Board Policy

BP 0450

Philosophy, Goals, Objectives and Comprehensive Plans

Comprehensive Safety Plan

The Board of Education recognizes that students and staff have the right to a safe and secure campus where they are free from physical and psychological harm. The Board is fully committed to maximizing school safety and to creating a positive learning environment that teaches strategies for violence prevention and emphasizes high expectations for student conduct, responsible behavior and respect for others.

The Superintendent or designee shall oversee the development of a comprehensive districtwide safety plan that identifies major safety concerns as well as the district's goals and priorities for safe schools. The plan shall include violence prevention strategies and actions to be taken in the event of a crisis.

In addition, each principal or designee shall ensure the development of a site-level plan, in accordance with law, tailored to the specific concerns of each school. The plan shall take into account the school's staff, available resources and building design, as well as other factors unique to the site.

(cf. 0420 - School Plans/Site Councils)

(cf. 1220 - Citizen Advisory Committees)

The school safety plan shall be reviewed and updated annually by March 1 of each year. (Education Code 35294.6)

The Board shall approve the comprehensive districtwide and school safety plan in order to ensure compliance with state law, Board policy and administrative regulation.

By October 15 of each year, the Superintendent or designee shall notify the State Department of Education of any schools that have not complied with the requirements of Education Code 35294.1. (Education Code 35294.8)

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

231.5 Sexual harassment

32260-32262 Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985

35147 School site councils and advisory committees

35183 School dress code; uniforms

35291 Rules

35291.5 School-adopted discipline rules

35294-35294.9 School safety plans

35294.10-35294.15 School Safety and Violence Prevention Act

48900-48926 Suspension and expulsion

48950 Speech and other communication

PENAL CODE

11164-11174.3 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION

Article 1, Section 28(c) Right to Safe Schools

Management Resources:

CSBA PUBLICATIONS

Protecting Our Schools: Board of Education Strategies to Combat School Violence, 1995, revised 1999

CDE PUBLICATIONS

Safe Schools: A Planning Guide for Action, 1995

WEB SITES

CDE, Safe Schools and Violence Prevention Office: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ spbranch/safety/safetyhome

CSBA: http://www.csba.org

Policy PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: December 11, 2000 Palos Verdes Estates, California