The GCSD Districtwide School Safety Plan has been updated, as required on an annual basis, with input from the Districtwide Safety Team and can be found in the link below:

2023-2024 GCSD District-Wide School Safety Plan

(The plan will be presented to the Board of Education in July 2023 for review and adoption.)

We take our role in helping to raise your children seriously.  

If you have concerns about your child or the health and well-being of another child, our teachers, guidance counselors, school psychologists, social workers, nurses, and administrators are poised to help you. Do not hesitate to contact us with your concerns. Thank you for your immediate attention to the contents of this letter, and thank you for allowing us to be your partner in raising your child.

Emergency Protective Actions and Recommended Parental Responses

BUILDING LOCKDOWN

Students, faculty, and staff remain in their current location. No one is allowed to leave the building until the situation has been curtailed. Examples of a situation requiring a lockdown include an investigation of a potentially dangerous situation or criminal activity. Children will NOT be released from school. Parents/guardians should NOT attempt to pick up their children nor should they be present at the school. Parents/guardians should monitor the District website and radio/television stations as they do for snow closings.

BUILDING LOCKOUT AND LIMITED ACCESS TO PROPERTY

This procedure curtails outside activity (e.g. physical education classes), and access to the campus is limited. This procedure allows the school to continue the normal school day. Examples of a lockout situation include criminal activity or a wild animal on the property. Parents/guardians should monitor the District website and radio/television stations as they do for snow closings. Parents/guardians should listen for information about the lockout or the limiting access to school buildings. DO NOT attempt to pick up children from the school building until advised to do so by law enforcement or school officials.  Controlled access to the building is extended to the campus perimeter.

EARLY DISMISSAL

Early dismissal of the students and staff due to emergencies such as inclement weather, power outage, fire or law enforcement activity. During Homeland Security emergencies, students who cannot be sent home because a responsible adult is not home to receive the student will be sheltered at a designated location that will be protected by District personnel and law enforcement agencies. When a responsible adult is available, the student can be picked up. Parents/guardians should not attempt to pick up children unless this is the normal practice. Parents/guardians should monitor the District website and radio/television stations as they do for snow closings. DO NOT phone the School District since this will tie up phone lines needed for emergency response.  Parents/guardians should have an early dismissal plan in place to ensure that their children will be received by a designated responsible adult. Their children should be aware of those arrangements and the plan. 

SCHOOL CLOSINGS/DELAYED OPENINGS

Examples include inclement weather and Homeland Security emergencies. Parents/guardians should monitor the District website and radio/television stations.  Parents/guardians should monitor conditions at home and not attempt to bring children to school unless the District announces a Delayed Opening. 

SECURE THE BUILDING

This procedure indicates that a serious emergency situation exists within the building and that all staff and students are to immediately move out of the hallways and into secure areas. Law Enforcement will coordinate subsequent actions until the situation has been curtailed. Children will NOT be released from school. Parents/guardians should NOT attempt to pick up their children nor should they be present at the school.  Parents/guardians should monitor the District website and radio/television stations as they do for snow closings.

SHORT-TERM SHELTER IN PLACE

The entire school population moves to a single or to multiple locations within each school building. The receiving areas of the building will have been checked and declared safe. The students will remain in that location until the situation has been curtailed. Short-Term Shelter in Place is most commonly used during weather emergencies. Children will NOT be released from school. Parents/guardians should NOT attempt to pick up their children nor should they be present at the school. Parents/guardians should monitor the District website and radio/television stations as they do for snow closings. 

TRANSFER TO ALTERNATE LOCATION OR EMERGENCY SHELTER

In the event that the building is evacuated (e.g. fire) and is not cleared for re-entry, all persons will be directed to an alternate evacuation site. Parents/guardians should monitor the District website and radio/television stations as they do for snow closings. Parents/guardians should listen for information about where the alternate location will be for their children. DO NOT attempt to pick up children from the sheltering location until advised to do so by law enforcement or school officials.

CODE OF CONDUCT PRE-K THROUGH 12 SUMMARY

The Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) and Section 100.2 (1) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education require that each school district adopt a written policy on school conduct and discipline “designed to promote responsible student behavior.” Below is a summary of the key elements of the Code. A copy of the complete code document is available at the schools and on the District’s website:  www.greenburghcsd.org.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Rights: The District is committed to safeguarding the rights given to all students under state and federal law. In addition, to promote a safe, healthy, orderly and civil school environment, all District students have rights as outlined in the Code. Student Responsibilities: It shall be the responsibility of each student in the District to be a good citizen of the District as outlined in the Code.

DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT

The intent of the amended Dignity for All Students Act(Dignity Act) is to provide all public school students with an environment free from harassment, bullying (including cyberbullying) and discrimination, as well as to foster civility in public schools. The Dignity Act focuses on the prevention of discriminatory behaviors, including harassment/bullying, through the promotion of educational measures meant to positively impact school culture and climate. The amended Dignity Act requires that all public school districts (districts) and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) include provisions in their Codes of Conduct prohibiting harassment, bullying (including cyberbullying), and discrimination against students by students and/or school employees on school property or at a school function, as well as provisions for responding to acts of discrimination and harassment against students by students and/or school employees on school property or at a school function. Charter schools are also required to include in their disciplinary rules and procedures, (pursuant to Education Law ¨2851[2][h]), or, if applicable, in their Codes of Conduct, provisions prohibiting discrimination and harassment against students by students and/or school employees on school property or at a school function, as well as provisions for responding to acts of discrimination and harassment against students by students and/or school employees on school property or at a school function and guidelines on promoting a safe and supportive school climate (see Education Law ¨¨10-18 and 8 NYCRR ¨119.6).

PROHIBITED STUDENT CONDUCT

The District expects all students to conduct themselves in an appropriate and civil manner, with proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students, District personnel and other members of the school community, and for the care of school facilities and equipment.  The best discipline is self-imposed, and students must learn to assume and accept responsibility for their own behavior, as well as the consequences of their misbehavior. District personnel who interact with students are expected to use disciplinary action only when necessary and to place emphasis on the students’ ability to grow in self-discipline. Students may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension from school when they: engage in any willful act that disrupts the normal operation of the school community; trespass; misuse computer/electronic communications; engage in any conduct that endangers the safety, morals, health or welfare of others; engage in conduct that is disorderly, insubordinate, disruptive or violent; engage in misconduct while waiting for the bus and/or on a school bus; or engage in any form of academic misconduct.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS

All students are expected to promptly report any violations of the Code of Conduct to a District staff member. Any student observing another student or individual possessing a weapon, alcohol or illegal substance or exhibiting dangerous behavior on school property or at a school function (including away from school property) shall report this information immediately to a teacher, the building principal, the principal’s designee or the Superintendent.

PUBLIC CONDUCT ON SCHOOL PROPERTY

The District is committed to providing an orderly, respectful environment that is conducive to learning. To create and maintain this kind of an environment, it is necessary to regulate public conduct on school property and at school functions. For purposes of this section of the Code, “public” shall mean all persons who are on school property or attending a school function (including away from school property) including students, teachers, District personnel, parents, and visitors. The restrictions on public conduct on school property and at school functions contained in the Code are not intended to limit freedom of speech or peaceful assembly. The District recognizes that free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the objectives of the District. The purpose of the Code is to maintain public order and prevent abuse of the rights of others. All persons on school property or attending a school function (including away from school property) shall conduct themselves in a respectful and orderly manner. In addition, all persons on school property or attending a school function (including away from school property) are expected to be properly attired for the purpose they are on school property.

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOLS

The Board of Education encourages parents and other District citizens to visit the District’s schools and classrooms to observe the work of students, teachers and other staff. It should be noted that classroom observations by parents are permitted unless prohibited by a collective bargaining agreement. With respect to observations of classified students, only parental observations and observations by experts that are authorized by the CSE or appropriate District officials are permitted. Since schools are a place of work and learning, however, certain limits must be set for such visits. The building principal or his or her designee is responsible for all persons in the building and on the grounds.

DISSEMINATION AND REVIEW OF CODE OF CONDUCT

The Board will work to ensure that the community is aware of the District’s Code of Conduct by: providing copies of the Code to all students at a general assembly held at the beginning of each school year; making copies of the Code available to all parents at the beginning of the school year; mailing a summary of the Code of Conduct written in plain language to all parents of District students before the beginning of the school year and making this summary available (and by requiring a signed acknowledgement of receipt by parents and students); providing all staff members with a copy of the Code and requiring a signed acknowledgment of receipt; providing all new employees with a copy of the current Code of Conduct when they are hired; and by making copies of the Code available for review by students, parents and other community members.