STUDENT HANDBOOK - Half Hollow Hills

Moreover, for purposes of this policy, the term "weapon" and/or "firearm" shall include, but not be
limited to, the following dangerous devices: air-gun, spring-gun, BB gun, pellet gun, other instrument or
weapon in which the propelling force is a spring, air piston or CO2 cartridge, box cutter, electronic stun
gun, electronic dart gun, knife, metal knuckle knife, brass or metal knuckles, kung fu stars, blackjack,
chuck-a-stick, billyclub, fireworks as defined by §270.00 of the New York State Penal Law, explosives,
dangerous chemicals, facsimiles of weapons, or any object not other wise necessary for school activities,
which could be used as weapon or which appears to be weapon.
Whenever a student is found with a weapon or firearm in his or her possession on school grounds and/or
at a school related function conducted off school grounds, the building principal shall automatically
suspend the student for a period of five school days in accordance with the provisions of Education
Law §3214. Moreover, such student after a due process hearing is provided in accordance with the Gun-
Free School Act of 1994 (Education Law §3214) will be subject to a mandatory penalty expulsion for
at least one calendar year. The Superintendent may modify the mandatory penalty on a case-by-case
basis after considering the following:
Student's age;
1. Student's grade;
2. Student's prior disciplinary record;
3. Parent/Teacher input;
4. Superintendent's belief that other forms of discipline may be appropriate; and
5. Other pertinent circumstances.
A determination to suspend a student for one year is subject to review by the Board of Education Pursuant
to Section §3214 of the Education Law.
Regardless of the penalty imposed on the student by the Superintendent, if a weapon or firearm is found
in the possession of a student, police authorities shall be summoned immediately for purposes of making
arrests. In addition, any student under sixteen years of age who has been determined to have brought a
weapon to school will be reported to the county attorney' s office for juvenile delinquency proceedings.
Any student sixteen years of age or older will be referred by the Superintendent to appropriate law
enforcement officials.
Discipline of a student with a disability who is determined to have brought a weapon to school must be
made on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the individuals with Disabilities Education Act of
Article 89 of the Education Law.
In all cases, weapons shall be confiscated, and parents and the police notified. The confiscated weapons
shall be retained by District personnel, subject to requests made by local law enforcement, as evidence in
any subsequent criminal prosecution, suspension hearing or disciplinary proceeding.
All middle and high school students will be made aware of this policy on a yearly basis and of the fact
that lockers assigned to students are at all times considered to be the exclusive property of the school
district and are subject to search upon reasonable suspicion.
New York State Peace Officers and Police Officers are the only people permitted, on school property, to
have a weapon in their possession.
TITLE IX
Title IX is the portion of the Education Amendments of 1972 which prohibits sex discrimination
in federally assisted programs. Specifically, Title IX states:
"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
Any questions in regard to Title IX should be referred to the Assistant Superintendent for District Wide
Administration at 592-3025.
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