The board of trustees of this district recognizes that cooperation with law enforcement agencies is essential for the protection of students, maintenance of a safe environment in this district’s schools, and the safeguard of all district property. For purposes of this policy, “law enforcement agencies” include city or county law enforcement agencies, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and any other agency designated by Idaho or federal law as a law enforcement agency.
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
The board believes that it is essential to hold juveniles responsible for their actions and prevent individual problems from developing into patterns of delinquency. The board supports a School Resource Officer (SRO) program to assist the district in providing a safe school environment through education, enforcement and cooperative efforts with school staff, students, parents/guardians, courts, and community service organizations. The objectives of the SRO program include the following:
- Investigation of cases involving juveniles, including situations with juveniles as witnesses or victims of crime and the use of effective alternatives to court whenever possible.
- Positive contact between local law enforcement agencies and the school community, including staff, parents/guardians and community patrons through a regular and consistent, proactive presence in schools with a preventative emphasis.
- Protection of children against victimization, gangs, involvement with criminals and other harmful influences through involvement in the site emergency planning process and collaboration with building administration.
- Facilitation of information sharing relating to criminal or legal matters impacting the academic learning environment and the safety of the school community.
- Supporting co-curricular opportunities in the classroom environment for instruction on the social and individual impact of laws, courts and the police.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES
The district will also cooperate with other state and local public agencies insofar as those agencies’ responsibilities and duties relate to public school students.
INTERVIEWING STUDENTS
This district will allow law enforcement and health and welfare agents to interview students, relative to child protection or criminal investigations, at school facilities, during school hours, upon notice of the need for such interview. Upon receiving notice of the need for such interview and identification of the interviewer as a law enforcement agent, the superintendent or designee will provide a private room in which the interview(s) may be conducted. No school official or staff member will be present during the interview unless requested to do so by the law enforcement agent.
School officials will take no actions to delay or otherwise interfere with law enforcement’s interview, removal into protective custody, or arrest of the student.
NOTIFICATION OF PARENTS
Law enforcement agencies are not required to notify the parent that his/her student is being interviewed relative to a child protection investigation. Therefore, school officials will not notify the parent regarding the fact that the student is being interviewed by law enforcement agencies conducting a child protection investigation, unless specifically requested to do so by the law enforcement agent. In the event that a parent inquires regarding the interview, the school officials will refer the parent to law enforcement.
In cases not involving child protection investigations, the building principal or designee will notify parents/guardians that their student has been or may be questioned by a school resource officer or other law enforcement official consistent with this policy and applicable law. The principal or designee will permit the interview if the parents/guardians consent to such interview and may delay the interview if the parents/guardians request to be present during the interview. The principal or designee may deny an interview by a law enforcement officer if the parents/guardians cannot be contacted or if the parents/guardians do not consent to the interview. In the event that a parent/guardian of a student may be a co-suspect or in the event of a situation in which immediate notification of the incident to the parent/guardian may result in the destruction of or tampering with evidence or witnesses, the building principal or designee, in cooperation with the law enforcement agency, may decide to delay notification of parents/guardians. School officials will document attempts made to reach the parents/guardians of all victims, witnesses and suspects of incidents reportable to law enforcement authorities who have been or may be interviewed by law enforcement officers.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
LEGAL REFERENCE:
Idaho Code Sections
16-1601 et seq. – Child Protective Act
33-506(1) – Organization of Board of Trustees
33-512 – Governance of Schools
33-601(7) – Real and Personal Property – Acquisition, Use or Disposal of Same (Public Purpose)
33-6001 – Parental Rights
Idaho Attorney General Opinion No. 93-2
CROSS-REFERENCE:
Parental Rights in Education – Policy 639
ADOPTED: July 19, 2023
AMENDED: