JFCJ: Dangerous Weapons in the Schools

Definition

A weapon is anything that is commonly used or designed to hurt someone or to put someone in fear. The policy of the Board of School Trustees (the “Board”) thus concurs with the definition of a weapon in the Criminal Code of Canada, Section 2:

"weapon" means

(a) anything used, designed to be used, or intended for use in causing death or injury to any person, or

(b) anything used or designed to be used for the purpose of threatening or intimidating any person, and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, includes any firearm as defined in Section 84(1).

Policy

Students (and parents) should be advised that weapons of any kind are prohibited on school premises, and students who are found with knives or other dangerous objects on their person or in their lockers will be subject to severe disciplinary action. As well, carrying a concealed weapon is contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. Anyone convicted of such a charge is liable to imprisonment.

When a principal has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a student has:

• on either his/her person, or in a locker or desk, a weapon,
• displayed or brandished a weapon in a threatening or intimidating manner,
• assaulted another person with a weapon,

he/she shall immediately refer the matter to the police and notify the parent/guardian.

As soon as an arrest has been made or the police have had a reasonable opportunity to investigate, the principal may in his/her discretion:

• in accordance with the School Act, Sec. 6 and 85(2)(c)(ii) and (2)(d), suspend the student;
• take some other form of corrective disciplinary action having regard to the provisions of the School Act and Regulations enacted pursuant thereto.
• recommend to the associate superintendent -area and, with his/her concurrence, to the Student Discipline Review Committee, a suspension or exclusion of more than five days.

Where a principal suspends a student, he/she shall comply with the provisions of  the School Act, Sec. 6 and 85(2)(c)(ii) and 2(d), and shall notify the parent or guardian of the student in the manner required by School Regulation, Sec. 5(6) and (7).

Where a principal suspends a student, he/she may arrange for the transfer of the student to another school within the district or, if the student resides outside the Vancouver school district, to the district in which the student resides.

When an infraction is committed late in the year (May or June) and, in the opinion of the principal, the remaining number of days in the school year would not provide sufficient time for the student to show good citizenship in the school to which the student is transferred, then the transfer shall be extended to the next school year.

If two or more students are subject to transfer arising out of the same incident, every effort should be made not to transfer them to the same school.

This district policy relating to weapons shall be part of the code of conduct of all Vancouver schools.

Note: School Act, Sec. 6, states: “ A student must comply...with the code of conduct and other rules and policies of the Board or the Provincial school.”

For the purposes of this policy, "school function" includes any assembly, meeting or gathering of students, or student field trips for school purposes under the supervision or direction of the Board, representatives of the Board, or the teaching or supervisory staff in the course of their duties.

DMT Responsibility: AS-F