STU-38

6/10/92
R-9/22/99
R-9/22/04
R-7/9//08
R-1/14/15

PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

SECURE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

POLICY

The first responsibility of a school system is to ensure students and their parents of an
orderly safe environment in which effective teaching and learning can take place. Toward
this end, the following process is effective immediately.

1. Portable Communications Devices

The School Committee recognizes that cell phones and other kinds of portable
communication devices (PCDs) may play an important part in the safety as well as
the convenience of students. Cell phones and PCDs are defined here as products
of current and emerging technology that are wireless, and that send or receive
electronic communications, including pictures, text, graphics, and sound, by means
of analog, digital, or other format of data transmission. The School Committee
establishes the following rules for students’ use of cell phones and other kinds of
PCDs.

A. Students may carry or otherwise possess cell phones and other kinds of
PCDs on school grounds and at school-sponsored or school-related events
or activities; except that students shall keep any such devices turned off and
shall not use or operate any such device during the instructional day, or at
any other time during any school-sponsored activity or program, or in any
location, when their use would reasonably be expected to disrupt or interfere
with instructional activities or the academic climate of the school or its
programs or services.

B. The term “instructional day” as used in paragraph A, above, means the times
established for regular academic instruction. The term “instructional day”
shall also refer to activities or programs that occur outside the time when
regular academic instruction is provided and when students are obliged to
be in attendance, such as for Saturday detention, in which case the
restriction on the use or operation of cell phones or other kinds of PCDs
shall apply to the students involved in such activities or program.

C. No cell phone or other kind of PCD shall be used at any time during or in
conjunction with any school-sponsored activity for the purpose of, or in a
manner that facilitates cheating, sexual or other harassment or
discrimination, bullying or demeaning acts, violation of any person’s
privacy, interference with or disruption of any Pittsfield Public Schools
activity, violation of a criminal or other statute, or otherwise in a manner that
violates a Pittsfield Public Schools policy or rule of conduct for students.

D. A student who violates the restrictions set forth in this policy on the use of
cell phones or other kinds of PCDs may face disciplinary action. Absent a
circumstance that exacerbates the offense, such as the use of a cell phone
 or other kind of PCD in violation of paragraph C, above, violation of the
restrictions set forth in this policy shall be deemed insubordination under
the student rules of conduct, and shall be treated as such in taking
disciplinary action. A second violation of said restrictions shall result in
denial for 60 school days of the rights set forth in paragraph A, above. A
third violation of said restrictions, or a violation of a provision of paragraph
C, above, shall result in denial for 180 school days of the rights set forth in
paragraph A, above. Any further violation of said restrictions shall result in
permanent loss of the rights set forth in paragraph A, above.

E. School officials, including classroom teachers, may confiscate a cell phone

or other kind of PCD that is used by a student in violation of the restrictions
set forth in this policy. The student’s parent or guardian shall be notified of
the infraction and advised that he/she may claim the confiscated device at
the school.

F. Although the Pittsfield Public Schools shall make a reasonable effort to

ensure the security of any cell phone or other kind of PCD confiscated
pursuant to the preceding paragraph, it shall be the responsibility of the
student’s parent or guardian to claim any such confiscated device in a timely
way, thereby ensuring that the device is in the safekeeping of the parent or
guardian as soon as possible.

G. Electronic devices lost or stolen while at school are not the responsibility of
the Pittsfield Public Schools.

H. The principal or his/her designee may, at his/her sole discretion, grant

exceptions to the prohibition on the use of cell phones and other kinds of
PCDs. The principal or his/her designee may require suitable documentation
of a critical need for such an exemption before granting the exemption.

2. Organized Youth Groups

Principals shall deal firmly and decisively with incidents reflecting threats,
demeaning, or bullying to students within the schools, or at school functions as well
as en route between home and school that can be attributed to student or youth
groups. If such incidents are attributable to concerted activities by youth groups
however organized, they shall be considered the most serious violations of our
discipline policy subject to the maximum suspension permissible at the building
level (9 days) and a recommendation for extension of suspension to the central
administration. Law enforcement authorities are also to be notified. Where referrals
to the central administration reveal that membership in such a youth group was
instrumental in the offense, the violator will be removed from the school setting for
greater than nine (9) days.

3. Weapons in School

Possession of a weapon or any ammunition in school, en route to and from school,

or at school functions is prohibited. A student found to be in possession of a
weapon while under school jurisdiction is subject to disciplinary as well as legal
action. All weapons or instruments that have the appearance of a weapon or can be
used in a potentially dangerous or threatening manner are prohibited in all school
environments, at any school sponsored activity except for educational purposes
authorized in advance by the building principal, or his/her designee, or as provided
by Massachusetts Statutes governing licensed peace officers.
 Use of any instrument as a weapon whether or not designed as such is also
prohibited.

Weapons shall include but not be limited to guns, knives, switchblades, and
explosive devices.

REGULATIONS

Any student in possession of a weapon as herein defined is therefore in violation of this policy. The
violator will be reported to the principal who, in turn, will notify law enforcement officials. The
weapon will be confiscated, and parents notified.

A pupil using a weapon in a fight or altercation will be administratively judged to be a danger to

others and self.

A pupil whose use of a weapon has caused injury to another person, intended or unintended, will
be subject to legal action.

A pupil duly found to be responsible for his/her actions and in whole or in part for the presence of
a firearm in a Pittsfield Public School, on school property, or at a Pittsfield Public Schools function.

Any student engaged in any of the activities specified in these regulations will be subject to
extended suspension or expulsion proceedings under M.G.L., CH. 71, S.37H and/or S.37H½.

Extended Suspension

Serious disciplinary action, while necessary, addresses effects not causes. Attention must also be
directed toward determining the underlying reasons involved in school and community life. Further,
steps will be taken in cooperation with other municipal departments and community agencies to
ensure that where lengthy school suspensions are dictated, violators will be assigned to specific
activities outside the regular school setting and will not be free to roam the streets.

The withdrawal of educational opportunity is of course undertaken with reluctance and only after
the student has been accorded full due process. However, the right of the great majority of students
and their parents to a school atmosphere free from fear is an overriding priority and will be
protected.

REFERENCES

M.G.L., CH. 71, S. 37H, PUBLICATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE RULES AND REGULATIONS
RELATIVE TO THE CONDUCT OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
See STU-37

M.G.L., CH. 269, S. 10, PROHIBITION AGAINST FIREARMS IN SCHOOL

See STU-37

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Policy STU-25, “Student Due Process Rights”

Policy STU-28, “Student Conduct”

Policy STU-31, “Student Conduct on School Buses”