5100: Student Weapons and Dangerous Items in School

District Policy 5100

STUDENT WEAPONS AND DANGEROUS ITEMS IN SCHOOL

1.0       Carrying, bringing, using, transferring or possessing any firearm, dangerous weapon or other dangerous items identified in this policy are prohibited.

2.0       Firearms. Mandatory 10-day suspension and expulsion for the first offense.

2.1       As used in this policy, firearm” is defined as:

2.1.1    Any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;

2.1.2    The frame or receiver of any weapon described above;

2.1.3    Any firearm muffler or firearm silencer;

2.2       The principal shall initiate expulsion proceedings for students who carry, bring, use or possess a firearm.  Unless expulsion is otherwise required by federal law, a student may, but need not be expelled if as soon as possible upon discovering that he or she is in possession of the firearm, the student notifies and delivers the weapon to school officials.

2.3       Pursuant to federal law, expulsion of not less than one (1) year is mandatory for any student who brings a firearm to school.  Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis as determined by the superintendent.  The reasons for granting an exception shall be in writing.

3.0       Dangerous Weapons. Mandatory five-day suspension and mandatory expulsion referral may result in expulsion for the first offense.

3.1       Explosives. Any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas including but not limited to, bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine or similar device.  An expulsion referral is mandatory for such violations.

3.2       Firearm Facsimile. Carrying, using, actively displaying or threatening with the use of a firearm facsimile that could reasonably be mistaken for an actual firearm.

3.2.1    A student may seek prior authorization from the building principal to carry, bring, use or possess a firearm facsimile that could reasonably be mistaken for an actual firearm on school property for purposes of a school-related or non-school related activity.  The principal shall, only after consultation with the district Security Services Manager, issue a decision to deny or permit a student to carry, bring, use or possess a firearm facsimile that could reasonably be mistaken for an actual firearm on school property, and such decision shall be final.

3.3       Any pellet, BB gun or other device, whether operational or not, designed to propel projectiles by spring action or compressed air;

3.4       A knife with a blade that measures longer than three inches in length;

3.5       Any object, device, instrument, material, or substance, whether animate or inanimate, used or intended to be used to inflict death or serious bodily injury including, but not limited to slingshot, bludgeon, brass knuckles or artificial knuckles of any kind.

4.0       Dangerous Items. School administrators shall consider dangerous items violations on a case-by-case basis.  Prohibited items include but are not limited to:

4.1       Any knife, regardless of the length of the blade, other instruments with sharpened blades or edges that might easily be used as a weapon, or any other substance or object, regardless of intended purpose, used in a manner that may render them dangerous to the user or others.  Exceptions include scissors or other sharpened instruments commonly used during supervised educational activities.

4.2       Bullets (used or unused), fireworks, smoke or stink bombs or any other pyrotechnic device.

4.3       Gel blasters and similar devices, designed to propel gel-like beads (such as Orbeez).

4.4       Bringing, possessing or using substances or objects, regardless of their intended purpose(s), in a manner that may render them dangerous to the user or others without authorization.

5.0       Referral to Law Enforcement. School personnel shall refer any student who brings a firearm or dangerous weapon to school without authorization of the school or the District to law enforcement.

LEGAL REFERENCES:
18 U.S.C. §921 (a)(3)
20 U.S.C. §7151
C.R.S. 18-1-901
C.R.S. 22-32-109.1
C.R.S. 22-33-102
C.R.S. 22-33-106

CROSS REFERENCES:
Code: 5000
Code: 5010
Code: 8700

Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Most Recent Adoption: May 25, 2022