School Safety

The safety of all students, teachers and staff in all schools and at all school activities is of utmost importance to the district. The cooperation of parents and students is needed in knowing and following district and school policies and procedures. Although safety precautions may at times appear extensive, we would rather make an error on the side of caution than overlook a situation that may lead to the injury of a member of our school community. If you have information to report that is important to school safety, call the 24-hour message hotline: (414) 345-SAFE (7233)

Visitor Policy/Entrance Procedures

Visitors are welcome in MPS. Because the safety of all children is important to us, MPS has visitor procedures in place (Administrative Policy 9.09). All individuals will walk through a metal detector and may also be subject to handheld wanding. Visitors are required to clear the scanning process before entering the building. Lack of cooperation may constitute trespassing. All visitors must:

• Use the designated main entrance.

• Report to the office/security desk.
• Show a form of identification. Everyone age 14 and older must present a school ID or driver license.
• Sign in on the MPS Visitor Record.
• Wear/display the MPS Visitor Pass at all times while in the school.
• Be escorted to and from the requested location.
• Return the Visitor Pass to the office/security desk and sign out.
• Visitors are limited to TWO per student for meetings, conferences, and classroom visits unless approved by the building administrator or designee.
   

Lockers and Locker Searches

Where available, students shall be assigned lockers and shall use only the lockers assigned to them by school administration. The school district does not insure items left in lockers and will not reimburse the cost of replacement. Students must empty lockers when notified by the school. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors retains ownership and possessory control of all student lockers. School district authorities may search a student’s locker as deemed necessary or appropriate, without notice to the student, without student consent, and without a search warrant.

The search may be authorized by the superintendent/designee or by the building principal/designee and may be conducted by the school principal/designee, assistant principal, school safety assistant, or law enforcement officers. Prohibited items, such as weapons, drugs, drug paraphernalia, and other items a school may list as inappropriate to the educational setting, may be removed from lockers during a search.
 

Electronic Scanning

Electronic scanning using handheld or walk-through metal detectors may be conducted at middle and high schools when there is reasonable cause to believe that the safety of students or others may be in question. Students shall be scanned only by staff of the same sex when handheld metal detectors are used. Students’ possessions, such as jackets, book bags, backpacks, and purses, may also be searched and scanned as detailed below.

The student code of conduct identifies items that are prohibited and/or illegal. If discovered, these items will be confiscated and not returned and the student code of conduct will be applied. Law enforcement will be contacted for all illegal items. If the student or an object in the student’s possession triggers the metal detector, the object will be removed and the scan shall be repeated. If, after conducting the search with the metal detectors, it is determined that the object that triggered the detector is not a weapon, there shall be no further search of the student or his/her possessions. If a student refuses to remove an object that is triggering the metal detector, the staff may escort the student to a private area and conduct a pat-down search to determine what the object is. If the object is determined not to be a weapon, the search shall end; otherwise, the staff shall attempt to determine what is triggering the alarm and shall, if necessary, contact the police. When a pat-down search is conducted, it shall be conducted by a staff member of the same sex with a second staff person present. Designated school officials conduct all searches unless it is necessary to involve law enforcement officers.
 

Confiscation of Illegal, Unauthorized, or Inappropriate Items

Illegal, unauthorized, or inappropriate items may be confiscated. The items shall be inventoried by the school principal/designee and may be: returned to the student’s parent/guardian; returned to the student if he/she is an adult; be held for disciplinary proceedings; or turned over to law enforcement officers. Any item that may endanger safety will not be returned. Appropriate disciplinary action, as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct, will be taken when necessary.
  

Policy Against Weapons

Weapons, including pepper spray, are not permitted in MPS facilities or any facility under the control of MPS (Administrative Policy 8.23). All persons entering MPS buildings may be required to submit to a metal detector scan and to a personal search. To ensure that weapons are not brought into the premises, bags and parcels also may be searched and scanned. Any person violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action and/or police will be called. Violators will be charged with criminal violations of the law.
 

Video Surveillance

Video cameras are used on district property and buses to ensure the well-being of the public and to protect district facilities and equipment. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against any student who is observed violating district policies, building rules, or the law. Video recordings can be considered student records and may be subject to rules regarding education records as outlined in this handbook; see Rights Regarding Student Records.