4350 - Notification of Threats of Violence or Harm Policy

Policy 4350

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

School-Based Threat Assessment and Notification

Pasco School District is committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff. The district will establish procedures for timely school-based threat assessment, management, and notification.

School-Based Threat Assessment
A school-based threat assessment is triggered by a student’s behavior, regardless of whether the student’s behavior is being addressed through a school discipline process. A student’s demographic or personal characteristics shall not serve as the basis for a school-based threat assessment. The district may not impose suspension or expulsion solely for the purpose of conducting a threat assessment. However, nothing in this policy precludes district personnel from acting immediately to address an imminent threat, including imposing an emergency expulsion, if the district has sufficient cause to believe that the student’s presence poses an immediate and continuing danger to other students or school personnel or an immediate and continuing threat of material and substantial disruption of the educational environment. 

Notification of Threats
Students and school employees who are subject of threats of violence or harm shall be notified of the threats in a timely manner.  Parents shall be included in notifications to students who are subjects of threats of violence or harm.  Timing and details of the notice will be as extensive as permitted by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, other legal limitations, and the circumstances.  Notice shall occur according to procedures developed by the Superintendent.

Threats of violence or harm are defined as:

a.    communications that create reasonable fear of physical harm to a specific individual or individuals, communicated directly or indirectly by any means, or
b.    direct or indirect communications by any means of the intent to cause damage to a school building or school property (e.g., bomb threats), or to harm students, employees, volunteers, patrons or visitors.

The district will address threats of violence or harm in a manner consistent with the district’s safety and school-based threat assessment policies and procedures. 

Persons found to have made threats of violence or harm against district property, students, employees or others will be subject to relevant district discipline policies and will be referred to appropriate community agencies including law enforcement and mental health services.  District staff will follow procedures for school-based threat assessment to address threats of violence or harm, those threatened, and those making the threats.  Necessary information about the person making the threat shall be communicated by the principal or designee to teachers and staff, including security personnel.

State law provides the district, school district directors and staff with immunity from liability for providing notice of threats in good faith.  Persons who make a knowingly false notification of a threat are subject to appropriate district discipline policies and may be referred for prosecution.

The superintendent or designee shall establish procedures for school-based threat assessment and notification, including but not limited to definitions, the structure and role of threat assessment teams, and data collection. 

Cross References:    
Board Policy 3240        Student Conduct
Board Policy 3300        Student Discipline
            

Legal References: RCW 28A.320.128 Notice and disclosure policies – Threats of violence – student conduct – Immunity for good faith notice – Penalty
Ch. 28A.300      RCW
            

20 U.S.C. § 1232g        Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
34 C.F.R. Part 99        FERPA Regulations

Adoption Date:      February 28, 2023