In order to provide a safe environment for the students and staff of the District, the Board of Education adopts this policy prohibiting the possession and/or use of dangerous weapons, replicas or facsimiles of dangerous weapons and items or instrumentalities which are used to threaten harm or are used to harm any person.

Dangerous weapons are a threat to the safety of the students and staff of the District. In addition, possession of dangerous weapons, or replicas or facsimiles of dangerous weapons, disrupts the educational process and interferes with the normal operation of the District.

For the foregoing reasons and except as specifically provided, possession by any student of a dangerous weapon, as that term is defined in this policy, or a replica or facsimile of a dangerous weapon, while on school property, at a school-sponsored activity, or on a school bus or vehicle, is prohibited. Further, use of any item or instrumentality by a student to threaten harm to any person or which is used to harm any person, while on school property, at a school-sponsored activity, or on a school bus or vehicle, is prohibited.

For purposes of this policy, “possession of a dangerous weapon” includes, but is not limited to, any person having a dangerous weapon: (1) on his person; (2) in his locker; (3) in his vehicle; (4) held by another person for his benefit; or (5) at any place on school property, a school bus or vehicle, or at a school activity.

A dangerous weapon includes, but is not limited to, firearms as defined in Section 922 of Title 18 of the United States Code; air gun or spring gun; BB gun; hand grenades; fireworks; slingshot; bludgeon; blackjack; brass knuckles or artificial knuckles of any kind; nun-chucks; dagger; bowie knife; dirk knife; butterfly knife; shotgun shell knife; any knife, regardless of the length or sharpness of the blade; any knife the blade of which can be opened by a flick of a button or pressure on the handle; any pocket knife, regardless of the length or sharpness of the blade; any pen knife; “credit card” knife; laser light; garrote; razor; dart; ice pick; explosive; smoke bomb; incendiary device; sword cane; hand chains; firearm shells or bullets and any replica or facsimiles of any the foregoing items; or any item or instrumentality which is used to threaten harm or is used to harm any person. The foregoing list of “dangerous weapons” is descriptive and by way of example only and is not to be considered an exclusive or limiting list of dangerous weapons.

Any student in possession of a dangerous weapon, or replica or facsimile of a dangerous weapon, in violation of this policy or who uses any item or instrumentality to threaten harm to any person or is used to harm any person may be placed under emergency suspension from school, pending an investigation of the incident by the appropriate school or legal authorities. Students who violate this policy will receive the minimum consequences as defined below up to the maximum suspension authorized by law. 

Because the Jenks District has zero tolerance for weapons being brought, used, or possessed at school, on school property, or at school related functions an automatic minimum disciplinary consequence will be given to the following grade levels: elementary students (K-4) will be placed a minimum of one (1) day in the In-School Intervention Program, intermediate students (grades five [5] and six [6]) will be placed a minimum of two (2) days in the In-School Intervention Program, and middle school and high school students will be placed a minimum of three (3) days in the In-School Intervention Program. In cases where Jenks Public School District Police are notified, they will send a report to the District attorney’s office who will then decide if charges will be filed.

If a teacher or other school employee has a reasonable suspicion to believe that a student is in possession of a dangerous weapon, or a replica or facsimile of a dangerous weapon, the teacher or employee shall immediately investigate the matter and shall confiscate any such weapon found if this can be accomplished without placing any students or staff in jeopardy, and shall immediately notify the principal or the principal’s designee. If the teacher or employee does not believe that the weapon can be confiscated safely, the teacher or employee shall immediately notify the principal or the principal’s designee of the situation.

If the principal or his designee learns that a student is believed to be in possession of a dangerous weapon or replica or facsimile thereof, the principal or designee shall observe the following procedure:

1. Immediately investigate the matter and contact the campus police, if appropriate.

2. If not already confiscated by an employee of the District and if it can be accomplished without risk of injury, the principal or designee should take possession of the dangerous weapon or replica or facsimile.

3. Notify the student’s parents/guardians.

4. Cooperate fully with the District police.

5. Attempt to transfer confiscated weapon to the police department, if feasible.

6. Notify the Superintendent or designee.

   
   

A student who has been suspended from another District because of the possession of a dangerous weapon, or replica or facsimile of a dangerous weapon, shall not be accepted as a transfer student into the District.

An exception to this policy may be granted for students participating in an authorized curricular or extracurricular activity or team involving the use of demonstration of a dangerous weapon, or replica or facsimile of a dangerous weapon. For this exception, prior written approval by the principal, in consultation with the Superintendent, is required.

A student’s inadvertent or unintentional possession of a dangerous weapon or replica or facsimile thereof on school property, a school bus, or vehicle, or at a school activity is no defense or excuse to compliance to this policy, but may be considered in determining the length or severity of any punishment for violation of this policy.

A student’s previous discipline reports, student’s history, parent/guardian and teacher input, and other relevant circumstances may be considered in determining disciplinary consequences.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, rights of due process for all students and rights of disabled students must be observed in accordance with applicable law and school Board policies.

Consistent with Oklahoma law, for an out of school suspension, no education plan shall be implemented during the term of any suspension of a student possessing a dangerous weapon in violation of this policy.

Revised by the Board of Education May 2007

Revised June 2022