Carrying, bringing, using or possessing any firearm, dangerous device, or dangerous or deadly weapon in any school building, on school grounds, in any school vehicle or at any school-sponsored activity without the authorization of the school or the school division is prohibited, and grounds for disciplinary action. The superintendent or superintendent’s designee is permitted to give authority to possess a firearm on school property only to persons expressly authorized by statute to possess a firearm on school property. The disciplinary action for bringing a firearm to school or to a school sponsored activity will be recommendation for expulsion to the School Board for at least one year in accordance with Policy JGD/JGE. Violation of this policy shall require that proceedings for the discipline of the student involved be initiated immediately by the principal.
Such weapons include, but are not limited to:
● any pistol, shotgun, stun weapon, laser, revolver, or other firearm listed in Va. Code § 22.1-277.07, designed or intended to propel a projectile of any kind, including a rifle,
● unloaded firearms in closed containers,
● any air rifle or BB gun
● toy guns and look-alike guns,
● any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, knife or razor,
● slingshots,
● spring sticks,
● brass or metal knuckles, blackjacks,
● any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nunchahka, nunchuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain,
● any disc of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blade, and which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart,
● explosives, and
● destructive devices as defined in Va. Code § 22.1-277.07, or other dangerous articles.
Expulsion for Possession of Firearms
A student who has possessed a firearm on school property or at a school-sponsored activity as prohibited by Va. Code § 18.2-308.1 or who has possessed a firearm or destructive device as defined in Va. Code § 22.1-277.07, or a firearm muffler or firearm silencer, or a pneumatic gun as defined by Va. Code § 15.2-915.4 on school property or at a school-sponsored activity may be expelled for at least one year in accordance with Policy JGD/JGE Student Suspension/Expulsion. The School Board may determine, based on the facts of the particular situation, that special circumstances exist and no disciplinary action or another disciplinary action or another term of expulsion is appropriate.
The School Board may promulgate guidelines for determining what constitutes special circumstances. The School Board authorizes the superintendent or superintendent’s designee to conduct a preliminary review of such cases to determine whether a disciplinary action other than expulsion is appropriate. If it is determined by the superintendent or superintendent’s designee that a disciplinary action other than expulsion is appropriate, such disciplinary action is taken in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 14 of Title 22.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities are subject to the provisions of Section I of this policy and may be disciplined to the same extent as a nondisabled student provided the manifestation review committee determines that the violation was not a manifestation of the student’s disability. The provisions of Policy JGDA: Disciplining Students with Disabilities will be followed in addition to the regular disciplinary procedures.
Additional authority to remove a student with a disability from school for a weapons violation.
In addition to the authority granted in subsection above, a student with a disability may also be removed without parent consent and assigned to an interim alternative education program by school personnel for not more than forty-five (45) school days when the student carries or possesses a weapon to or at school, on school premises, or to or at a school function under the jurisdiction of a state or local educational agency. This option is available regardless of whether a manifestation exists. The removal should not be in excess of any removal imposed on a student without a disability for the same offense.
For purposes of this forty-five (45) school day removal, the weapon must meet the following definitions:
“a weapon, device, instrument, material or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2 ½ inches in length”.
Policy JFCD