7440 - FACILITY SECURITY

Girard City School District

Administrative Guidelines

7440 - FACILITY SECURITY

	A.	Distribution of Keys
		Master facility keys will be distributed by the high school principal for the District. Only those staff members who are responsible for the operation of a particular space shall receive a key. Each of those staff members are responsible for limiting further distribution only to those persons who have established a definite need for keys in order to fulfill their assignments.
		In general, staff members shall be provided only the key to the space(s) they use and to other areas in which they have a legitimate responsibility. The principal will maintain a file of master keys. Any unauthorized person found to have a master key or a duplicate in his/her possession shall be held in violation of this guideline.
	B.	Security
		In order to be properly protected against theft:

		1.	staff members are expected to obtain room, desk, and closet keys from the school office at the beginning of the school term;
		2.	no money or valuables are to be left in the room;
		3.	at no time shall students be given keys for their use;
		4.	staff members must keep possession of their keys;
		5.	staff members should secure valuables at all times;
		6.	classroom doors should be kept locked when the classroom is empty;
		7.	prior to leaving school each day, staff members must close windows and lock doors to their rooms;
		8.	staff members are responsible for the equipment and supplies in their classrooms or offices. Should any items "disappear", the principal must be notified immediately.
		9.	staff members are required to wear/display their Board-issued ID badges at all times while on school property.

	C.	Central Alarm System
		Each staff member shall be provided the appropriate entry and exit procedures when s/he receives authorization to enter District facilities when the facilities are closed. A list of authorized persons is to be maintained by the principal.
	D.	Use of Metal Detectors
		The use of metal detectors to minimize the risk of weapons at our schools is determined to be a desirable technique for security purposes. No student or staff member should be subject to the dangers inherent in a firearm, knife, or other potentially dangerous object being carried into a school by another person.
		Metal detectors may be stationary or portable (hand-held) as the Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee shall determine. Regardless of which type is selected the person using the detector may be of either sex, regardless of the sex of the person subject to the detection process.
		In no event shall it be considered an appropriate detection technique for any person to purposely touch the clothing or person of the subject either directly or with any part of the detector. Insignificant incidental touching with the detector shall not be considered to be a violation of this policy but should be avoided as a matter of good practice.
		Metal detectors may be used either at random without cause at times to be determined by the campus principal or as otherwise prescribed by the District or they may be used for minor reasonable suspicion on a selective basis.

When a detector is in use at a particular entrance of a school and a student approaches the detection site and then attempts to avoid using that doorway, it shall be considered sufficient cause to immediately detain and frisk the student, following which the student and the student's belongings shall be subject to the device.

In the event the detector indicates that dense metal is present on or about the student's person, the employee shall, if safely feasible request the student to indicate what metal is causing the alarm and to remove such object for inspection. If the student then clears the detection process without activating the alarm, the detection process shall terminate.

If, however, the student cannot be safely allowed to remove the offending metal or, having been ordered to do so, fails, then the continuation of the alarm from the detector shall constitute full probable cause to conduct a "pat-down" or "frisk" of the student sufficient to locate a weapon if one were present. It is highly recommended, in addition to following all of the search policies of this Board, that such a search be conducted in the presence of, and if possible, by a trained peace officer.

In situations in which there is reasonable suspicion sufficient to support a pat-down or frisk of the student for a weapon of any kind, the preferred course of action is to pursue such pat-down or frisk unless the detection equipment available is sufficiently sophisticated to detect and identify small weapons or items that could be used as weapons.

If a trained law enforcement officer is available to perform a pat-down or frisk, it is highly recommended, but not required, that such officer be requested to perform such search as an agent of the District.

When an administrator or teacher finds it necessary to do a pat-down search for a weapon before assistance of a trained officer is available, such frisk should be done in the presence of at least one and preferable two other adult individuals. Any resistance or physically evasive or threatening act by the student in question should immediately result in the application of sufficient restraining force to prevent the student from drawing any weapon that might be present. Once the student is sufficiently restrained, the frisk may proceed or the searcher may elect to await the arrival of a trained officer.

Revised 5/8/07
Revised 10/09