FILE: EBC
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS SECURITY
It is the policy of the Orleans Parish School Board that a concerted effort be made by the School Board and all personnel to provide for the security and protection of its students, employees, visitors, facilities, and equipment.
Security not only encompasses maintenance of secure (locked) buildings but other strategies to make the school environment safe, such as protection from fire hazards and faulty equipment and safe practices in the use of electrical, plumbing, and heating equipment.
Access to school buildings and any regularly locked areas on a school campus outside of school hours shall be limited to personnel whose work requires it. Protective devices designed to be used as safeguards against illegal entry and vandalism shall be installed when appropriate to the individual situation.
Records and funds shall be kept in a safe place and under lock and key when required. Money shall not be left in an unlocked safe at any time.
FIREARM FREE ZONES
The areas inclusive of any school campus and within 1,000 feet of any such school campus, and within a school bus, wherein the possession of firearms is prohibited, except as specifically set forth in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:95.2(C) and 14:95.6(B), shall be designated Firearm Free Zones. It is unlawful for a student or non-student to intentionally possess a firearm, loaded or unloaded, on school property or within 1,000 feet of school property or while on a school bus, with limited exception as enumerated in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §14:95.2.
The School Board, in cooperation with local governmental agencies and the Louisiana Department of Education, shall designate and mark Firearm Free Zones which surround all schools and school property under the School Board’s control. Signs or other markings shall provide notice that armed law enforcement officers are permitted within the firearm-free zone by including in the signs or other markings the language “Law Enforcement Weapons Permitted” or substantially similar language.
DRUG FREE ZONES
The area within 2,000 feet of any property used for school purposes by any school, or on a school bus, shall be designated as Drug Free Zones. It is unlawful for anyone to use, distribute, be under the influence of, manufacture or possess any controlled substances as defined by statute in a Drug Free Zone. The School Board, in cooperation with local governmental agencies, and the Louisiana Department of Education, shall designate and mark Drug Free Zones which surround all schools and school property under the School Board’s control.
ELECTRONIC TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES
Except as may be allowed by another School Board policy, no student, unless authorized by the school principal or designee, shall use, possess, or operate any electronic telecommunication device including any facsimile system, radio paging service, mobile telephone service, intercom, or electromechanical paging system in any elementary or secondary school building, or on the grounds thereof while school is in session or in any school bus.
BODY ARMOR
It shall be unlawful and against School Board policy for any student or non-student to wear or possess on his/her person, at any time, body armor on any School Board property, school campus, at a school-sponsored function, on a school bus or other school transportation, or in a firearm free zone, with limited exception as enumerated in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §14:95.9. School-sponsored functions shall include, but not be limited to, athletic competitions, dances, parties, or any extracurricular activities.
Body armor shall mean bullet-resistant metal or other material intended to provide protection from weapons or bodily injury.
The School Board shall post permanent notices of such prohibition at each major point of entry to the school.
SEARCH OF PERSONS OTHER THAN STUDENTS
Any school principal, administrator, teacher, or school security guards may search the person, book bag, briefcase, purse or other object in the possession of any person who is not a student enrolled in the school, or any school employee, while in or on school grounds. This search may be done randomly with a metal detector, or physically when there is reasonable suspicion that such person has any weapons, illegal drugs, alcohol, stolen goods, or objects in violation of School Board policy.
Revised: February 16, 2017
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:95.2, 14:95.6, 14:95.9, 17:81, 17:239, 17:240, 17:405, 17:416.6
Board minutes, 2-16-17
Orleans Parish School Board