same grades, then parents and eligible students will be advised that, although Federal and State law provides for an opportunity to transfer, they will be unable to do so.
In addition, the Superintendent shall convene a meeting of the building administrator, representative(s) of the local law enforcement agencies, and any other individuals deemed appropriate for the purpose of developing a plan of corrective action that can be implemented in an effort to reduce the number of these incidents in the subsequent year.
Victims of Violent Crime
The Board further recognizes that, despite the diligent efforts of school administrators and staff to provide a safe school environment, an individual student may be a victim of a violent crime in a school, on school grounds, on a school conveyance, or at a school-sponsored activity. In accordance with Federal and State laws the parents or the eligible student shall be offered the opportunity to transfer to another school within the District that serves the same grades. If there is another school serving the same grades, the transfer shall be completed in a timely manner. If there is not another school serving the same grades, the parents or eligible student will be advised that, although they have the right to transfer, they will be unable to do so.
Threat Assessment Teams
The primary purpose of a threat assessment is to minimize the risk of violence at schools. Threat assessment teams are responsible for the coordination of resources and assessment and intervention with individuals whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school staff or students consistent with the model policies developed by the Office of Safe Schools.
- Location and Membership
- Threat assessment teams are located at each school in the District and composed of individuals with expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration, and law enforcement.
- The Board authorizes the Superintendent to create procedures for the purpose of:
- identifying team participants by position and role;
- designating the individuals (by position) who are responsible for gathering and investigating information; and
- identifying the steps and procedures to be followed from initiation to conclusion of the threat assessment inquiry or investigation.
- identifying team participants by position and role;
- Threat assessment teams are located at each school in the District and composed of individuals with expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration, and law enforcement.
- Responsibilities and Activities of Threat Assessment Teams
The responsibilities and activities of threat assessment teams include, but are not limited to, the following:
- identification of individuals in the school community to whom threatening behavior should be reported and provide guidance to students, faculty, and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self;
- consult with law enforcement when a student exhibits a pattern of behavior, based upon previous acts or the severity of an act, that would pose a threat to school safety;
- consult with law enforcement when a student commits more than one (1) misdemeanor to determine if the act should be reported to law enforcement;
- if a preliminary determination is made by the threat assessment team that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to himself/herself or others, the threat assessment team will report its determination to the Superintendent;
The Superintendent shall immediately attempt to notify the student's parent or legal guardian. However, nothing in this paragraph shall preclude District personnel from acting immediately to address an imminent threat.
- if a preliminary determination is made by the threat assessment team that a student poses a threat of violence to himself/herself or others or exhibits significantly disruptive behavior or need for assistance, the threat assessment team may obtain criminal history record information as provided in F.S. 985.047;
Members of the threat assessment team may not disclose any criminal history record information obtained pursuant to this paragraph or otherwise use any record of an individual beyond the purpose for which such disclosure was made to the threat assessment team.
- create procedures related to engaging behavioral health crisis resources.
- identification of individuals in the school community to whom threatening behavior should be reported and provide guidance to students, faculty, and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self;
- Sharing of Information
The District and other agencies and individuals that provide services to students experiencing, or at risk of, an emotional disturbance or a mental illness and any service or support provider contracting with such agencies may share with each other records or information that are confidential or exempt from disclosure under F.S. Chapter 119 if the records or information are reasonably necessary to ensure access to appropriate services for the student or to ensure the safety of the student or others.
- Immediate Mental Health or Substance Abuse Crisis
If an immediate mental health or substance abuse crisis is suspected, school personnel shall follow policies established by the threat assessment team to engage behavioral health crisis resources. Behavioral health crisis resources, including, but not limited to, mobile crisis teams and school resource officers trained in crisis intervention shall provide emergency intervention and assessment, make recommendations, and refer the student for appropriate services. Onsite school personnel shall report all such situations and actions taken to the threat assessment team, which shall contact the other agencies involved with the student and any known service providers to share information and coordinate any necessary follow-up actions.
Each threat assessment team shall report quantitative data on its activities to the Office of Safe Schools.
Referral to Mental Health Services
All school personnel who receive training pursuant to F.S. 1012.584 shall be notified of the mental health services that are available in the District.
Student Crime Watch Program
The Board shall implement a Student Crime Watch Program to promote responsibility among students and improve school safety. Through a Board resolution, the Board will require each school principal to distribute information (including a reference to Policy 8406) at their respective schools notifying students and the community as to how they can anonymously relay information concerning unsafe and potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities, or the threat of these activities, to appropriate public safety agencies and school officials.
Implementation
The Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures as needed to enable proper implementation of this policy.
Revised 4/14/15
Revised 6/23/15
Revised 9/11/18
© Neola 2018