6114.7 - School Security and Safety

Policy 6114.7

Instruction
 
School Security and Safety

 
The Board of Education is committed to the prevention of violence against people or property in the schools or at school activities, whether by students, staff, or others. While committed to the protection of each person's constitutional rights, including due process rights, the Board does not condone lawlessness. Any individual committing violent acts on school property will be disciplined according to applicable Board policy and regulations. 
 
Staff members who implement this or any other Board policy will receive the full support of the Board and the administration. 
 
Each school’s School Security and Safety Committee will review specific policies, regulations, plans and procedures in order to ensure a comprehensive and effective program to prevent and punish vandalism and violence occurring in the schools and on district property.  Simultaneously with the work of the committee, the Superintendent of Schools and appropriate school administrators shall review the practices at each school and shall submit a separate report to the Board including any findings and recommendations on the implementation of committee suggestions on these and other policies, regulations, plans and procedures concerning safety.  
 
The advisory committee shall examine the policies, regulations, plans and procedures concerning:  
1.    student conduct and discipline;
2.    the maintenance of public order on school property;
3.    the banning of weapons on school property with the exception of approved security personnel;
4.    drug and alcohol abuse;
5.    school emergency management; 
6.    coordination efforts with law enforcement agencies;
7.    searches and seizures by school officials;
8.    training for staff and students in conflict resolution and violence prevention; and
9.    building security measures including procedures governing visitors to the schools and access to school buildings.                                                                                    
The Board shall conduct a security and vulnerability assessment of each school annually and use the results to maintain the District’s Emergency Operations Plan and each school’s security and safety plan. 
 
Development of the District’s Emergency Operations Plan and each school’s security and safety plan will be the responsibility of the Director of Security in partnership with the District Security and Safety Committee (DSSC). The DSSC includes a variety of professionals with expertise in emergency management, (e.g., chief executive officer of the municipality, police, fire, district security, superintendent, and emergency medical services personnel), as well as community partners such as public and mental health professionals and school based staff.  The DSSC shall work closely with school-based crisis response teams to develop district-wide and building-specific emergency management plans. Such plans shall be compliant with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and incorporate the Incident Command System (ICS), and remain compliant with the standards for such plans issued by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). 

The crisis management plan shall be developed within the context of the four recognized phases of crisis management: 
 
•    Mitigation/Prevention addresses what schools and the District can do to reduce or eliminate the risk to life and property.
•    Preparedness focuses on the process of planning for the worst-case scenario.
•    Response is devoted to the steps to take during a crisis.
•    Recovery pertains to how to restore the learning and teaching environment after a crisis. 
 
Crisis management must be viewed as a continuous process in which all phases of the plan are being reviewed and revised. The plan must be continuously updated based upon experience, research and changing vulnerabilities. 
 
(cf. 5131 - Conduct at School and Activities) 
(cf. 5131.5 - Vandalism) 
(cf. 5131.6 - Drugs/Alcohol and Tobacco) 
(cf. 5131.8 - Out of School Misconduct) 
(cf. 5131.9 - Gang Action by or Association) 
(cf. 5141.6 – Crisis Management Plan) 
(cf. 5146 - Child Abuse and Neglect) 
(cf. 5142 - Student Safety) 
(cf. 5147 - Suicide Prevention) 
(cf. 5143 - Student Health Assessments and Immunizations) 
(cf. 5144 - Administering Medications) 
(cf. 5145 - Communicable and Infectious Diseases) 
(cf. 5114 - Suspension/Expulsion/Exclusion/Removal) 
(cf. 6114 - Emergencies) 
(cf. 6161.11 - Drugs/Alcohol and Tobacco)
 
Legal Reference:     Connecticut General Statutes
 
4-176e through 4-185 Uniform Administrative Procedure Act. 
10-19 Teaching about alcohol, nicotine or tobacco, drugs and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Training of personnel.
10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules. 
10-233a through 10-233f re in-school suspension, suspension, expulsion. (As amended by PA 95-304, An Act Concerning School Safety). 
52-572 Parental liability for torts of minors.  Damage defined. 
53a-3 Firearms and deadly weapons. 
53-206 Carrying and sale of dangerous weapons. 
53a-217b Possession of firearms and deadly weapons on school grounds. 
PA 94-221 An Act Concerning School Safety. 
PA 95-304 An Act Concerning School Safety. 
PA 97-290 An Act Enhancing Educational Choices and Opportunities. 
GOALS 2000: Education America Act. 
18 U.S.C. 921 Definitions. 
Title III - Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Sec. 314 (Local Control Over Violence). 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as amended by the Gun Free Schools Act of 1994. 
New Jersey v. TLO., 469 U.S. 325; 1055. CT. 733. 
 
 
 
Policy adopted: June 3, 2014                    
Policy revised:     August 14, 2018                    
NEWTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Newtown. Connecticut 
 
Inspiring Each Student to Excel

3 Primrose St., Newtown, CT 06470
Phone: 203-426-7600