Weapons FAQ's

What are weapons?

Any object, device, or instrument designed as a weapon or capable of threatening or inflicting serious bodily harm or which may be used to inflict self-injury including, but not limited to:

• any firearm, shotgun, or rifle, whether loaded or unloaded;
• any knife, cutting instrument, or cutting tool;
• any nunchaku;
• any chemical agents such as pepper spray or mace;
• laser pointers;
• stun gun;
• incendiary or explosive devices - including fireworks;
• any other tool, instrument or object used or intended to be used to inflict serious bodily to another.

The term weapon shall also include any simulated, replica, toy, or look-alike weapon. A student is in possession of a weapon when the weapon is found on the person of the student; in the student's locker; or under the student's control while on school property, on property being used by the school, at any school function or activity, at any school event held away from the school, or while the student is coming to or from school. 

If my child is victimized by another student with a weapon, what can I expect the school to do?

You can expect to be notified by the school about the incident. Due to confidentiality, the school will not specifically be able to tell you what action has been taken against the other student, but the protocol is as follows: According to Act 26, regardless of the age of the other student, type of weapon or the specific circumstances, a report to the police will be made. The police will then follow their procedures. The principal will follow district disciplinary protocol. 

Why is the student who had the weapon still at my child’s school?

The School District allows principals to exercise discretion in weapons cases and request a "Weapons Waiver" for a student who, because of their age or the circumstances, the school does not feel warrants a transfer to a disciplinary school. This waiver requires the approval of the SRC Expulsion Review Committee. 

What can I find out about the student who victimized my child?

Under the privacy rules of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the information you can obtain about another student is limited. A school administrator may tell you only that they are following protocol and procedure with regard to the other student and give no other details, not even the other student's name, because of FERPA’s privacy rules.