8406 - REPORTS OF SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AND POTENTIAL THREATS TO SCHOOLS

The School Board of Polk County

Bylaws & Policies

Unless a specific policy has been amended and the date the policy was revised is noted at the bottom of that policy, the bylaws and policies of The School Board of Polk County were adopted on November 12, 2013 and were in effect beginning November 12, 2013.

8406 - REPORTS OF SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AND POTENTIAL THREATS TO SCHOOLS

It is vitally important that local public safety agencies and school officials be made aware of potential threats to schools as quickly as possible. All employees shall, and students and members of the community are strongly encouraged, to promptly make reports concerning unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities, or the threat of these activities, to local public safety agencies and/or school officials. The following is a non-exhaustive list of mechanisms to disclose such information by:

	A.	contacting local law enforcement agencies, including Heartland Crime Stoppers 1-800-226-8477;
	B.	utilizing the Florida Department of Education's mobile suspicious reporting tool ("FortifyFL");
	C.	contacting the District's School Safety Specialist as follows:

		1.	in person at 1430 Hwy. 60 Bypass E., Bartow, FL 33830;
		2.	via telephone at 863-534-7309;
		3.	via e-mail at mike.wiggins@polk-fl.net;

calling 9-1-1.

In addition, employees must also report unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities, or the threat of these activities, to the Superintendent.

The identity of the reporting party and any other information received by school officials through the Florida Department of Education's mobile suspicious reporting tool is confidential and exempt under Florida's Public Records Act.

F.S. 119.07
F.S. 943.082
F.S. 1006.07

Adopted 11/13/18