Secret Societies and Gangs
Purpose: To establish the basic structure for the district's prohibition of student secret societies and gang activities.
The board finds that secret societies and gangs that initiate, advocate, or promote activities threatening the safety or well-being of persons or property on school grounds or secret societies and gangs that disrupt the school environment are harmful to the educational process. The district prohibits the use of hand signals, graffiti, or the presence of any apparel, jewelry, accessory, or manner of grooming that, by virtue of its color, arrangement, trademark, symbol, or any other attribute indicates or implies membership or affiliation with a group that presents a clear and present danger contrary to the school environment and educational objectives.
The district prohibits incidents involving initiations, hazing, intimidation, or related activities of such group affiliations that are likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to students.
The administration will establish procedures and regulations to ensure the discipline of any student wearing, carrying, or displaying secret societies and gang paraphernalia, exhibiting behavior or gestures that symbolize secret societies and gang membership, or causing or participating in activities that intimidate or affect the attendance of another student.
The administration will provide in-service training in secret societies and gang behavior and characteristics to facilitate staff identification of students at-risk and promote membership in authorized school groups or activities as an alternative.