Crisis Prevention and Response Policy

Code: JHHA-AR

Amity School District 4J

Adopted: 11/18/98

Crisis Prevention and Response

Purpose

The Board is committed to promoting healthy human relationships and learning environments that are physically and psychologically safe for all members of the school community. It further believes that students are the first priority and they should be protected from physical or emotional harm during school activities, and on district grounds, buses or field trips while under school supervision.

1. General Anti-Violence Strategies

1. The district shall strictly enforce its weapons policy.
2. The district shall act promptly in investigating all acts of both a formal and informal nature in the area of complaints related to violence, hazing, harassment, intimidation or other menacing acts, and take appropriate disciplinary action against any student, staff member or individual who is found to have violated Board policy, administrative regulation or school rule.
3. The superintendent will review violence-related policies and submit revisions as necessary to the Board for review and adoption.
4. The administration will implement approved violence prevention strategies to promote safe and secure learning environments, to diminish violence in its schools and to aid in the protection of students and staff whose health or welfare may be jeopardized through acts of violence.

2. Specific Anti-Violence Measures

1. The superintendent shall establish an advisory committee whose function shall be the review of district safety and security procedures and the recommendation of a comprehensive district Crisis Prevention and Response Plan.

1. The advisory committee shall be composed of, but not limited to, the following

representatives:

1. Board member(s);
2. School administrators;
3. Law enforcement agency;
4. Youth service agency;
5. Students;
6. Parents;
7. School staff.

2. To effectively review, analyze and make recommendations to the administration

about safety, security and crisis prevention and response, the advisory committee shall:

1. Review the district’s emergency communication network and periodic

system testing schedule;

2. Identify staff development and training in emergency procedures, crisis

intervention and violence response;

3. Identify parent and community volunteer training program strategies

targeted at violence prevention;

4. Review and analyze the annual building safety and security assessments

conducted by the administration;

5. Identify available anti-violence curriculum such as pro-social skills, conflict

resolution, law-related education and good decision making;

6. Review related policies and administrative regulations including, but not

limited to:

1. Staff-student relations;
2. Community relations;
3. News media relations;
4. Public conduct on district property;
5. Security;
6. Relations with government agencies;
7. Classroom interruptions;
8. Weapons;
9. Sexual harassment;
10. Parent relations;
11. Student dress and grooming;
12. Secret societies/gangs;
13. Hazing, harassment, intimidation and menacing;
14. Substance abuse;
15. Search and seizure;
16. Student demonstrations;
17. Emergency closures and drills;
18. Building inspections;
19. Vandalism;
20. The use of video cameras on campus and buses.

2. Building administrators will conduct a site specific annual assessment of safety and security and will submit a report to the advisory committee complete with findings and recommendations on anti-violence measures including an analysis of, but not limited to, the following:
   1. Student conduct and discipline;
   2. The maintenance of public order on district property;

Crisis Prevention and Response – JHHA-AR

(continued)

3. The banning of weapons on district property and within school zones;
4. Search and seizure;
5. Building security and accessibility;
6. Coordination with law enforcement agencies and media;
7. The implementation of a crisis management team;
8. Staff and student training.

3. Students will be trained through approved curriculum to take responsibility for reporting suspicious individual or unusual activities on school grounds, and to practice personal conflict resolution techniques.
4. The district shall establish a crisis management team for responding to unforeseen incidents such as bomb threats, shootings or natural disasters.