Responding to Threats

Memorandum
TO: Salmon District Employees
FROM: Joey Foote – Superintendent
DATE: March 8, 2012
RE: Harassment/Intimidation or Threatening Behaviors

HARASSMENT means knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which seriously alarms, annoys or harasses the person and which serves no legitimate purpose. The course of conduct such as this would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress. (Salmon District Board Policy #3295)

The provisions of this policy shall also apply to the threatening or intimidating display or use of any item capable of causing death or serious bodily harm. (Salmon District Board Policy #3305)

Once again we witnessed the disturbing events surrounding a school shooting, this time in Ohio. A timely review of policy is in order.

Let me clarify the difference between suspension and expulsion. A student who is suspended returns automatically in 1-5 days, depending on the circumstances. A student who is expelled is given conditions on which to return. Expulsion is automatic when any weapon is used in a threatening or intimidating manner. Expulsion is generally a long-term exclusion from school attendance.

Idaho State Law and Salmon School Board Policy expressly state that is our responsibility to deal with any threat, whether it seems viable or not. Each school site has the responsibility to be sure the following are incorporated into their discipline procedures:

1.Any threat of harm or injury is to be reported to the building administrator immediately.
2.Building administrator is to determine if any student or students are in imminent danger. If so, law enforcement is to be contacted and threatening student expelled. If there is no likelihood the threat will be acted on, the threatening student is still suspended.
3.Communicate disciplinary decisions as appropriate. Parents of any student making a threat will be notified via the suspension/expulsion process. It is critical that parents of any student(s) toward whom threats may have been directed are notified as well.

I stress the importance of this last item: Communication. It is essential that parents be contacted and informed of any threats made by or against their students. Law enforcement must be contacted in the case of any viable threat.

Please take time to review Series 3000 in Salmon School Board Policy. Focus particularly on #3295 and #3305 as reference for the above notes.