Issued 1/20
The district's express intention for this policy is to enhance security by preventing individuals from bringing weapons or other dangerous objects into schools, district properties and district-sponsored events. Any student who violates the provision of the district's rules and regulations, which provide that a student may possess, use or transfer dangerous weapons, will be disciplined in accordance with district policy and State law. Richland Two employees who violate this policy are subject to the provisions of Policy GBEB - Staff Conduct and State law. Any other adult and/or visitor who violates this policy will be placed on a no-trespass order and subject to criminal penalties.
The Board authorizes the superintendent to develop procedures for metal detector screenings at schools, other district properties and district-sponsored events. All such procedures should be designed to:
- Minimize inconvenience to students and staff and interference with the educational process.
- Maximize detection and deterrent value by searching significant numbers of people.
- Avoid the appearance that a particular individual or group is either being favored or targeted by adopting processes in advance of the search that leaves the operator of the metal detector(s) a minimum of discretion.
Additionally, when the administration has reasonable cause to believe weapons are in the possession of identified or unidentified students, when there has been a pattern of weapons found at school, when violence involving weapons has occurred at the school, or when the administrator determines the safety of the district requires it, the administration is authorized to use stationary and/or mobile metal detectors in accordance with procedures developed by the administration in the conjunction with legal counsel. Any search of student's person as a result of the activation of the detector will be conducted in accordance with the procedures.
To ensure that metal detector searches are conducted uniformly and equitably, administrators will conduct searches in a reasonable and nondiscriminatory manner and will not base such searches solely on physical appearance, manner of dress, association with any group, gender, race, ethnicity or any other protected class.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department will immediately contacted in the event any person is found to have their possession any unlawful item that poses a threat to the security of students, staff and visitors of the school district .
Persons entering a district building or property may be subject to daily, regular or unannounced metal detector screening. Persons who fail to consent to a metal detection screening will be denied admittance.
Adopted 7/18/95; Revised 7/1/03. 1/14/20
