St. Michael Lutheran School will not tolerate students, staff, parents/guardians or any other person associated with St. Michael Lutheran being involved with possession of weapons at school, possession or sale of illicit drugs and the unlawful possession and use of alcohol or tobacco products or any threats, suggestions, predications, or acts of violence. These will not be tolerated and will be dealt with through the proper application of Law and Gospel.

To this end the following policy has been adopted by the School Board:

1. St. Michael Lutheran School is committed to safe and orderly education environments and authorizes the Administration and staff to respond rapidly to any threat, suggestion, predication, or act of violence that occurs on any St. Michael Lutheran owned property or at any Saint Michael Lutheran School event.
2. Students found in possession of weapons at school, possession or sale of illicit drugs, or the unlawful possession of alcohol or tobacco products on any St. Michael Lutheran owned or rented facility or sponsored event may result in immediate suspension, may result in a recommendation for expulsion by the Principal, and may result in referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
3. Students, staff, parents/guardians or any other person shall not make any verbal, written, telephonically or electronically communicated threat, suggestion, predication, or act of violence against any person or group of persons or damage any St. Michael Lutheran owned or rented facility. Any such action may result in immediate suspension, may result in a recommendation for expulsion by the Principal, and may result in referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
4. Should such a threat, suggestion, predication or act of violence occur the Principal may recommend expulsion of a student to the School Board, the termination of an employee to the School Board, and any threat, suggestion, predication or act of violence made by a parent/guardian or other person may be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
5. Students, staff, parents/guardians or any other person associated with St. Michael Lutheran shall report any threat, suggestion, predication, or act of violence directly to a staff member, (i.e. Homeroom Instructor, Special Instructor, Teacher Assistant, Guidance Counselor, Office Staff, Assistant Principal, or Principal) or by using the SMLS C.A.R.E. forms, or by calling the Crime Stoppers Hotline. Staff members shall report any threat, suggestion, predication, or act of violence to the Administrator in charge. Failure to report by students, staff, parents/guardians or any other person associated with St. Michael Lutheran may result in disciplinary action or referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
6. St. Michael Lutheran School may seek recovery from the student, staff member, parent/guardian, or other person responsible for any costs and or damages incurred by St. Michael Lutheran as a result of a threat, suggestion, or predication of violence, an act of violence, or damage to any St. Michael Lutheran owned or rented facility. Types of costs include, but are not limited to, the following: interagency agreements, outside counseling services, psychological assessments, legal, law enforcement, and repair costs.

Implementation of the policy statements is explained below:

Student possession of weapons at school, possession or sale of illicit drugs, or the unlawful possession of alcohol or tobacco products, any threat, suggestion, predication, or act of violence, or damage to property whether on campus, at any school sponsored activities, or off campus will not be tolerated. Additionally, any threat, suggestion, predication, or act of violence against any school official or employee will not be allowed at any time. Students are strictly prohibited from engaging in conduct, which creates circumstances likely to cause disruptions at school, or at school sponsored activities. Types of conduct which are in violation of this policy include, but are not limited to, those described below:

• any act of physical violence other than what is reasonable for self-defense, and protection of other persons or property;
• knowingly, willingly, or recklessly placing others in danger of imminent serious physical harm;
• threatening, planning, or conspiring with others to engage in a violent act;
• joking about engaging in a violent act against others, or otherwise making any threat, suggestion, predication of violence, or intimidating remarks which might be reasonably interpreted by others as indicating a threat or plan to engage in some type of violent activity.
• possession of weapons at school, possession or sale of illicit drugs, or the unlawful possession of alcohol or tobacco products.

Further, all students, staff, parents/guardians or any other person associated with St. Michael Lutheran are morally obligated to report to responsible school officials knowledge of any violations or potential violations of this policy by students. No student may retaliate against another for making such a report. However, any student who deliberately makes a false or misleading report will also be subject to disciplinary action.

Students violating any provision of this policy shall be subject to appropriate discipline, up to and including suspension and expulsion.

Should such a threat, suggestion, predication, or act of violence occur the following actions may be taken by school personnel:

1. School personnel will take action to minimize a threat to any student’s safety.

1. The student(s) will immediately be removed from the education environment to the office of the Administrator in charge.
2. As the situation is being assessed by school personnel the parents of the student(s) responsible will be contacted and asked to come to school as soon as possible to further assess the situation.
3. The Administrator in charge may assemble support staff members, special subject instructors, the homeroom instructor, Guidance Counselor, and the Pastor in the process of carrying out an assessment.
4. The school’s legal counsel, the school designated professional psychiatrist/counselor, and the appropriate law enforcement agency, usually the school’s DARE officer, may be engaged by the administration in the process of carrying out an assessment.

2. Once the situation has been fully assessed disciplinary consequences shall be administered. Special interventions and consequences are implemented when the administrator feels, based on individual situations, they are warranted. This includes use of the step levels and additional interventions and consequences such as, but not limited to, the following: An extended suspension, ongoing screening and testing procedures, probationary stipulations regarding actions, restitution, and I Care relationship rebuilding.
3. Once the situation has been fully assessed and discipline administered, school personnel will notify, as soon as possible, the parents of the student(s) involved either by an action, inaction, or by being named in the incident.
4. For the good of all of our constituents, all families understand when enrolling in Saint Michael Lutheran School that there may be instances where information regarding situations such as those noted above would be shared. When appropriate, the Principal will disseminate follow up communications to larger groups of people to clarify the issue and notify people of the actions taken. (i.e. Classroom forums, grade level or department level letters, school family memos, or even Open Hearings with all SMLS members invited.)