Campus Safety

School Resource Officer

Decatur High School and City Schools of Decatur prioritize ensuring a safe and secure campus for our students, faculty, and staff.  The City of Decatur Police Officers serve as school resource officers (SRO) at Decatur High School. They are on duty full-time during the school day and also provide supervision at various extracurricular events. 

School Safety Associates (SSA)

Decatur High School has three SSAs that are responsible for safety and security throughout the DHS Campus. They play a critical role in our daily entry, in the halls, and at school events and activities. 

Parking Lot

Permission to drive and/or park an automobile on Decatur High School’s campus is a privilege and not a right for students. In consideration of such privilege, student drivers consent to any searches of their vehicles by administrators of the City Schools of Decatur for any reason at any time while said vehicle(s) is on school property. Students are not permitted to leave the building during the school day and go to the parking lot to retrieve items from their vehicle without a pass from an administrator. For more information, view the Parking subsection under Transportation.

Personal Property

Students should only bring to school items of personal property necessary for class participation and extracurricular activities. Items considered potentially dangerous or disruptive of school procedures will be confiscated. Student theft will be dealt with as outlined in the City Schools of Decatur Code of Conduct by the administration. Students are especially encouraged not to bring valuables and large sums of money to school. Students who participate in physical education should lock their assigned gym locker to ensure the security of personal property. Valuable items should not be left unattended. 

Students should not bring any personal valuables to school. Loss or theft of personal items deemed unnecessary for an instructional day (cell phones, headphones, gaming systems) may be investigated, but such investigations are often unsuccessful. 

Student Searches and Drug/Weapon Prevention

Students have the right to be safe and secure at school and pursue their education in a structured environment conducive to learning. Therefore, students and all their property will be subject to random administrative searches. Refusal to cooperate with a reasonable request may result in disciplinary actions.

Any principal or designee, having reasonable suspicion may search any student, place, or thing on school property or in the actual possession of any student during any organized school activity off campus, including buses, vehicles of students or visitors, and containers or packages if the principal or designee receives information which would cause a reasonable belief that the search will lead to the discovery of:

1. Evidence of any violation of the law;

2. Evidence of any violation of school rules or regulations or proper standards of student or faculty conduct;

3. Any object or substance that, because of its presence, presents an immediate danger of harm or illness to any person. Searches are governed by Administrative Regulation 2.7.

Visitors

Students may not have visitors at school without prior permission from the principal or designee.

The City Schools of Decatur recognizes the importance of a safe environment for students and staff. Parents and other visitors are welcome in the schools at the discretion of the principal. Upon entering the school property, each visitor shall give the reason for the visit and complete the process to acquire a visitor’s pass in the Attendance Office. When the visit has been completed, the visitor shall return and sign out with the Attendance Office before their departure.

According to state law, it shall be unlawful for any person to disrupt or interfere with the operation of any public school, and any person violating this code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In implementing this policy, the principal may use discretion during special school functions.

Deliveries for Students

At Decatur High School, we believe that students should manage their needs as young adults. Except in emergencies, please refrain from delivering items to students at DHS during the school day. You might consider delivering medications and urgently needed assignments.  We ask that you not deliver lunches (except in cases of significant dietary restrictions), gym bags, textbooks, and notebooks.  Any parents delivering or dropping off items for students must sign in at the Attendance Office and bring the items labeled with the student’s full name to the main office for the student to pick up between classes or at the end of the day. Students are not permitted to leave the building or wait outside or in the foyer to pick up items, including during their lunch period. 

Additionally, students are not permitted to order items for delivery to the school (for example lunch deliveries). Any deliveries for students from outside vendors will be refused, and the food will be confiscated without a refund. 

Although we love to celebrate our students, please know that for safety and security reasons, no flowers or balloon deliveries will be accepted for Decatur High School students. No balloons may be carried in the school building.

Title IX: Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, and Discrimination Based on Sex

The Education Amendments Act of 1972, prohibits sex discrimination in any federally funded educational program. This applies to all institutions receiving federal financial support and includes all educational experiences—academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) provides guidance and enforcement of the law with regard to sex discrimination, which includes sexual harassment and sexual assault.

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972)

For step-by-step instructions related to Title IX Grievance Policies & Procedures, visit the website at: CSD Title IX

Sexual Harassment

Students, faculty and staff are protected against sexual harassment by anyone in any school program or activity, including on the school campus, on the school bus, or off-campus during a school-sponsored activity.

Sexual harassment is unwelcome behavior or communication that is sexual in nature when:

• A student or employee is led to believe that he or she must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct or communications in order to gain something in return, such as a grade, a promotion, a place on a sports team, or any educational or employment decision, or

• The conduct substantially interferes with a student's educational performance or creates an intimidating or hostile educational or employment environment.

Examples that may constitute sexual harassment:

• Pressuring a person for sexual favors

• Unwelcome touching of a sexual nature

• Writing graffiti of a sexual nature

• Distributing sexually explicit texts, e-mails, pictures, or videos

• Making sexual jokes, rumors, or suggestive remarks

• Physical violence, including rape and sexual assault

Title IX Liaisons

School principals serve as local Title IX liaisons for each school. You can report sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex to the school principal, any staff member, or to the district's Title IX Compliance Officer, listed above. You also have the right to file a complaint. For additional information, visit: CSD Title IX.