In compliance with state law, the Board of Education establishes explicit channels of communication
between teachers, administrators, law enforcement officials and other schools concerning acts of
school violence and other behaviors that endanger the welfare or safety of students, staff or patrons
of the district. The purpose of this policy is to designate specific actions committed by students that
must be reported to teachers, administrators and/or law enforcement officials as well as those actions
that must be documented in a student’s discipline record.
Definitions
The following definitions and terms apply to this policy:
Act of School Violence/Violent Behavior – The exertion of physical force by a student with the intent
to do serious physical injury to another person while on school property, including while on school
transportation in service on behalf of the district or while involved in school activities.
Serious Physical Injury – Physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious
disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of any part of the body.
Serious Violation of District’s Discipline Policy – One (1) or more of the following acts if committed
by a student enrolled in the district:
1. Any act of school violence/violent behavior.
2. Any offense that occurs on district property, on district transportation or at any district
activity and that is required by law to be reported to law enforcement officials.
3. Any offense that results in an out-of-school suspension for more than ten (10) school days.
Need to Know – Relates to school personnel who are directly responsible for the student’s education
or who otherwise interact with the student on a professional basis while acting within the scope of
their assigned duties.
School or District Property – Property utilized, supervised, owned, rented, leased or controlled by
the school district including, but not limited to, school playgrounds, parking lots, school
transportation and any property on which any school activity takes place.
Reporting to School Staff
School administrators shall report acts of school violence to all teachers at the attendance areas in
which the involved students are educated and to other school district employees with a need to know
the information to adequately supervise the students and to protect themselves or others. In addition,
any portion of a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) that is related to demonstrated
or potentially violent behavior shall be provided to any teachers and other district employees with
a need to know the information.
The superintendent or designee will inform district employees with a need to know of any act
committed or allegedly committed by a student in the district that is reported to the district by a
juvenile officer or an employee of the Children's Division (CD) of the Department of Social
Services, sheriff, chief of police or other appropriate law enforcement authority in accordance with
state law. Such reports shall not be used as the sole basis for denying educational services to a
student.
Reporting to Law Enforcement Officials
Any crime listed in this section, or any act that if committed by an adult would be a crime listed in
this section, that is committed on school property, on any school transportation or at any school
activity must be reported by the appropriate school administrator to the appropriate law enforcement
agency as soon as reasonably practical. The following acts are subject to this reporting requirement:
1. First or second degree murder under §§ 565.020, .021, RSMo.
2. Voluntary or involuntary manslaughter under § 565.023, .024, RSMo.
3. Kidnaping under § 565.110, RSMo.
4. First, second or third degree assault under §§ 565.050, .060, .070, RSMo.
5. Sexual assault or deviate sexual assault under §§ 566.040, .070, RSMo.
6. Forcible rape or sodomy under §§ 566.030, .060, RSMo.
7. Burglary in the first or second degree under §§ 569.160, .170, RSMo.
8. Robbery in the first degree under § 569.020, RSMo.
9. Possession of a weapon under chapter 571, RSMo.
10. Distribution of drugs under §§ 195.211, .212, RSMo.
11. Arson in the first degree under § 569.040, RSMo.
12. Felonious restraint under § 565.120, RSMo.
13. Property damage in the first degree under § 569.100, RSMo.
14. Child molestation in the first degree pursuant to § 566.067, RSMo.
15. Sexual misconduct involving a child pursuant to § 566.083, RSMo.
16. Sexual abuse pursuant to § 566.100, RSMo.
17. Harassment under § 565.090, RSMo.
18. Stalking under § 565.225, RSMo.
In addition, the superintendent shall notify the appropriate division of the juvenile or family court
upon suspension for more than ten (10) days or expulsion of any student who the school district is
aware is under the jurisdiction of the court.
All employees shall immediately report to the principal any incident that constitutes a crime,
including any incident in which a person is believed to have committed an act that if committed by
an adult would be first, second or third degree assault, sexual assault or deviate sexual assault against
a student or school employee, while on school property, school transportation or at school activities.
Employees shall also inform the principal if a student is discovered to possess a controlled substance
or weapon in violation of the district’s policy. The principal shall immediately report these offenses
to the appropriate law enforcement agency and the superintendent.
The superintendent and the appropriate local law enforcement agency may develop a written
agreement outlining the procedure for reporting any incident in which a student is believed to have
committed an act that if committed by an adult would be third degree assault. If such an agreement
exists in the district, the principal shall report third degree assaults to the appropriate local law
enforcement agency in accordance with the agreement.
School districts may report or disclose education records to law enforcement and juvenile justice
authorities if the disclosure concerns law enforcement's or juvenile justice authorities' ability to
effectively serve, prior to adjudication, the student whose records are released. The officials and
authorities to whom such information is disclosed must comply with applicable restrictions set forth
in state and federal law.
Student Discipline Records
The Board of Education directs the superintendent or designee to compile and maintain records of
any serious violation of the district’s discipline policy for each student enrolled in the district. Such
records shall be made available to all district employees with a need to know and shall be provided
to any school district in which the student subsequently attempts to enroll within five (5) business
days of receiving the request, in accordance with state law. If a student is placed in another school
by the CD, the records will be transferred to the new school within two (2) business days after
notification by the CD. Personally identifiable student records will only be released or destroyed in
accordance with state and federal law.
Pursuant to Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE) data reporting
requirements, the district shall report rates and durations of, and reasons for, student suspensions of
ten (10) days or longer and expulsions.
Confidentiality
Any information received by a school district employee relating to the conduct of a student shall be
received in confidence and used for the limited purpose of assuring that good order and discipline
are maintained in the schools.
Liability
Teachers and authorized district personnel, including volunteers selected with reasonable care by the
district, shall not be civilly liable when acting in accordance with the Board's policies, including the
Board's discipline policies, or when reporting to the appropriate supervisor or other person acts of
school violence or threatened acts of school violence, pursuant to law and district policy.
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for
related information.
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Adopted: 09/15/1997
Revised: 12/15/2003; 09/20/2004; 08/15/2005; 05/18/2009; 03/21/2011
Legal Refs: §§ 160.261, .522, 167.020, .115 - .117, .122, 210.865, 211.032, 565.002, RSMo.
Dunklin R-5 School District, Herculaneum, Missouri
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