- Section E: Support Services
The Board recognizes that bomb threats” (as defined below) are a significant concern to the school unit. Whether real and carried out or intended as a prank or for some other purpose, a bomb threat represents a potential danger to the safety and welfare of students and staff and to school property. Bomb threats disrupt the instructional program and learning environment and also place significant demands on school financial resources and public safety services. These effects occur even when such threats prove to be false. Bomb threats are a crime under Maine law.
Any bomb threat will be regarded as an extremely serious matter and treated accordingly. The Board directs the Superintendent to react promptly and appropriately to information concerning bomb threats and to initiate or recommend suitable disciplinary action.
A. Conduct Prohibited
No person shall:
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Make or plan a bomb threat involving school premises.
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Encourage, cause, aid or assist another student or other person in making or planning a bomb threat.
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Fail to report information or knowledge of a violation of this policy.
B. Definitions
1. A “bomb” means an explosive, incendiary or poison gas bomb, grenade, rocket, missile, mine, “Molotov cocktail” or other destructive device; and also includes any toxic or hazardous substance or material, including biomedical materials or organisms that, when placed as threatened, could be harmful to humans. It also includes any apparatus or object that looks like a bomb or is represented as a bomb.
2. A “bomb threat” is the communication, by any means, whether verbal or non-verbal, that a bomb or a look-alike bomb has been, or will be, placed on school premises, including possession or placement of a bomb or look-alike bomb on school premises.
3. “School premises” means any school property and any location where any school activities may take place.
C. Reporting of Bomb Threats
Any student who learns of a bomb threat or the existence of a bomb on school premises must immediately report such information to the building administrator, teacher, or other employee.
An employee of the District who learns of a bomb threat, a plan to make a bomb threat or a bomb placed on school premises shall immediately inform the building administrator.
The building administrator shall immediately take appropriate steps to protect the safety of students and staff in accordance with the school’s bomb threat procedure and inform the Superintendent of the threat.
The Superintendent shall be responsible for reporting any bomb threat to the Department of Education in the format required by the Department.
D. Student Disciplinary Consequences
Making a bomb threat is a crime under Maine law. Any student suspected of making a bomb threat in any way shall be reported to law enforcement authorities for investigation and possible prosecution. Apart from any penalty imposed by law, and without regard to the existence or status of criminal charges, a student who makes a bomb threat shall be subject to disciplinary action by the school.
In accordance with district policies, the administration may suspend and/or recommend for expulsion any student who violates this policy. Such violation will be considered deliberately disobedient and deliberately disorderly within the meaning of 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1001(9) and will be grounds for expulsion if found necessary for the peace and usefulness of the school.
In addition, a student who is found after hearing by the Board to have brought a bomb, defined as a firearm under federal law, to school shall be expelled from school for a least one year in accordance with 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1001(9-A), except that the Superintendent may modify the requirement for expulsion based on individual circumstances.
Any student who has been identified through the IEP process as having a disability and whose conduct in violation of this policy is related to the disability shall be appropriately disciplined.
E. Staff Disciplinary Consequences
A District employee who violates this policy will be reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities and will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
F. Lost Instructional Time
Instructional time lost as a result of a bomb threat will be rescheduled at the earliest appropriate opportunity, as determined by the Superintendent in consultation with the Board.
Time lost may be rescheduled on a weekend or vacation day, or after what would normally be the last day of the school year, except on days when schools must be closed as required by law.
G. Development of Bomb Threat Procedures
The Superintendent shall be responsible for developing and implementing bomb threat procedures as part of the District’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
The initial bomb threat procedures will be submitted to the Board for its review. The Superintendent will be responsible for reviewing bomb threat procedures periodically and each time the procedures are used.
H. Notification Through Student Handbook
All student handbooks shall address the school unit’s bomb threat policy and procedures and explain the educational consequences of bomb threats. In addition, student handbooks shall notify students and parents that bomb threats violate Board policy and civil and criminal law.
Legal References: 18 U.S.C. §§ 921; 8921
17-A M.R.S.A. § 210
20-A M.R.S.A. §§ 263; 1001(9); 1001(9-A); 1001(17); 1001(18)
Cross References: EBCA – Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan
JKD – Suspension of Students
JKE – Expulsion of Students
JKF – Suspension/Expulsion of Students with Disabilities
JICIA – Weapons, Violence and School Safety
JIC - Student Code of Conduct
Amended: 11/02/09
Amended: 2/27/23
- Section E