4.10 Illegal Items at the Special Schools or in a Student’s Possession

(Iowa Code §280.21B (PDF))

  1. Students are prohibited from distributing, dispensing, manufacturing, possessing, using, or being under the influence of alcohol, drug paraphernalia, drugs, or look-alike substances; and possessing or using tobacco, tobacco products, nicotine, or look-alike substances on school grounds, in school facilities, or at school activities at home or away and shall be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion in accordance with 281-41.530 (PDF)(256B (PDF), 34CFR300 (opens new window)).
     
  2. Weapons are not allowed on school grounds, in school facilities, or at school activities at home or away with the exception of weapons in the control of law enforcement officials or those being used for educational purposes and approved by the administration.  Items specifically defined as weapons include, but are not limited to: (1) firearms, whether loaded or unloaded including, but not limited to, pistols, rifles, zip guns; (2) shot guns, BB or pellet guns, explosives, explosive propellant, matches, any explosive or flammable materials, fireworks or firecrackers; (3) destructive devices or ammunition; (4) knives, including but not limited to, switch blades, pen, pocket or hunting knives; (5) razor blades, ice picks, dirks or other sharp instruments; (6) nunchuks, brass knuckles, pipes, Chinese stars, or billy clubs or other items intended to be used as weapons.  Students bringing firearms or weapons (knife, club, look-alike weapons and/or dangerous objects, etc.) to school or possessing either at school or school-sponsored activities shall be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion in accordance with 281-41.530 (PDF)(256B (PDF), 34CFR300 (opens new window)).
     
  3. Parents of students found to possess a weapon, other dangerous objects, or look-alikes on school property shall be notified of the incident. Confiscation of weapons, other dangerous objects or look-alikes shall be reported to law enforcement officials, and the student shall be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.
     
  4. A student who is determined to have brought a firearm to school or knowingly possessed a firearm at school shall be expelled for not less than 12 months. The superintendent shall have the authority to recommend this expulsion requirement be modified for a student on a case-by-case basis. For purposes of this portion of the policy, the term “firearm” includes any weapon that is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, a muffler or silencer for such a weapon, or any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas.