Board Policy

BP 5142

Students

Safety

The Board of Education believes priority should be given and to the prevention of student injury. School facilities shall be designed and equipment shall be selected to minimize the risk of harm to students.

Principals, teachers and other staff shall be responsible for the conduct and safety of students during school hours and school-sponsored activities and while students are using district transportation to and from school

(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive Safety Plan)

(cf. 3320 - Claims and Actions Against the District)

(cf. 3514 - Environmental Safety)

(cf. 3514.1 - Hazardous Substances)

(cf. 3515 - Campus Security)

(cf. 3516 - Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness Plan)

(cf. 3530 - Risk Management/Insurance)

(cf. 3542 - School Bus Drivers)

(cf. 3543 - Transportation Safety and Emergencies)

(cf. 4119.42/4219.42/4319.42 - Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens)

(cf. 4119.43/4219.43/4319.43 - Universal Precautions)

(cf. 5112.5 - Open/Closed Campus)

(cf. 5131 - Conduct)

(cf. 5131.1 - Bus Conduct)

(cf. 5131.7 - Weapons and Dangerous Instruments)

(cf. 5141 - Health Care and Emergencies)

(cf. 5141.1 - Accidents)

(cf. 5142.1 - Identification and Reporting of Missing Children)

(cf. 5142.2 - Crossing Guards)

(cf. 5142.3 - Student Use of Bicycles)

(cf. 5143 - Insurance)

(cf. 5144 - Discipline)

(cf. 5144.1 - Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process)

(cf. 6145.2 - Athletic Competition)

(cf. 6161.3 - Toxic Art Supplies)

(cf. 7111 - Evaluating Existing Buildings)

The principal or designee shall establish school rules consistent with law, Board policy and administrative regulation for the safe and appropriate use of school equipment, materials and for student conduct. School staff shall train students on the safety rules and shall provide safety instruction as appropriate. Copies of the rules shall be sent to parents/guardians and be readily available at the school at all times.

Playgrounds

Playground equipment shall be carefully selected and installed, so that it minimizes accidents and present no unseen hazards. Safety shall receive prime consideration whenever playgrounds are planned or upgraded.

The principal or designee shall ensure that playgrounds and other school facilities are regularly inspected, well maintained, and adequately supervised whenever in use by students during the school day or at school-sponsored activities. The principal or designee shall establish playground safety rules.

(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

8482-8484.6 After School Learning and Safe Neighborhood Partnerships Program

17280-17317 Building approvals (Field Act)

17365-17374 Fitness of school facilities for occupancy

32000-32004 School safety: uniform fire signals

32020 School gates; entrances for emergency vehicles

32030-32034 Eye safety

32040 First aid equipment

32050-32051 Hazing

32225-32226 Two-way communication devices in classrooms

32240-32245 Lead-free schools

32250-32254 CDE school safety and security resources unit

32270.5 Cellular telephones for classroom safety

35294-35294.9 Safety plans

44807 Duty of teachers concerning conduct of students to and from schools, on playgrounds, and during recess

44808 Exemption from liability when students are not on school property

44808.5 Permission for students to leave school grounds; notice (high school)

49300-49307 School safety patrol

49330-49334 Injurious objects

49341 Hazardous materials in school science laboratories

51202 Instruction in personal and public health and safety

GOVERNMENT CODE

810-996.6 California Tort Claims Act, especially:

815 Liability for injuries generally; immunity of public entity

835 Conditions of liability

4450-4458 Access to public buildings by physically disabled persons

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

115725-115750 Playground safety

115775-115800 Wooden playground equipment

115810-115816 Playground safety and recycling grants

PENAL CODE

14200-14213 Violent crime information center

PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE

5411 Purchase of equipment usable by physically disabled persons

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5

202 Exclusion of students with a contagious disease

5531 Supervision of social activities

5552 Playground supervision

5570 When school shall be open and teachers present

14103 Bus driver; authority over pupils

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 22

65700-65750 Safety regulations for playgrounds; definitions and general standards

COURT DECISIONS

Hoyem v. Manhattan Beach City School District (1978) 22 Cal. 3d 508

Dailey v. Los Angeles Unified School District (1970) 2 Cal 3d 741

Management Resources:

OFFICE OF THE STATE ARCHITECT ADVISORIES

400.90 Death and Injury from Collapse of Free-Standing Walls

U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

Handbook for Public Playground Safety, 1997, Pub. No. 325

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

F 1487-98, Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specifications for Playground Equipment for Public Use, 1998

WEB SITES

CDE, School Safety Branch: www.cde.ca.gov/spbranch/safety

Policy PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: March 8, 2001 Palos Verdes Estates, California