METAL SCANNER POLICY

 

It is the policy of the Chicopee Public Schools to continually work to provide a safe environment in which students can learn and participate in all programs offered or sponsored by the school system.  If a school department employee is confronted with a situation which s/he considers to be unsafe for any reason, s/he should report the circumstances involved to his/her building principal.

 

If at any time any school official has reasonable cause to believe that any student is in possession of a dangerous weapon in violation of school policy, s/he shall take steps appropriate under the circumstances.  Immediately upon learning of reasonable cause to believe any student has such a weapon, the school official shall take steps to see that the student undergoes a hand held metal detector search.  This search shall take place as follows:

  1. The search will be conducted by a school official and at least one other school employee present for the search.  Whenever possible, the Principal or Vice Principal shall conduct or participate in the search.
  2. Any items that are found at any time during this process that are in violation of school policy will be confiscated.
  3. The student will be informed that, in accordance with the school safety policy, s/he is about to be subject to a hand held metal detector search, and asked if s/he has any weapons or other metal objects.
  4. The student will be asked to empty his or her pockets and to remove any metal objects.
  5. The metal detector will be run over and across the student’s body and clothing in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  6. If the metal detector sounds, indicating a metal object on the student’s person, the student will again be asked to remove any metal objects.
  7. The search will proceed until all metal objects have been removed or identified as not being in violation of school policy.

 

Any student refusing to cooperate with any part of this metal detector search process shall be subject to appropriate discipline, including suspension and/or expulsion, within the discretion of the Principal and/or the Superintendent under applicable law, and shall be so informed.