Threats 5-43

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Policy 5-43

STUDENTS

Threats

1. Threats

   Students may be disciplined for making or contributing to the making of threats against school personnel, students, volunteers or agents, school visitors, school vehicles, school communication devices, school property or property where a school is sponsoring an activity when such threat is communicated under any of the following circumstances:

   1. coming to and from school;
   2. on School Board provided transportation;
   3. on School Board property or at property used for School Board sponsored or approved activities;
   4. through School Board communication devices or School Board provided communication access or networks;
   5. outside of school hours or school days;
   6. from personal communication devices and networks; and
   7. off of school property.
2. What constitutes a threat

   A communication or behavior may be determined by school administrators to be a threat if a reasonable person would believe that the communication or behavior could result in violence, fear, apprehension for safety, or substantial and material disruption to the educational and work environment. School administrators may consider, but are not limited to, the following factors in determining whether a communication constitutes a threat:

   1. Nature of the communication or behavior- including timing and method;
   2. Recent or past history of similar threats including national or international events;
   3. Past educational, medical, psychological, and criminal history of student making communication;
   4. Reaction of School Division personnel, students, students' families, and community members;
   5. Media coverage;
   6. Information provided by outside agencies concerning the maker of the threat and matters outside of the School Division's jurisdiction;
   7. School Division resources required to investigate and/or respond to the threat;
   8. other good and just cause.

   Intent or ability to carry out the threat is not a determining factor. Criminal charges or a pending criminal investigation are not determining factors for disciplining a student for threats.

3. Discipline and threat assessment

   The Superintendent or designee is authorized to develop regulations and procedures to discipline students for violations of this Policy and, as appropriate, refer students for a threat assessment. Students may be disciplined for violations of this Policy up to long term suspension or expulsion. Appropriate limitations may be placed on the student's ability to access School Board transportation, property, communication devices and networks, and to use personal devices and communication systems at school or school sponsored events. The student may be reassigned to another school, home based or homebound placement, online educational services or private placement if the Superintendent or designee determines that the student's return to the school setting would or could constitute a safety issue or would cause substantial disruption to the educational or work environment. At the principal's or equivalent administrator's determination that the conduct that constituted a violation of this Policy has caused the student to no longer have the privilege of participating in special opportunities, a student may be removed from sports or extracurricular teams or clubs, specialized programs, academies and/or may be denied the opportunity to represent the school in other manners.

Legal Reference

Code of Virginia § 18.2-60, as amended. Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or his family; threats of death or bodily injury to persons on school property; threats of death of bodily injury to health care providers; penalty.

Code of Virginia § 18.2-83, as amended. Threats to bomb or damage buildings or means of transportation; false information as to danger to such buildings, etc.; punishment; venue.

Code of Virginia § 18.2-84, as amended. Causing, inciting, etc., commission of act proscribed by § 18.2-83.

Adopted by School Board: October 23, 2018
Amended by School Board: September 9, 2025