Weapons in School

FILE:  JFCJ

Critical

WEAPONS IN SCHOOL

The Board recognizes the importance of preserving a safe educational environment for students, employees and patrons of the district. In order to maintain the safety of the educational community, the district will strictly enforce the necessary disciplinary consequences resulting from the use or possession of weapons on school property. No student may possess a weapon on school property at any time, except as specifically  authorized during a school-sponsored or school­ sanctioned activity permitting weapons. The school district will provide secured storage of student firearms if necessary.

School property is defined as: Property utilized, supervised, rented, leased, or controlled by the school district including but not limited to school playgrounds, parking lots and school buses, and any property on which any school activity takes place.

A weapon is defined to mean one or more of the following:

1. A firearm as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921.

2. A blackjack, concealable firearm, firearm, firearm silencer, explosive weapon, gas gun, knife, knuckles, machine gun, projectile weapon, rifle, shotgun, spring gun, switchblade knife, as these terms are defined in § 571.010, RSMo.

3. A dangerous weapon as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 930(g)(2).

4. All knives and any other instrument or device used or designed to be used to threaten or assault, whether for attack or defense.

5. Any object designed to look like or imitate a device as described in 1-4.

Pursuant to the Missouri Safe Schools Act and the federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994, any student who brings or possesses a weapon as defined in #1 or #2 above on school property will be suspended from school for at least one (1) calendar year or expelled and will be referred to the appropriate legal authorities. The suspension or expulsion may be modified on a case-by-case basis upon recommendation by the super intendent to the Board of Education. Students who bring or possess weapons as defined in #3, #4 and #5 and not otherwise included in #1 and#2, will also be subject to suspension and/or expulsion from school and may be referred to the appropriate legal authorities.

Students with disabilities who violate this policy will be disciplined in accordance with policy JGE.

This policy will be submitted annually to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education along with a report indicating any suspensions or expulsions resulting from the possession or use of a firearm as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921.  The report will  include the name of the school in which the incidents occurred, the number of students suspended or expelled and the types of weapons  involved .

Adopted: January 10 , 2001

Cross Refs:                ECA, Building and Grounds Security JG, Student Discipline

JGD, Student Suspension and Expulsion JGE, Discipline of Students with Disabilities

Legal Refs:   §§ 160.261, 571.010, .030, RSMo

18 U .S.C. § 921