The Board of Education prohibits students from bringing to school, possessing, storing, making, or using a weapon, including a concealed weapon, in a school safety zone and any setting that is under the control and supervision of the Board for the purpose of school activities approved and authorized by the Board including, but not limited to, property leased, owned, or contracted for by the Board, a school-sponsored event, or in a Board-owned vehicle. The Board also prohibits the making of a bomb threat against any school property or school event.

The term "weapon" 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. Weapons include, but are not limited to, firearms or air and gas-powered guns (whether loaded or unloaded), knives, razors, clubs, electric weapons, metallic knuckles, martial arts weapons, ammunition, chemical irritants and other hazardous agents, explosives or any object indistinguishable from the above or that is held forth as a weapon. "Bomb threat" means to make a false report or indication of the presence of an explosive, incendiary, or other device capable of causing property destruction or human injury.

Policy exceptions include:

Before bringing any item to school or to an event that might violate this policy, students are strongly encouraged to ask a school administrator to rule on whether or not the item is covered by this policy. Therefore, any item brought or possessed that was not cleared with administration may be judged under this jpolicy under a broad definition of "weapon", based on the administration’s commitment to student and staff safety.

Students shall report any information concerning weapons and/or threats of violence by students, staff members, or visitors to the building principal. Failure to report such information may subject the student to disciplinary action.

This policy shall be implemented through the Code of Conduct/Student Discipline Code, Policy 5610, and Policy 5610.01, and through administrative guidelines. The Superintendent is authorized to establish instructional programs on the weapons and the requirement that students immediately report knowledge of weapons and threats of violence by students and/or staff to the building principal.

The Superintendent is authorized to establish instructional programs on the weapons and the requirement that students immediately report knowledge of weapons and threats of violence by students and/or staff to the building principal. Failure to report such knowledge may subject the student to discipline.

The Superintendent will refer any student who violates this policy to the student's parents or guardians and may refer the student to the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system. The student may also be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion. In the case of a violation involving firearms brought to or possessed in school, Federal and Ohio law makes a referral for one (1) year expulsion mandatory. Also, under Federal law, bringing a firearm to school makes referral to law enforcement mandatory.

This policy will be published annually in all District student and staff handbooks. Publication is not a precondition to enforcement of this policy.

R.C. 2923.12, 2923.122, 3313.20, 3313.66, 3313.661
18 U.S.C. 921, 20 U.S.C. 8922, 20 U.S.C. 7151