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Unless authorized by this policy, it is a violation of Bellingham Public Schools policy for any person to knowingly carry a firearm or dangerous weapon on school premises, school-provided transportation, areas of other facilities being used exclusively for school activities, or areas of facilities being used for official meetings of the school board. The term “school premises, includes property, or portions(s) of property, owned, rented or leased by the district when the property, or portions(s) of property, is being used exclusively for school district activities.

 

The district will ensure that all school facilities post “Gun-Free Zone” signs, and that all violations of this policy and are reported annually to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. (OSPI)  The district will post signs providing notice of the restrictions on possessing dangerous weapons at each facility being used for official meetings of the board.

 

It is the policy of this district that the presence of firearms and other dangerous weapons in the workplace or educational environment is to be minimized as much as possible. As such, the following activities are prohibited by this policy regardless of whether such possession would violate state law, and regardless of whether the weapon is secured in a vehicle or possessed by a person with a concealed weapons permit:

1. No district employee may bring any firearm or dangerous weapon onto any district property without prior authorization of the superintendent.
2. No person or entity renting, leasing, or otherwise being granted the right to temporary use of district property may possess, or allow its guests to possess, firearms or dangerous weapons on district premises. This provision does not extend to a property rented or leased as a personal domicile

 

Dangerous Weapons

The term “dangerous weapons” under state law includes:

• Any firearm;
• Any device commonly known as “nun-chu-ka sticks,” consisting of two or more length of wood, metal, plastic, or similar substance connected with wire, rope or other means;
• Any device, commonly known as “throwing stars,” which are multi-pointed, metal objects designed to embed upon impact from any aspect;
• Any air gun, including any air pistol or air rifle, designed to propel a BB, pellet, or other projectile by the discharge of compressed air, carbon dioxide or other gas;
• Any portable device manufactured to function as a weapon and which is commonly known as a stun gun, including a projectile stun gun which projects wired probes that are attached to the device that emit an electrical charge designed to administer to a person or an animal an electric shock, charge or impulse;
• Any device, object, or instrument which is used or intended to be used as a weapon with the intent to injure a person by an electric shock, charge or impulse;
• The following instruments:
  • Any dirk or dagger;
  • Any knife with a blade longer than three inches;
  • Any knife with a blade which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device;
  • Any knife having a blade which opens, or falls or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement; and
  • Any razor with an unguarded blade;
• Any sling shot, sandbag, or sand club;
• Metal knuckles;
• A sling shot;
• Any metal pipe or bar used or intended to be used as a club;
• Any explosive;
• Any weapon containing poisonous or injurious gas;
• Any implement or instrument which has the capacity to inflict death and from the manner in which it is used, is likely to produce or may easily and readily produce death.

 

In addition, the district considers the following weapons in violation of this policy:

• Any knife or razor not listed above, except for instruments authorized or provided for specific school activities;
• Any object other than those listed above which is used in a manner to intimidate, threaten or injure another person and is capable of easily and readily producing such injury.

 

Reporting Dangerous Weapons

Students

If district staff believe that a student has violated this policy, an appropriate school authority will promptly notify the student’s parents or guardians and the appropriate law enforcement agency of known or suspected violations of this policy.

 

Students who have possessed a firearm on any school premises, school-provided transportation, school-sponsored activities at any facility or in areas of facilities while being used for official school board meetings shall be expelled for not less than one year pursuant to RCW 28A.600.420. The superintendent may modify the one-year expulsion for a firearm on a case-by-case basis.

 

Further, the district may also suspend or expel a student for up to one year if the student acts with malice (as defined under RCW 9A.04.110) and displays a device that appears to be a firearm.

 

All expulsion and/or suspension and all other discipline of students who violate this policy will be subject to Policy 3241 – Student Discipline.

 

Staff

If an employee believes that another district employee has violated this policy, the employee will report their concerns to an appropriate school or district authority for further inquiry.

 

Exceptions
The following persons may carry firearms into school buildings, as necessary, although students engaged in these activities are restricted to the possession of rifles on school premises:

1. Persons engaged in military, law enforcement, or school district security activities;
2. Persons involved in an authorized convention, showing, demonstration, lecture or firearm safety course authorized by the superintendent or designee;
3. Persons competing in firearm or air gun competitions authorized by the superintendent or designee; and
4. Any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer.

 

The following persons who are over 18 years of age, not employed by the district and not enrolled as students may have firearms in their possession on school property outside of school buildings only under the following limited circumstances:

9. Persons who have a concealed weapons permit issued pursuant to and are (1) picking up or dropping off students at school or (2) attending official meetings of the school board held off district owned or leased property; and

1. Persons conducting legitimate business at the school and in lawful possession of a firearm or dangerous weapon if the weapon is secured within an attended vehicle, is unloaded, and secured in a vehicle, or is concealed from view in a locked, unattended vehicle. Under RCW 9.41.050, no one may lawfully possess a loaded handgun in a vehicle unless the person has a valid concealed pistol permit.

 

Persons may bring dangerous weapons, other than firearms, onto school premises if the weapons are lawfully within the person’s possession and are to be used in a school-authorized activity or class such as a martial arts class.

 

Personal Protection Spray

Persons over eighteen years of age, and persons between 14 and 18 years of age with written parental or guardian permission, may possess personal protection spray devices on school property. No one under 18 years of age may deliver such devices. No one 18 years or older may deliver a spray device to anyone under 14, or to anyone between 14 and 18 who does not have parental permission.

Personal protection spray devices may not be used other than in self-defense as defined by state law. Possession, transmission or use of personal protection spray devices under any other circumstances is a violation of district policy.