LA HABRA : Schools OK Arms, Harassment Policy

La Habra City School District trustees last week approved a policy to demonstrate to students and staff members that sexual harassment and weapons on school property will not be tolerated.

The action gives district personnel the right to confiscate weapons or replicas and suspend or expel students who are caught carrying them. The intent is to keep schools, school buses and any school-related activities free from the danger and fear of weapons, officials said.

Students will not be allowed to bring firearms, explosives, knives, razors, slingshots, other possibly harmful instruments or any replicas of such weapons to school.

In the last two years, one student was caught brandishing a replica and another was suspected of possessing an actual weapon.

“It’s become a sad reality of life that kids do bring weapons to school,” school board President Morrison M. Clements said. But now, “the district has a vehicle to take fairly severe disciplinary action.”

As for sexual harassment, any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other sexually offensive behavior by district employees could result in their being fired.

Though the school district has not received any such complaints, board members decided to draft the policy to protect victims after hearing of sexual harassment cases in other districts, Trustee Nancy S. Zinberg said.

District officials said the policy encourages employees who suffer from sexual intimidation to report harassment without fear of reprisal because all incidents will be kept confidential. Complaints will be investigated and acted on within 10 days after a written statement is submitted by a victim.

“It’s unfortunate that we need policies like this, but that’s the way the world is these days,” Zinberg said. “It’s a sign of the times, but when people know how to deal with these things, they’re much easier to handle.”