The Board recognizes that incidents of violent and aggressive behavior against students and school personnel undermines an environment for learning, and can result in significant safety risks. Students are especially vulnerable to the emotional injury associated with this type of conduct, and their performance in school can be adversely affected when violent and aggressive behavior of any kind is present. Certain behaviors, if tolerated, would quickly destroy a positive, productive and safe learning environment to which students and staff of the District are entitled. These behaviors, categorized as violent or aggressive, will not be tolerated and shall result in immediate action being taken by the District.
A prompt response is essential to diffuse a potentially volatile situation. This policy shall provide guidance to deter acts of violent and aggressive behavior and to preserve the safety and welfare of the educational environment.
Students exhibiting violent or aggressive behavior shall receive appropriate intervention to change behavior before a crisis occurs and shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion when appropriate.
It shall be a violation of this policy for any student or staff member to inflict, threaten to inflict or attempt to inflict violence upon any other student or staff member while in school buildings, on school grounds, in school vehicles or during a school-sponsored activity, and in certain cases when the behavior occurs off of school property. An act of violence and aggression is any expression, direct or indirect, verbal or behavioral, of intent to inflict harm, injury or damage to persons or property. A threat of violence and aggression carries with it implied notions of risk of violence and a probability of harm or injury.
The following behaviors are defined as violent and aggressive:
Adoption Date: January 09, 2012
Last Revised: September 10, 2012
- Physical assault: the act of striking or touching a person or that person's property with a part of the body or with any object with the intent of causing hurt or harm;
- Verbal abuse: includes, but is not limited to, swearing, screaming, or obscene gestures;
- Threats: directed, either orally (including by telephone), by non-verbal gesture, or in writing, at an individual, his or her family or a group;
- Intimidation: an act intended to frighten or coerce someone into submission or obedience;
- Extortion: the use of verbal or physical coercion in order to obtain financial or material gain from others;
- Stalking: the persistent following, contacting, watching or any other such threatening actions that compromise the peace of mind or the personal safety of an individual;
- Defiance: a serious act or instance of defying or opposing legitimate authority;
- Discriminatory slurs: insulting, disparaging, or derogatory comments made directly or by innuendo regarding a person's race, color, ancestry, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability or need for special education services;
- Vandalism: damaging or defacing property owned by or in the rightful possession of another;
- Terrorism: a threat to commit violence which is communicated with the intent to terrorize; or with reckless disregard for the risk of creating such terror; or to cause serious public inconvenience, such as the evacuation of a building;
- Bullying: as described in the District's policy on bullying prevention and education.
- Cyberbullying: the use of any electronic communication device to convey a message in any form (text, image, audio or video) that defames, intimidates, harasses or is otherwise intended to harm, insult, or humiliate another in a deliberate, repeated or hostile and unwanted manner under a person's true or false identity. In addition, any communication of this form which disrupts or prevents a safe and positive educational or working environment may also be considered cyberbullying. Students shall refrain from using personal communication devices or District property to harass or stalk another.
| Legal References: | C.R.S. ยง 22-32-109.1 (1)(b) (Bullying - Definition) |