Policy 5142 - Safety

Safety

The Board of Education recognizes the importance of providing a safe school environment in order to help ensure student safety and the prevention of student injury. The Superintendent or designee shall implement appropriate practices to minimize the risk of harm to students, including practices relative to school facilities and equipment, outdoor environment, educational programs and school-sponsored activities.

Staff shall be responsible for the proper supervision of students during school hours, while at school-sponsored activities and while students are using district transportation to and from school.

The principal or designee shall establish school rules for the safe and appropriate use of school equipment and materials and for student conduct consistent with law, Board policy and administrative regulation. Copies of the rules shall be sent to parents/guardians and be readily available at school at all times.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that students receive appropriate instruction on topics related to safety, injury prevention and disease prevention.

Crossing Guards/Safety Patrol

To assist students in safely crossing streets adjacent to or near school sites, the Board may employ crossing guards and/or establish a safety patrol at any district school. The Superintendent or designee shall periodically examine traffic patterns within school attendance areas in order to identify locations where assistance may be needed.

Playgrounds

The Board recognizes that playgrounds present children with visible challenges which they may choose to take in order to test their skills and courage. Playground equipment shall be carefully selected and installed, so that while presenting such challenges, it minimizes accidents and present no unseen hazards. Safety shall receive prime consideration whenever playgrounds are planned or upgraded.

The principal or designee shall ensure that playgrounds and other school facilities are regularly inspected, well maintained, and adequately supervised whenever in use by students during the school day or at school-sponsored activities. The principal or designee shall establish playground safety rules.

Rule 5142

Last Revised 06/03/2003

Supervision

The principal of each school shall ensure that certificated employees, teacher aides or yard aides supervise the conduct and safety, and direct the play, of students of the school who are on school grounds before and after school, during recess, and during other intermissions.

Students participating in activities sponsored by other agencies or organizations before or after school hours shall be the responsibility of the other organization/ agency unless otherwise stated in an agreement between the District and sponsoring agency/organization.

Teachers shall be present at their respective rooms and open them to admit students not less than 30 minutes before the time when school starts, or as specified in the collective bargaining agreement.

Safety rules for the use of facilities and equipment shall include as appropriate:

1. Rules on acceptable playground behavior and on the proper use of play apparatus in elementary schools.
2. Rules relating to gymnasium, physical education, field areas, and weight rooms in high schools.
3. Safety rules clearly posted in laboratory classrooms.
4. Shop class rules, including the requirement that power equipment never be used without the teacher's presence in the shop. Students must pass safety tests at mastery level before using such equipment, and test results must be kept on record.

School staff shall train students on the above rules and include safety instruction in their lesson plans when appropriate. Copies of the rules shall be sent to parents/ guardians and be readily available at the school at all times.

The principal or designee shall:

1. Clearly identify supervision zones on the playground and require that supervisors remain outside at a location from which they can observe their entire zone of supervision.
2. Require that all individuals supervising students remain alert in spotting dangerous conditions and report any such conditions to the principal or designee promptly and in writing.
3. Establish emergency procedures that ensure swift response to accidents, fighting, and situations that could become dangerous, such as overcrowding or unusual gatherings of students.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that teachers, teacher aides, yard aides and volunteers who supervise students receive training in the above safety practices and in supervisory techniques which will help them to forestall problems and resolve conflicts.

When determining the ratio of playground supervisors to students, the Superintendent or designee shall consider the size of the playground area, the number of blind spots that are not immediately visible, the age and gender of the students, and the general nature of their behavior.

Release of Student to Adult

Students shall be released during the school day in the custody of an adult only if:

1. The adult is the student's parent/legal guardian with custody.
2. The adult has been authorized on the student’s emergency card as someone to whom the student may be released when the parent/guardian cannot be reached, and the principal or designee verifies the individual’s identification.
3. The adult is a properly authorized law officer acting in accordance with law.
4. The adult is taking the student to emergency medical care, at the request of the principal or designee.

Missing Children

In order to enable district staff to assist in locating missing children, the Superintendent or designee shall ensure that Department of Justice information on missing children is posted at every school. In schools maintaining elementary grades, this information shall be posted in areas restricted to adult use.

Elementary school principals are urged to review missing children's pictures whenever a new student enrolls or transfers into the school.

Eye Protection Devices

The district shall provide eye protection devices in accordance with law.

Staff shall ensure that all students, teachers and visitors wear eye protective devices when they are engaged in or observing an activity or using hazardous substances likely to cause injury to the eyes.

The Board shall provide a first pair of the eye safety devices required by law at district expense. If these devices are lost or damaged, students and teachers may obtain replacements for an amount not exceeding their actual cost to the district.

Sun Safety

The Superintendent or designee shall recommend appropriate practices to protect students from overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. Students shall be allowed to use sunscreen during the school day without a physician’s note or prescription. The Superintendent or designee may incorporate sun safety into the curriculum in order to increase student’s understanding of the health risks associated with overexposure to ultraviolet radiation and to encourage students to engage in preventative practices.

Playground Design, Equipment and Maintenance

Playgrounds shall provide access for the handicapped in accordance with law.

Playground equipment shall be installed by the manufacturer, or by the manufacturer's authorized representative, unless otherwise designated by the Assistant Superintendent, Facility Planning. A signed statement shall be secured from the manufacturer's representative stating that the equipment has been properly installed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. All playground structures, including but not limited to play structures, fences, walls, bleachers, shall be installed and maintained pursuant to applicable codes and state/federal regulations.

District staff shall:

1. Frequently inspect cushioning material, redistributing and/or replenishing material as needed.
2. Regularly inspect playground equipment and fences to ensure that all parts are in good condition.
   1. Check wooden structures for holes, cracks, splinters, and possible rot at ground level.
   2. Look for protruding nails or sharp edges and repair as needed.