7217 - WEAPONS

But for the exceptions specified below, pursuant to State law, the Board prohibits visitors and District employees from openly carrying a handgun or carrying a concealed weapon or concealed firearm in any school safety zone, or any elementary or secondary school facility, any administration building, as well as into any Board meeting, any setting that is under the control and supervision of the District for the purpose of school activities approved and authorized by the District including, but not limited to, property leased, owned, or contracted for by the District, a school-sponsored event, a school bus, a school bus stop, or in a District vehicle.  This section applies to all vehicles being driven by students.  Students of any age are prohibited from carrying or storing a firearm/weapon within a private motor vehicle at any time on any of the above-listed locations and/or at any events.

1. Definitions
   
   For purposes of this policy, the following definitions shall apply:
    
   1. "Administration Building" is any Board-owned or leased facility where one (1) or more administrative employees are assigned.
   2. "School property" means the property of any preschool, elementary school, middle school, junior high school, secondary school, career center, or postsecondary school, whether public or nonpublic.
   3. "Weapons and firearms" as defined in F.S. 790.001 and include, but are not limited to, any weapon which will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, knives, metallic knuckles, or other deadly weapon. "Weapon" also means any object which, in the manner in which it is used, is intended to be used, or is represented, is capable of inflicting serious bodily harm or property damage, as well as endangering the health and safety of persons.
2. Exceptions
   
   The only exceptions to the prohibitions set forth hereinabove include the following:
    
   1. Certified law enforcement officers are authorized to possess firearms and weapons on school property.  Law enforcement officers who are on school property in an off-duty capacity and out of uniform, and who choose to carry a firearm, must present their agency credentials upon request by BPS staff.    
   2. A person may carry an unloaded firearm in a case to a firearms program, class, or function which has been approved in advance by the principal or site administrator as a program or class to which firearms could be carried.
   3. School Resource Officers (SROs), Specialists, and Guardians assigned to a school are authorized to possess and store law enforcement agency department-issued long guns on property owned or operated by the Board.  The Superintendent shall establish administrative procedures for this exception which will be confidential and exempt under F.S. 281.301 and 119.071. All SROs are required to be in compliance with their agency’s policies and procedures regarding weapons.
   4. A person may carry a firearm in a case to a career center having a firearms training range.
   5. Staff members, contractors, vendors, or their employees may possess and use tools, instruments, and other devices on District property or at District-sponsored events, including in vehicles in either situation, even though such items fall within the definition of weapons, provided that such possession and use is in accordance with the terms of a written contract with the Board, or is otherwise in furtherance of their duties under such a contract and is authorized in advance by the Superintendent.

All District employees shall immediately report knowledge of firearms, weapons, and/or threats of violence by students, staff members, or visitors to the Office of District Security. Failure to report such knowledge may subject District employees to discipline.

The Superintendent shall require that any District employee possessing a firearm, weapon, or other device designed to inflict serious bodily harm, including a concealed firearm or weapon, in violation of this policy and State law, is reported immediately to the appropriate law enforcement agency, regardless of whether such District employee possesses a valid concealed weapon license. As well, the staff member shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, consistent with law, due process, and the terms of any negotiated agreement.

The Superintendent shall refer a visitor who violates this policy to law enforcement officials and may take any necessary steps to exclude the visitor from District property and District-sponsored events, regardless of whether such visitor possesses a valid concealed weapon license.

The Superintendent shall post notices at each entrance of a school and/or school building and in areas inside the building where individuals are required to report prohibiting an individual from openly carrying a handgun or carrying a concealed weapon or concealed firearm.  Such notices shall also be posted at each entrance leading into a school activity (particularly those activities held outside of the school building) and school campuses.  Further, notices shall be posted in each school bus and other Board-owned vehicle, including a school van.

Revised 3/25/03
Revised 12/12/17
Revised 10/9/18
Revised 8/27/24
Revised 3/11/25

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