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MSAD #37 POLICY BOMB THREATS The Board recognizes that bomb threats are a significant concern to the school unit. Whether real and carried out or intended as a prank or for some other purpose, a bomb threat represents a potential danger to the safety and welfare of students and staff and to the integrity of school property. Bomb threats disrupt the instructional program and learning environment and also place significant demands on school financial resources and public safety services. These effects occur even when such threats prove to be false. Any bomb threat will be regarded as an extremely serious matter and treated accordingly. The Board directs the Superintendent to react promptly and appropriately to information concerning bomb threats and to initiate or recommend suitable disciplinary action. A. Conduct Prohibited No person shall make, or communicate by any means, whether verbal or non-verbal, a threat that a bomb has been, or will be, placed on school premises. Because of the potential for evacuation of the schools and other disruption of school operations, placement of a bomb or of a “look-alike” bomb on school premises will be considered a threat for the purpose of this policy. It is also a violation of Board policy to communicate by any means that any toxic or hazardous substance or material has been placed, or will be placed, on school premises with the intent to endanger the safety and welfare of students or staff and/or to disrupt the operations of the schools. For the purpose of this policy, “toxic or hazardous substances or material” means any material or substance, including biomedical materials or organisms, that, when placed as threatened, could be harmful to humans. B. Definitions 1. A “bomb” means an explosive, incendiary or poison gas bomb, grenade, rocket, missile, mine, “Molotov cocktail” or other destructive device. 2. A “look-alike bomb” means any apparatus or object that conveys the appearance of a bomb or other destructive device. 3. A “bomb threat” is the communication, by any means, whether verbal or non-verbal, that a bomb has been, or will be, placed on school premises, including possession or placement of a bomb or look-alike bomb on school premises. 4. “School
premises” means any school
property and any location where any school activities may take place. C. Development of Bomb
Threat Procedures The Superintendent/designee shall be responsible for
developing and implementing procedures specific to bomb threats as part of
the school unit’s Crisis Response Plan.
These procedures are intended to inform administrators and staff of
appropriate protocols to follow in the event that a bomb threat is received
and should include provisions to address: 1. Threat
assessment (for the purpose of identifying a response that is in proportion
to the threat, in light of what is necessary to ensure safety); 2. Building
evacuation and re-entry (including selection of potential alternative sites
for those who are evacuated); 3. Incident
“command and control” (who is in charge, and when); 4. Communications
contacts and mandatory bomb threat reporting; 5. Parent
notification process; 6. Training for
staff members; and 7. Support
services for students and staff. The initial bomb threat procedure will be subject to approval
by the Board. The Superintendent/
designee will be responsible for overseeing a review or evaluation of bomb
threat procedures prior to the Board’s required annual approval of the school
unit’s Crisis Response Plan, or following implementation of the procedure in
response to a specific threat. D. Reporting of Bomb
Threats A student who learns of a bomb threat or the existence of
a bomb on school premises must immediately report such information to the
building principal, teacher, the School Resource Officer or other employee in
a position of authority. An employee of the school unit who learns of a bomb threat
shall immediately inform the building administrator. The building administrator shall
immediately take appropriate steps to protect the safety of students and
staff in accordance with the school unit’s bomb threat procedure, as
developed under section C, and inform the Superintendent of the threat. All bomb threats shall be reported immediately to the
local law enforcement authority, as provided in the bomb threat procedures. The Superintendent shall be responsible for reporting any
bomb threat to the Department of Education within two business days of the
incident. Reports will include the
name of the school, the date and time of the threat, the medium used to
communicate the threat, and whether or not the perpetrators have been
apprehended. E. Student Disciplinary
Consequences Making a bomb threat or toxic or hazardous substance is a
crime under The administration may suspend and/or recommend for expulsion any student who makes a bomb threat. The making of a bomb threat will be considered deliberately disobedient and deliberately disorderly within the meaning of 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1001(9) and will be grounds for expulsion if found necessary for the peace and usefulness of the school. In addition, a student who is found after hearing by the Board to have brought a bomb to school shall be expelled from school for at least one year in accordance with 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1001(9-A) and Policy JICIA, except that the Superintendent may modify the requirement for expulsion based on individual circumstances. A student who has been identified through the PET process as having a disability and whose conduct in violation of this policy is related to the disability shall be disciplined as provided in Policy JKF. F. Aiding Other Students
in Making Bomb Threats A student who knowingly encourages, causes, aids or assists another student in making or communicating a bomb threat shall be subject to the disciplinary consequences described in Section E of this policy. G. Failure to Report a
Bomb Threat A student who fails to report information or knowledge of a bomb threat or the existence of a bomb or other destructive device in a school building or on school property may be subject to disciplinary consequences, which may include suspension and/or expulsion. H. Staff Disciplinary
Consequences A school system employee who makes or communicates a bomb threat will be reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities and will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Disciplinary action taken shall be consistent with collective bargaining agreements, other employment agreements and Board policies. A school system
employee who fails to report information or knowledge of a bomb threat or the
existence of a bomb on school premises will be subject to discipline up to
and including termination of employment. I. Civil Liability The school unit reserves the right to bring suit against
any individual responsible for a violation of this policy and to seek
restitution and other damages as permitted by law. J. Lost Instructional Time Instructional time lost as a result of a bomb threat will
be rescheduled at the earliest appropriate or practicable opportunity, as
determined by the Superintendent within parameters set by the Board. Time lost may be rescheduled on a weekend or vacation day,
or after what would normally be the last day of the school year, except on
days when schools must be closed as required by law. Time may also be added to the affected day
to make up the time lost. K. Notification Through Student Handbook All student handbooks shall address the school unit’s bomb
threat policy and procedures and explain the educational consequences of bomb
threats. In addition, student
handbooks shall notify students and parents that bomb threats violate Board
policy and civil and criminal law. Legal References: 18 U.S.C. §§ 921; 8921 17-A M.R.S.A. § 210 20-A M.R.S.A. §§ 263; 1001(9); 1001(9-A); 1001(17); 1001(18) Cross References: EBCA – Crisis Response Plan JKD
– Suspension of Students JKE
– Expulsion of Students JKF
– Suspensions/Expulsion of Students with Disabilities JICIA
– Weapons, Violence and School Safety Student
Code of Conduct Approved: November
20, 2002 |
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