Weapons Policy

WEAPONS POLICY

Any student found in possession of a weapon, regardless of intent, shall have committed an offense under School Board Policy 218.1. The term "Possession of a Weapon" means when a weapon is found on the person of a student, or under a student's control, on school property or at any school activity, including any school activity held away from the school property, or while the student is on the way to or from the school property or on any school bus or public or private vehicle providing transportation to or from school property or a school activity. The term "school property" means all buildings, facilities, parking areas and grounds owned or under the control of Owen J. Roberts School District.

The term "weapon" shall include, but not be limited to, any knife, cutting instrument, cutting tool, nunchaku, firearm, shotgun, rifle, air rifle, B.B. gun, pellet gun, or any pistol version thereof, explosives or fireworks, brass knuckles or other such devices and any other tool, instrument or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily injury. The term "weapon" shall also include items which are replicas or look-alike weapons, whether or not actually capable of inflicting bodily injury and whether or not sold as toys, if the item could by virtue of its appearance or the manner in which displayed cause reasonable apprehension of bodily injury or a threat to a safe school environment.

Any school employee who suspects or ascertains that a student is in Possession of a Weapon shall immediately inform the building principal who will conduct a complete investigation. Upon reasonable cause for suspicion of Possession of a Weapon, the principal may perform a search of the student, the student’s locker and the student’s vehicle, if applicable, pursuant to Policy 226. In addition, the principal shall have full discretion to request intervention by the police to perform such searches or to take other appropriate action. Upon confiscation of a Weapon, or confirmation that a student is in Possession of a Weapon, the principal must immediately notify and/or summon: the local police; superintendent; and the parents of any student involved in the incident. The Superintendent shall also provide such information regarding the offense as may be required by the Office For Safe Schools of the Department of Education.

Penalty In accordance with the provisions of Section 1317.2 of the Pennsylvania School Code, any student found in Possession of a Weapon shall be expelled for not less than one year. The Superintendent retains prosecutorial discretion and may, therefore, recommend modifications of such expulsion on a case-by-case basis. The Superintendent shall, in the case of an exceptional student, take all steps necessary to comply with all laws applicable to exceptional students. Any expulsion shall be subject to the provisions of Policy 233. Nothing in this Policy 218.1 shall be construed as limiting the authority of the School Board to make an alternative assignment or provide alternative education services during the period of expulsion.

The ONE exception to this rule: Possession of a weapon, approved in advance by the principal and Superintendent of Schools, to be used as part of a school program by a student participating in that program.