Policy 1040 – Safe and Supportive Schools

HCPSS Procedures for the Threat Management Process – The manual that provides the process of gathering relevant information about student behaviors, communications and stressors to provide the student with appropriate resources in effort to decrease the risk of them engaging in harmful and violent acts.

HCPSS Student Code of Conduct – A disciplinary framework that is designed to support a safe, positive, and respectful learning environment and discipline procedures for effective learning.

HCPSS System-Level Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) – A multi-hazard approach for the school system to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to the people, property, and operations of the school system.

Non-School Facility Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) – An emergency operations plan created specifically for non-school facilities within the school system that addresses the roles of non-school based employees in handling all levels of emergencies.

Parent – Any one of the following, recognized as the adult(s) legally responsible for the student:

School Climate – The prevailing attitudes, standards, or environmental conditions within a school. Reflects shared responsibility for the norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices, and organizational structures of a collaborative school community.

School Property – Any property owned or leased by the HCPSS or used by HCPSS for school-related activities. The concept of property extends to school activities such as field trips, use of parks and recreation facilities, proms at hotels, etc. Bus stops and facilities scheduled by the school system for student use are considered an extension of school property.

School-Related Activity – Any school system activity, whether held on or off school property, in which a student directly participates (e.g., school field trip, athletic event, or class/graduation activity), or in which the student does not directly participate but represents the school or student body simply by being there (e.g., spectator at a school event).

School Specific Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) – An emergency operations plan created specifically for individual schools within the school system that addresses the roles of school-based employees and administrators in handling all levels of emergencies.

Supportive – Providing encouragement and social and emotional assistance.

Third Party – Parents, mentors, volunteers, vendors, contractors, and others with whom students or employees interact during school or school-related activities.

Threat – An expression of an intent to cause physical, mental, or emotional harm to someone. The threat may be expressed/communicated behaviorally, orally, visually, in writing, electronically, or through any other means; and is considered a threat regardless of whether it is observed by or communicated directly to the target of the threat or observed by or communicated to a third party; and regardless of whether the target of the threat is aware of the threat. Threats may be direct (“I am going to destroy that school.”) or indirect (“I’m going to get him.”).

All students, employees, parents, and third parties of the HCPSS will contribute to the development and implementation of a safe and supportive school climate.

The Board will review and approve the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct annually.

Behaviors identified in the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct and other related policies, will be communicated to all students, employees, parents, and third parties annually.

It is a violation of this policy to make a threat against the physical, emotional, mental, or academic well-being of students or employees, and it will be addressed through the application of the appropriate Board policy and the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct.

The HCPSS will utilized a multifaceted approach to maintain a safe and supportive school climate to include the following:

The Superintendent/designee will establish a behavior threat assessment team(s) to implement a process for identifying, assessing and intervening with individuals whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of a school or the school system.

The Superintendent/designee will ensure that students, employees, parents, and third parties are notified of the provisions of this policy annually.

The Superintendent/designee or school-based administrator will take action in response to a violation of this policy in accordance with Policy 9200 Student Discipline, the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct, the HCPSS Procedures for the Threat Management Process, Policy 7030 Employee Conduct and Discipline, and any other applicable policies.

Principals will disseminate information on the standards and penalties of this policy at their schools annually.

All students, employees, parents, and third parties will maintain a safe and supportive school climate.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Department of Program Innovation and Student Well-Being, and the Office of Safety and Security will coordinate for a multi-faceted approach to maintain safe and supportive school climates.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Department of Program Innovation and Student Well-Being, and the Office of Safety and Security will annually provide a safe and supportive school climate implementation findings report to the Board.