Our Safety Initiative
The District places the safety of its student and staff first on a daily basis. In 1999, the District created a Safety Committee comprised of parents, PTA members, School Directors, Administrators, and students to create a safety plan that would enable the district to be better prepared for a crisis situation. The result was the SECURE PLAN that is used district-wide for emergencies. Through grant money, the District provides security cameras at the buildings and on school buses. The Committee meets quarterly to discuss safety initiatives for the district and its students.
Student Safety Policies
In June 1998, the district established a committee to examine safety practices in the district. After a year of planning in subcommittees, the district implemented new initiatives in the areas of crisis response, early intervention, identification of visitors and the education of all stakeholders regarding safety issues. In the past several years, the Board of School Directors has adopted a number of policies that relate to safety. Below are highlights of these policies.
Anti-Hazing Policy
Bomb Threats or False Fire Alarms
- Any student who furnishes false information to any other student, a teacher, administrator, or other employee of the school district concerning the placement or setting of a bomb or other explosive, or sets off an alarm, knowing the same to be false, shall be subject to expulsion.
Bus Conduct
- A high standard of student behavior on school buses while entering or leaving the buses is expected and will be required. The bus driver is in charge of the vehicle, and his or her instructions are to be obeyed. VisitTransportation
Drug and Alcohol
- The drug and alcohol policy of the school district prescribes student responsibilities and expectations. Violations of said policy will result in application of appropriate disciplinary action as prescribed in the policy. VisitDistrict Policy No. 5114.6 -- Drug and Alcohol Policy
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Harassment in any form is prohibited toward students and employees.
The term "harassment" means any conduct designated to intimidate or harm others. This includes verbal abuse, threatening others, striking, shoving, kicking or unwanted physical contact. Harassment can also be defined as repeatedly following an employee or student or engaging in a pattern of conduct which alarms or intimidates an employee or student.
Complaints will be investigated fully, promptly and confidentially, and appropriate action will be taken as outlined in the procedures of the policy.
A written report of the investigation will be prepared and retained in the central office and supplied to local law enforcement when appropriate.
No retaliation resulting from the complaint will be permitted.
Complaints that are proven to be of a malicious and/ or capricious nature may result in a counter investigation, which may lead to appropriate action.
Any student or employee in violation of the policy will be subject to discipline. For a student this could include suspension or expulsion. For an employee this could include dismissal.
Any student who conspires, solicits, and/or induces another student to engage in conduct which will violate the School District's rules shall be subject to punishment in accordance with School District policies to the same extent as if he or she had actually committed the violation at issue.
Students and employees of Peters Township School District are prohibited from having weapons and dangerous instruments, and/or look-alike weapons and dangerous instruments in their possession while on school property or at school related activities.
The term "possession" is defined as: on the person, in his/her personal property or having the control to "direct" another person who is in possession.
The Possession of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments Policy does not apply in cases where a student's or employee's possession is in conjunction with a supervised course, program, activity or necessary for an employee's job.
Any student or employee found in violation of the Weapons and Dangerous Instruments Policy will have the item confiscated.
The incident will be reported to the local law enforcement agency.
The incident will be filed in the district central office. By law, this information will be entered on the student's discipline record. Other public school entities may request, and be provided with the information upon the withdrawal of the student from the Peters Township School District.
Any student or employee in violation of the policy will be subject to discipline. For a student this could include suspension or expulsion from the school. For an employee this could include dismissal.
Sexual harassment in any form is prohibited toward students and employees. Students and employees are to avoid any conduct, verbal and/or physical, which may be viewed by the person to whom it is directed as sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment is defined as, but not limited to: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, exposition of sexually related materials, and other inappropriate verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
Complaints will be investigated fully, promptly and confidentially. Appropriate action will be taken as outlined in the procedures of the policy.
A written report of the investigation will be prepared and retained in the central office and supplied to local law enforcement when appropriate.
No retaliation resulting from the complaint will be permitted.
Complaints that are proven to be of a malicious and/or capricious nature may result in a counter investigation, which may lead to appropriate action.
Any student or employee in violation of the policy will be subject to discipline. For a student this could include suspension or expulsion. For an employee this could include dismissal.
It is the responsibility of the student to
Be aware of all rules and regulations for student behavior and conduct themselves in accordance with them.
Assume that until a rule is waived, altered or repealed it is in full effect.
Be aware of and comply with state and local laws.
Assist the school staff in operating a safe school for all students enrolled therein.
Protect and take care of the school's property.
Be willing to volunteer information in matters relating to the health, safety, and welfare of the school community and the protection of school property.
Dress and groom themselves so as to meet fair standards of safety and health, and so as not to cause a substantial disruption to the educational process.
Pursue and attempt to complete satisfactorily the courses of student prescribed by state and local school authorities.
Attend school daily, except when excused, and be on time at all classes and other school functions.
Make all necessary arrangements for making up work when absent from school.
Avoid inaccuracies and indecent or obscene language in student publications.
Express their ideas and opinions in a respectful manner so as not to offend or slander others.
Threats/Assaults Upon Students and Employees
The Board of School Directors advises all persons that it views very seriously, threats directed to and/or assaults upon students and employees of the School District, and that the Board of School Directors has no tolerance for threats and/or physical attacks directed toward its students and employees, regardless of the source of the threat.
Bullying Prevention
In June 1998, Peters Township School District established a safety committee. Among other initiatives, Bullying Prevention, was addressed. Teachers, students and parents of students in Grades K-8 have had opportunities over the last four years to receive information and training about bullying.
VisitCharacter Counts
Communities That Care Youth Survey
In October 2001, Peters Township School District administered the Communities That Care Youth Survey to students in grades 6, 8, and 10. The survey is used to determine students' knowledge about alcohol and drugs and the level of use among students. The district was encouraged to participate in the survey because this information is required for Safe Schools reporting and when applying for Safe and Drug Free Schools funding. This was the first time a survey of this type had been conducted in the school district since 1987. The District will be using the survey results to develop programs to educate students about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.