e. Recruitment of gang members;f. Gang-related threats or intimidation; org. Gang-related violence.18. Bullying by a student or group of students against another student with the intent to harass,ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the other student through overt, repeated acts orgestures, including verbal or written communications transmitted, and/or physical actscommitted, or any other similar behavior is prohibited.a. This rule applies when a student is: on <strong>school</strong> grounds immediately before or during<strong>school</strong> hours, immediately after <strong>school</strong> hours or at any other time when the <strong>school</strong> isbeing used by a <strong>school</strong> group (including summer <strong>school</strong>); off <strong>school</strong> grounds at a<strong>school</strong> activity, function, or event; or using property or equipment provided by the<strong>school</strong>.b. Parents or students who suspect that repeated acts of bullying are taking placeshould report the matter to the <strong>school</strong> principal or designee.c. School personnel will investigate all reports of bullying.d. Counseling, corrective discipline, and/or referral to law enforcement will be used tochange the behavior of the perpetrator. This includes appropriate intervention(s),restoration of a positive climate, and support for victims and others impacted by theviolation.e. Educational outreach and training will be provided to <strong>school</strong> personnel, parents, andstudents concerning the identification, prevention, and the intervention in bullying.f. All <strong>school</strong>s in the corporation are encouraged to engage student, staff and parents inmeaningful discussion about the negative aspects of bullying. The parent involvementmay be through parent organizations already in place in each <strong>school</strong>.F. POSSESSION OF A FIREARM OR A DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE1. No student shall possess, handle, or transmit any firearm on <strong>school</strong> property.2. A firearm means any weapon that is capable of, designed to, or that may readily beconverted to expel a projectile by means of explosion.3. The penalty for possession of a firearm or a destructive device is suspension up to ten(10) days and expulsion from <strong>school</strong> for at least one calendar year, with the return of thestudent to be at the beginning of the first trimester after the expiration of the onecalendar year period. The length of the expulsion may be reduced by the superintendent ifthe circumstances warrant such reduction.4. The superintendent shall immediately notify the appropriate law enforcement agency if astudent brings or is in possession of a firearm or bomb on <strong>school</strong> property.For purposes of this rule, destructive device as defined by IC 35-47.5-2-4 is:o An explosive, incendiary, or over pressure device that is configured as a bomb, agrenade, a rocket with a propellant charge of more than four ounces, a missile havingan explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, a mine, a Molotovoococktail or a device that is substantially similar to an item described above.A type of weapon that may be readily converted to expel a projectile by the actionof an explosive or other propellant through a barrel that has a bore diameter ofmore than one-half inch, orA combination of parts designed or intended for use in the conversion of a deviceinto a destructive device. A destructive device is NOT a device that althoughoriginally designed for use as a weapon is redesigned for use as a signaling,pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device.18
G. POSSESSING A DEADLY WEAPON1. No student shall possess, handle, or transmit any deadly weapon onSchool property.2. The following devices are considered to be deadly weapons as defined inI.C. 35-41-1-8:o A loaded or unloaded firearmo A destructive device or weapon (as defined in IC 35-47.5 2-4), taser or electronicstun weapon (as defined in IC 35-47-8-1), equipment, chemical substance, or othermaterial that in the manner it is used, or could ordinarily be used, or is intended tobe used, is readily capable of causing serious bodily injury.o An animal (as defined in IC 35-46-3-3) that is:i. Readily capable of causing serious bodily injury; andii. Used in the com<strong>mission</strong> or attempted com<strong>mission</strong> of a crime.o A biological disease, virus, or organism that is capable of causing serious bodilyinjury.3. The penalty for possession of a deadly weapon: up to 10 daysSuspension and expulsion from <strong>school</strong> for a period of up to one calendaryear.4. The superintendent shall immediately notify the appropriate Law Enforcement agencywhen a student is expelled under in this rule.H. UNLAWFUL ACTIVITYA student may be suspended or expelled for engaging in unlawful activity on or off <strong>school</strong>grounds if the unlawful activity may reasonably be considered to be an interference with <strong>school</strong>purposes or an educational function, or the student’s removal is necessary to restore order orprotect persons on <strong>school</strong> property. This includes any unlawful activity meeting the abovecriteria that takes place during weekends, holidays, other <strong>school</strong> breaks, and the summer periodwhen a student may not be attending classes or other <strong>school</strong> functions.I. LEGAL SETTLEMENTA student may be expelled if it is determined that the student’s legalsettlement is not in the attendance area of the <strong>school</strong> where the student isenrolled.J. CONSEQUENCES OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORWhen a teacher or staff member in charge of super<strong>vision</strong> observes behaviors that woulddisrupt the educational day, a variety of disciplinary practices may be utilized, depending on theindividual situation. If a staff member deems it necessary to consult with an administrator, thefollowing options, up to and including expulsion may be used by an administrator (not necessarilyin the order listed):1. student teacher conference2. teacher parent conference3. student administrator conference4. student parent teacher administrator conference5. referral to support personnel and/or outside professionals6. time out7. detention before, during, or after <strong>school</strong>8. in <strong>school</strong> detention9. parent or parent proxy monitors student in <strong>school</strong>10. Saturday School11. assignment to alternative class or program12. referral to juvenile di<strong>vision</strong> of Richmond Police Department19