Students will not possess, display, handle, or transmit weapons, other dangerous devices, or any item which reasonably appears to be such on school property, school-provided transportation, or at school-sponsored events. Any exception to the above will require explicit permission.
A school authority will promptly notify the student’s parents or guardians and, when necessary, the local law enforcement agency of known or suspected violations of this policy. Students who violate this policy will be subject to corrective action. Students who have possessed a firearm on any school premises, school-provided transportation, or school-sponsored activities at any facility shall be expelled for not less than one year pursuant to RCW 28A.600.420. The superintendent may modify the one-year expulsion for a firearm on a case-by-case basis.
The district may also suspend or expel a student for up to one year if the student acts with malice (as defined under RCW 9A.04.110) and displays a device that appears to be a firearm. Carrying a dangerous weapon onto school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of other facilities being used exclusively for school activities in violation of RCW 9.41.280 is a criminal offense.
The term “dangerous weapons” under state law includes:
- Any firearm;
- Any device commonly known as “nun-chu-ka sticks,” consisting of two or more length of wood, metal, plastic, or similar substance connected with wire, rope, or other means;
- Any device, commonly known as “throwing stars,” which are multi-pointed, metal objects designed to embed upon impact from any aspect;
- Any air gun, including any air pistol or air rifle, designed to propel a BB, pellet, or other projectile by the discharge of compressed air, carbon dioxide, or other gas;
- Any portable device manufactured to function as a weapon and which is commonly known as a stun gun, including a projectile stun gun which projects wired probes that are attached to the device that emit an electrical charge designed to administer to a person or an animal an electric shock, charge, or impulse;
- Any device, object, or instrument which is used or intended to be used as a weapon with the intent to injure a person by an electric shock, charge, or impulse;
- The following instruments:
- Any dirk or dagger;
- Any knife with a blade longer than three inches;
- Any knife with a blade which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device;
- Any knife having a blade which opens, or falls or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement; and
- Any razor with an unguarded blade;
- Any slung shot, sandbag, or sand club;
- Metal knuckles;
- A slingshot;
- Any metal pipe or bar used or intended to be used as a club;
- Any explosive;
- Any weapon containing poisonous or injurious gas;
- Any implement or instrument which has the capacity to inflict death and, from the manner in which it is used, is likely to produce or may easily and readily produce death.
The district also considers the following weapons in violation of this policy:
- Any knife or razor not listed above, except for instruments authorized or provided for specific
school activities;
- Any object other than those listed above which is used in a manner to intimidate, threaten, or injure another person and is capable of easily and readily producing such injury.
- Any personal protection spray devices (PPSD) not used other than in self-defense as defined by Washington state law (RCW 9.91.160). State law requires that students aged fourteen to seventeen have parent permission to carry a personal protection spray device (PPSD) that must be registered with school administration officials. Persons over eighteen years of age and persons between fourteen and eighteen years of age with written parental or guardian permission may possess personal protection spray devices on school property. No one under eighteen years of age may deliver such devices, nor may anyone under eighteen years or older deliver a spray device to anyone under fourteen or to anyone between fourteen and eighteen who does not have parental permission. Students who unlawfully carry, discharge, or distribute a PPSD will be subject to disciplinary action.