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4314 - Notification of Threats of Violence or Harm

Students and school employees who are subjects of specific and significant threats of violence or harm will be notified of the threats in a timely manner. Parents will be included in notifications to students who are subjects of specific and significant threats of violence or harm. If there is a specific and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals, the District may disclose information from education records to appropriate parties whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals. Timing and details of the notice will be appropriate, proportional, and made consistent with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable laws.

Individual-directed specific and significant threats of violence or harm are communications that create fear of physical harm to a specific individual or individuals, when viewed objectively, communicated directly or indirectly by any means.

Building-directed specific and significant threats of violence or harm are direct or indirect communications by any means of the intent, when viewed objectively, to cause damage to a school building or school property (e.g., bomb threats), or to harm students, employees, volunteers, community members or visitors.

The District will address significant and specific threats of violence or harm in a manner consistent with the District’s safety policies and comprehensive safe school plans.

Persons found to have made threats of violence or harm against District property, students, employees or others will be subject to relevant District discipline Regulations or policies and may be referred to appropriate community agencies including law enforcement and mental health services. District staff will work with in-District and community-based professionals and services in all relevant disciplines to address threats of violence or harm, those threatened and those making the threats. Consistent with this Regulation, necessary information about the person making the threat will be communicated by the principal to teachers and staff, including security personnel.

State law provides the District, school District directors and District 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 is directed to develop and implement procedures consistent with this Regulation.

Adopted:

5/21/2012

Last Revised:

7/10/2015

Related Procedures:

Cross References:

Regulation:

  • RCW 28A.320.128 Notice and disclosure policies — Threats of violence — student conduct — Immunity for good faith notice — Penalty
  • WAC 392-400 Pupils
  • 20 U.S.C. § 1232g Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
  • 34 C.F.R. Part 99 FERPA Regulations

Management Resources:

  • Policy News, February 2010 Family Education Rights and Privacy Act Revisions
  • Policy News, February 2003 Threats Regulation Due in September