The following are the proposed policies on which the Board will be voting:
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SUGGESTED REVISIONS TO POLICY 5400-SAFETY, INJURIES & EMERGENCIES
The Board of Education and the Superintendent in accordance with the Revised School Code are empowered by law to formulate policies and procedures that effectively protect students and employees from potential acts or threats of violence and that also protect the District against potential lawsuits that might result from that potential or threat of violence.
The Superintendent shall establish and maintain procedures to ensure the continued safety of students and the proper handling of emergency situations.
The Superintendent shall ensure that appropriate security, safety, and health measures are in place to protect staff, students, guests, and district property from damage or injury. In addition, the Superintendent shall make every effort to provide a safe and productive environment for all employees and students: free of violence, bullying, personal threats, harassment, intimidation, physical and verbal abuse, and coercion.
The District's administrative staff shall develop all necessary plans, regulations and protocols. Annual These plans, regulations and protocols shall be reviewed and distributed to all permanent, temporary and seasonal employees; long-term volunteers; and to those supplying contracted services for the district, and made available to parents annually. Procedures shall be posted prominently in buildings for use by staff, students, visitors, and community members making use of AAPS facilities.
The Superintendent shall ensure that the presence of a dangerous weapon on any district property owned or leased controlled by AAPS constitutes an emergency. All related activities and procedures related to such emergencies on our properties will be immediately implemented in the presence of a dangerous weapon, pending the removal of that dangerous weapon from the premises.
During an emergency event, the Superintendent shall make the final decision to close schools, which may include the cancelation of buses and/or student/staff events and activities occurring before, during or after school, and including Rec/Ed classes.
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DRAFT POLICY 5410 – Safe & Disruption-Free Environment
In accordance with the authority granted by the Revised School Code to ensure the safety and welfare of students while at school or a school sponsored activity or while en route to or from school or a school sponsored activity and to exercise powers incidental or appropriate to the performance of functions related to educating pupils, the Board of Education designates all property owned or by the Ann Arbor Public Schools “Dangerous Weapon & Disruption-Free Zones”.
The Superintendent shall create and implement any regulations and procedures necessary to enforce such zones in order to prevent and mitigate actual or potential emergencies and threats to the safety of our students, faculty, staff, families, and citizens.
The Superintendent may exercise any power necessary, as granted and required by Michigan law, to educate students and maintain a safe and productive educational environment at all times.
The Superintendent shall ensure our commitment to the least disruptive school environment possible by refusing any person (students, employees or the public at large) attempting to access school property in order to preserve order in the educational process or to protect students from potential harm without violating any fundamental right to go onto or access school.1 This refusal may occur if the person causes either actual or a reasonable forecast of material disruption to the educational process.
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DRAFT POLICY 5420 – Dangerous Weapon and Disruption-Free Zones
The Board of Education, operating within their legal duty to ensure student safety while at school, en route to school, or at school sponsored activities, and an educational environment free from disruption, declares all properties owned or leased by AAPS as Dangerous Weapon and Disruption-Free Zones.
No person in possession of a dangerous weapon will be allowed to remain on property owned or leased by AAPS at any time when students are at school, en route to or from school or at a school sponsored activity in accordance with Board Policy 5410 to maintain the least disruptive educational environment and to ensure the safety and welfare of students.
A dangerous weapon shall include a firearm (including a starter gun or pistol) or any device which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, any destructive device or any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four (4) ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine or similar device; a dagger, dirk, stiletto, knife with a blade over three (3) inches in length, or pocket knife opened by a mechanical device, an iron bar or brass knuckles or, any other weapon as set forth in 18 USC&921. Also, any electronic device that inflicts or causes pain or suffering is likewise considered a weapon.
This prohibition does not apply to officers duly sworn to and in good standing with public law enforcement agencies. The Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee may authorize additional exceptions with subsequent and timely notice to the Board.
The Superintendent shall create and implement any regulations and procedures necessary to enforce such Dangerous Weapon and Disruption-Free Zones in order to prevent and mitigate actual or potential emergencies, disruptions and threats to the safety of our students, faculty, staff, families and citizens.
