Visitors to School Board facilities and events 7-17

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Policy 7-17

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Visitors to School Board facilities and events

1. Visitors
   1. The School Board welcomes visits by citizens of the city to their public schools and other School Board property. Visitors are expected to act in a manner consistent with School Board bylaws, policies, regulations, and applicable law. In order to protect the students, staff and property, visitors during the school day or business day shall report to the security desk or the main office for authorization to be in or on the facilities and wear a visitor’s identification badge.
   2. The School Board authorizes the Superintendent or designee to take all necessary actions regarding the safety, order and preservation of the educational environment and business environment in or on facilities or at School Division-sponsored activities. The Superintendent or designee shall formulate and post such regulations, and procedures as are necessary to protect students, staff, and facilities from unauthorized or disruptive conduct by visitors. Law enforcement officers may be called upon to enforce this Policy in cases of uncooperative visitors.
   3. When visiting facilities, school sponsored events, or School Division communication systems visitors are expected to comply with the decorum and order guidelines, health and safety protocols and applicable bylaws, policies and regulations. Principals and building administrators or their designees are encouraged to post decorum and order guidelines at facilities for visitor viewing. Visitors seeking to meet with specific administrators or employees should make arrangements in advance of coming to facilities in order to be assured that school personnel will be available to meet with them. Delivery of education services and activities for students should not be interrupted unless prior approval of the school administrators is obtained. The visitor(s) shall be treated in a courteous manner and shall be afforded prompt and informative replies to legitimate questions in accordance with School Board bylaws, policies and regulations. For safety or health purposes, the Superintendent or designee may prevent or limit persons other than students, staff, and authorized agents from accessing School Board property or School Division events.
2. Trespassing or Disorderly Conduct
   1. Unauthorized persons on or entering facilities or School Board communication systems for the purposes of disrupting same or who create disturbances to the educational environment or business of School Division personnel or agents or to School Board meetings shall be subject to punishment as defined in the Code of Virginia and banning or limitation of access as determined by the School Division. Administrators shall inform such law enforcement officers and agencies as required to maintain order to take appropriate action to remove violators or otherwise end the disorderly conduct.
   2. No person shall be in a school or School Board administration building, school bus or on school grounds during hours of darkness unless the person is on official school business, is participating in a supervised school activity, is authorized by an administrator, is at an activity open to the public or is a member of an organization having permission to use the school facilities. Unauthorized persons loitering upon school property may be treated as trespassers.
   3. The Superintendent or designee may take all appropriate actions against persons who cause or pose a threat or disruption to the educational environment or school activities by: a) committing criminal or disruptive acts on School Board property or against students or employees; b) committing criminal or disruptive acts at School Board sponsored activities and meetings; c) having convictions or administrative findings that the Superintendent or designee determines make the person a potential or actual threat or disruption to the educational or business environment; d) other good and just cause as determined by the Superintendent or designee. The Superintendent is authorized to create regulations or other guidance to address these issues.
3. Definition

   Buildings, facilities, grounds, equipment and vehicles owned, leased or operated by the School Board and the School Division will be referred to as “facilities.”

Legal Reference

Code of Virginia, § 18.2-128, as amended. Trespass upon church or school property.

Code of Virginia, § 18.2-415, as amended. Disorderly conduct in public places.

Adopted by School Board: October 21, 1969
Amended by School Board: October 21, 1981
Amended by School Board: August 21, 1990
Amended by School Board: July 16, 1991
Amended by School Board: October 20, 1992
Amended by School Board: September 21, 2010
Amended by School Board: August 19, 2014
Amended by School Board: August 18, 2015
Amended by School Board: September 28, 2021