| Brevard County (Florida) |
| Bylaws & Policies |
8405 - SCHOOL SAFETY
The Board is committed to maintaining a safe environment in all of the District’s schools. The Board believes that school crime and violence are multifaceted problems that need to be addressed in a manner that utilizes all available resources in the community through a coordinated effort of School District personnel, law enforcement agencies, and families. The Board further believes that school administrators and local law enforcement officials must work together to provide for the safety and welfare of students while they are at school or a school-related event. The Board also believes that the first step in addressing school crime and violence is to assess the extent and nature of the problem(s), and then plan and implement strategies that promote school safety and minimize the likelihood of school crime and violence. To that end, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop a
School Safety Plan with input from representatives of the local law enforcement agencies; the local Fire Marshall(s) or his/her designee(s); representative(s) from emergency medical services; school building administrators; representative(s) from the local emergency management agency; School Resource Officer(s); and non-school administrators.Thereafter, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall convene a meeting periodically for the purpose of reviewing the
School Safety Plan, and making modifications as deemed necessary and proper; identifying additional training that might be needed; and discussing any other such related matters as may be deemed to be necessary by the participants. Participants in this meeting shall include the Superintendent or his/her designee; representatives of the local law enforcement agencies; the local Fire Marshall(s) or his/her designee; representative(s) from emergency medical services; school building administrators; representative(s) from the local emergency management agency; School Resource Officer(s); and non-school administrators.Persistently Dangerous Schools
The Board recognizes that not only Federal, but also State law requires that the District report annually incidents which meet the statutory definition of violent criminal offenses that occur in a school, on school grounds, on a school conveyance, or at a school-sponsored activity, as well as those incidents that would be a Gun-Free Schools Act violation. It is further understood that the Florida Department of Education will then use the data for the offenses identified in the Department’s Unsafe School Choice Option Policy to determine whether or not a school is considered "persistently dangerous".
Pursuant to the Board’s stated intent to provided a safe school environment, the school administrators are expected to respond appropriately to any and all violations of the Student Code of Conduct, especially those of a serious, violent nature. In any year where the number of reportable incidents of violent criminal offenses in any school exceed the threshold number established in State policy, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall convene a meeting of the building administrator, representative(s) of the local law enforcement agencies, and any other individuals deemed appropriate for the purpose of developing a plan of corrective action that can be implemented in an effort to reduce the number of these incidents in the subsequent year.
In the unexpected event that the number of reportable incidents in three (3) consecutive school years exceed the statutory threshold and the school is identified as persistently dangerous, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall offer parents and eligible students the opportunity to transfer to another school within the District that serves the same grades. If there is another school within the District serving the same grades, the transfer shall be completed in a timely manner. If there is not another school within the District that serves the same grades, then parents and eligible students will be advised that, although Federal and State law provides for an opportunity to transfer, they will be unable to do so.
In addition, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall convene a meeting of the building administrator, representative(s) of the local law enforcement agencies, and any other individuals deemed appropriate for the purpose of developing a plan of corrective action that can be implemented in an effort to reduce the number of these incidents in the subsequent year.
Victims of Violent Crime
The Board further recognizes that, despite the diligent efforts of school administrators and staff to provide a safe school environment, an individual student may be a victim of a violent crime in a school, on school grounds, on a school conveyance, or at a school-sponsored activity. In accordance with Federal and State law the parents of the eligible student shall be offered the opportunity to transfer to another school within the District that serves the same grades. If there is another school serving the same grades, the transfer shall be completed in a timely manner. If there is not another school serving the same grades, the parents or eligible student will be advised that, although they have the right to transfer, they will be unable to do so.
Implementation
The District is in compliance with this policy in that a
School Critical Incident Response Manual is in place at each school site and reviewed by the Director, Office of District and School Security as necessary. The Superintendent is updated regarding the School Critical Incident Response Manual as necessary by the Director, Office of District and School Security.Florida DOE Unsafe School Choice Option Policy, May 2003
Florida DOE Unsafe School Choice Option Policy Technical Assistance Paper,
May 2003
Adopted 4/12/05