Alleghany County Public Schools

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THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS

The superintendent will establish a threat assessment team for each school. Teams may serve one or more schools as determined by the superintendent. The teams will assess and intervene with individuals whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school staff or students consistent with the model policies developed by the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety including procedures for referrals to community services boards or health care providers for evaluation or treatment when appropriate.

Each team will include persons with expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration and law enforcement. Each team will

• provide guidance to students, faculty and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community, school or self;
• identify members of the school community to whom threatening behavior should be reported; and
• implement policies adopted by the School Board.

A principal who has received information that a juvenile is a suspect in or has been charged with certain violations of law pursuant to Va. Code § 16.1-301 may provide such information to a threat assessment team. No member of a threat assessment team may disclose any such information or use such information for any purpose other than evaluating threats to students and school personnel.

Upon a preliminary determination that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others, a threat assessment team shall immediately report its determination to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee. The superintendent or superintendent’s designee shall immediately attempt to notify the student's parent or legal guardian. Nothing in this policy precludes school division personnel from acting immediately to address an imminent threat.

Upon a preliminary determination by the threat assessment team that an individual poses a threat of violence to self or others or exhibits significantly disruptive behavior or need for assistance, a threat assessment team may obtain criminal history record information, as provided in Va. Code §§ 19.2-389 and 19.2-389.1, and health records, as provided in Va. Code

§ 32.1-127.1:03. No member of a threat assessment team shall redisclose any criminal history record information or health information obtained pursuant to this policy or otherwise use any record of an individual beyond the purpose for which such disclosure was made to the threat assessment team.

Each threat assessment team will report quantitative data on its activities according to guidance developed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

The superintendent may establish a committee to oversee the threat assessment teams or may assign the oversight of the teams to an existing committee. If such a committee is established, it will include individuals with expertise in human resources, education, school administration, mental health and law enforcement.

Adopted:          June 20, 2016