Gangs

The Governing Board desires to keep district schools free from the threats or harmful influence of any groups who exhibit behavior disruptive to the school environment and/or the safety and well-being of students. The Governing Board additionally desires to provide support and intervention to students who are members of gangs to enable them to successfully disengage from gang involvement and be successful in school. The Superintendent or designee shall develop strategies for gang prevention that address the reasons that students may become involved in gangs, including the identity, recognition, or status achieved as being part of a gang, protection from gang violence in the community, the need for companionship and an extended family, intimidation to join a gang, desire to join a gang to be in a position to intimidate others, and/or connection with criminal activity. Gang violence prevention shall start as early as possible and include, but not be limited to, age-appropriate education that focuses on developing emotional and social competence, increasing prosocial peer bonds, strengthening attachment and commitment to school, and enhancing cooperative learning skills. Prevention shall also include improving parent/guardian involvement in and support for their children's academic progress, as well as ongoing gang awareness education for parents/guardians, including gang identifiers. The Superintendent or designee shall take steps to deter gang activity on school campuses, including threats and intimidation of students and staff, recruitment or intimidation of students to join gangs, bullying, fighting, criminal activities, and confrontations between members of different gangs. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that school rules of conduct and any school dress code prohibiting gang-related apparel are enforced consistently. If a student exhibits signs of gang affiliation, staff shall inform the principal or designee and the student's parent/guardian. The Superintendent or designee shall provide in-service training which helps staff to identify gangs and gang symbols, recognize early manifestations of disruptive activities, and respond appropriately to gang behavior. Staff shall be informed about conflict management techniques and alerted to intervention measures and community resources. The Superintendent or designee shall also provide staff development on social and emotional learning, classroom management, interactive teaching, and cooperative learning skills. The Superintendent or designee may consider gang activity prevention and intervention when developing programs outside of the school day. The Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with child welfare services, mental health agencies, social services, and local law enforcement authorities in the prevention and intervention of gang activity.