8462.01 - THREATS OF VIOLENCE

The Board strictly prohibits any threats of violence in or targeted at any school. All incidents or suspected incidents of such conduct must be reported as described in this policy and in State law and will be investigated. All District employees, regardless of position, are required to make a report if the following is present:

1. A staff member, in the performance of the staff member's professional duties, hears or receives a threat of violence in or targeted at a school; and
2. That staff member believes, in good faith, based on the threat that the health and safety of any person is in serious and imminent threat.

Any staff member who, in good faith, believes that circumstances require reporting shall do so without conducting any further investigation concerning the subject matter of the report. When a report is made, the staff member shall immediately notify the Principal or District Administrator that a report has been made and provide details concerning the basis for the report. 

Staff Training Required

The Board shall require every employee to receive training provided by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) regarding the laws governing the reporting of a threat of violence. Such training shall be completed within the first six (6) months of employment in the District and at least once every five (5) years after the initial training. This training may be held in conjunction with staff training for threatened or suspected child abuse or neglect as required in Policy 8462 - Abuse and Neglect.

Training conducted in fulfillment of this policy shall include a record of the date, time, duration, and content of the training, as well as a list of all attendees at the training. The District Administrator shall submit a report to DPI annually by January 1st that identifies the training performed under this section, along with the reporting required under Policy 8420 - School Safety.

Procedures for Reporting - Threats of Violence

An employee, regardless of position, shall immediately inform, by telephone or personally, a law enforcement agency of the facts and circumstances contributing to the belief that there is a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a student or school employee or the public. The report shall contain detailed information concerning the nature of the threat. The staff member shall cooperate fully with law enforcement. When such a report is made, the staff member shall also inform the Principal or District Administrator, as well as the School Resource Officer, if available. If a threat is reported to the building administrator, the Principal shall immediately notify the District Administrator and coordinate the District's coordination with law enforcement, students, and parents as the circumstances require. 

Sanctions for Making Threats

All threats of violence are to be taken seriously. No staff member who reports a threat in good faith shall be subject to disciplinary action. Failure to report or undue delay in reporting a threat may result in disciplinary action.

Any student or staff member who makes a threat of violence will be evaluated for disciplinary action, up to possible referral for expulsion in the case of students (See Policy 5610 - Suspension and Expulsion) or termination from employment in the case of staff (See Policy 3140 - Non-Renewal, Resignation, and Termination/Policy 4140 - Termination and Resignation).

The administration may, with the assistance of law enforcement personnel, remove from and/or prohibit the presence of on school property, any member of the community, including a volunteer, parent, contractor, coach, etc., who makes a threat of violence in or against the school. In such a case, the District Administrator shall notify the Board as soon as is practicable.

T.C. 1/16/26

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