STUDENT DISORDER | Administrative Guideline Manual

5520 - STUDENT DISORDER

Emergency Procedures for Handling Student Disorder

How effectively the building principal handles a disturbance depends frequently upon the speed and type of action which is taken. Hopefully, this plan will assist the principal in making effective and timely responses. The following guidelines will be useful in either preventing student disorder or managing it properly if it occurs.

During any student crisis, the building principal shall be in charge of the situation. The Superintendent may be called to advise and counsel but, to the extent s/he is available and it is appropriate, the principal shall serve as the spokesperson during the crisis period.

Guidelines for Teachers
1. Be alert to any deviation from normal group behavior.
2. Notify the principal immediately if information is received about a possible demonstration or other student unrest.
3. Conduct classes as usual; the majority of the students will remain in class.
4. Withhold comments about the demonstration until the facts are known.
5. Stand in the corridor at the change of classes and help clear the halls for orderly passage.
6. Be prepared to provide assistance if requested by the principal.
7. If possible, avoid physical contact with students during the time of incidents.
8. In the event of a demonstration, each teacher shall provide the principal with as many names of demonstrators as s/he can identify.
Guidelines for Principals

Serious Disorders
1. Involve immediate threat to the safety of persons and/or the destruction of property.
2. Telephone the police dispatcher/school resource officer for immediate assistance. Identify yourself by name and official responsibility; quickly and briefly describe the situation and the specific location of the disturbance.
3. Notify the Superintendent's office immediately and/or the local law enforcement indicating the nature and size of the disturbance.
4. Maintain a responsible person on the school communication system and have him/her keep the Central Office administration informed.
5. Advise faculty that classes are NOT to be dismissed unless so ordered by the principal's office. Classes should not be left unsupervised, regardless of number of students present.
6. If disturbances center around administrative offices, keep doors locked and admit no unauthorized personnel. Take action to secure files and records.
7. Lock outer doors to prevent admission of outsiders. However, check "panic bars" to make sure that doors can be opened from the inside. Make every effort to keep all outsiders not having official business out of the building. Board policy on visitors should be visibly posted. Ask the undesirable persons to leave. If they refuse, call the police immediately.
8. Limit persons making statements to disruptive students to school administrators or police.
9. Notify key members of the faculty of the impending development.
10. Attempt to determine the cause of the disturbance from student leaders. Student leaders referred to here are not necessarily school leaders, but "natural leaders" of groups.
11. Maintain a "log" in which are listed the date, time, and nature of each incident, names of persons involved, and description of the action taken.
12. Close school only after every effort has been made to keep it open.
  1. If, in the principal's opinion, the school should be closed, confer with the Superintendent. Legally, only the Superintendent or a designated assistant can authorize the closing of a school.
  2. If the request to close schools is approved, follow administrative guidelines for emergency closings (AG 8420).
Student Boycott, Sit-Ins or Other Forms of Passive Resistance

This situation assumes that no immediate crisis exists which endangers life or property and that some "lead time" is available.

Notify the Superintendent's office immediately and/or the Niles Police Department indicating the nature and size of the disturbance.

Proceed as noted above.

If it is determined that the disruptive students should return to their classes or be suspended, the principal should read the statement below to the students involved. Use a bull horn, public address, or other means in the presence of adult witnesses. The adults should be stationed at various locations in the area and be prepared to testify regarding the audibility of the warning:

May I have your attention, please. I am (principal's name), Principal, (name of school). As the official representative of the _____________________________, I would like to make the following statement for your consideration:

You are being advised that your continued absence from class is disruptive to the orderly educational process of this school and in violation of the attendance laws of the State of Ohio. I am therefore directing you to return to class at once. Your refusal to comply with this directive could place you in jeopardy of being suspended from school. In cases of flagrant or repeated violation of the attendance laws of the State of Ohio, the Superintendent of the Niles City Schools or his/her designated representative may expel a student. I direct you again to please return to your classes at this time.

If it is the normal practice of the school or teachers to require "admission slips" of late students before admitting them to class, the building principal should either give such slips to those students wanting to return to class or announce over the public address system that students may be readmitted to class without such written permits.

If, after a reasonable length of time (five (5) minutes), the students do not return to class, and if the principal decides that the students should be suspended, the principal should read the statement printed below:

A short time ago, you were directed to return to class. You have not complied with the directive. You are therefore advised that you are considered to be truant and in violation of the normal rules and regulations of the Niles City Schools.

Your refusal to comply with a directive made by an official of the Niles City Schools is also considered to be a flagrant violation of proper conduct and in premeditated defiance of a school official. You are now advised that you are officially suspended from the Niles City Schools as permitted by state law.

During the time of your suspension from school, we request you to remain at home and off the streets during school hours and not attend any activities related to school. You should now leave the building at once. If you do not leave the building you shall be arrested for trespassing.

Follow all suspension procedures as described in AG 5600 and AG 5610.

If students trespass, loiter, or remain in the building or upon the grounds of any school against the directions of the building principal, s/he may contact law enforcement authorities.