Emery County School District

Policy: JICI - Dangerous Weapons in Schools

Date Adopted: 21 September 1994

Current Review / Revision: 16 July 2008

The Emery County School District strongly supports efforts to eliminate and prevent violence in our schools. Schools should be places where students, staff, community members, and visitors experience a safe environment that is conducive to learning and free from disruption and violence.

Definitions

"Dangerous weapon" - means any weapon, device, instrument, material or substance which under the circumstances in which it is used, attempted to be used, or threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury;

"Firearm" - means any weapon (including a starter gun) that will, or is designed to, or may readily be converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant;

"Destructive device'' - means any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas.

Policy

It is the policy of the Emery County School District that a student who is found to have brought a dangerous weapon, including a firearm or destructive device, to school, or to a school-supervised activity, or to be in possession of such a weapon while at school, or when involved in any school-sponsored activity, shall be expelled from school for a period of not less than one year. The one-year expulsion also applies to any violation of this policy involving the use or threatened use of a lookalike dangerous weapon, firearm, or destructive device with the intent to intimidate or threaten another person. (Utah Code 53G-8-205)

The Superintendent, or the Superintendent's designee, may modify the expulsion requirement for a student on a case- by-case basis as outlined in Utah Code 53G-8-205.

Expulsion from school under this policy shall be subject to applicable Utah Code and Federal Civil Rights Laws.