Bellingham Public Schools recognizes its responsibility for the health and safety of all students, including students required to register as a sex or kidnapping offender enrolled within the district. Therefore, the district will take appropriate precautionary measures in situations where the building principal has been advised by law enforcement or a court that a student required to register as a sex or kidnapping offender is enrolling or is attending a school within the district.
Responsibilities
When the district or principal receives notice from law enforcement or a court that a sex or kidnapping offender will be attending the principal’s school, the principal will provide the information received to every teacher of the student and to any other personnel who, in the judgment of the principal, supervises the student or for security purposes should be aware of the student’s record.
Collaboration
The district will work with law enforcement and courts to coordinate the receipt of notifications regarding students registered as sex or kidnapping offenders. The district will also consult and collaborate with department of corrections, juvenile justice staff, treatment providers, victim support groups, and families, as applicable, when working with students required to register as a sex or kidnapping offender.
Inquiries by the Public
Inquiries by the public at large (including parents and students) regarding students required to register as a sex or kidnapping offender are to be referred directly to law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies receive relevant information about the release of sex and kidnapping offenders into communities and decide when such information needs to be released to the public.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
All students, including those students required to register as a sex or kidnapping offender, have a constitutional right to a public education. Students required to register as sex or kidnapping offenders are also required to notify law enforcement of their intent to enroll in school.
Cross References: | Content |
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3143 District Notification of Juvenile Offenders |
Legal References: | Content |
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RCW 4.24.550 Sex offenders and kidnapping offenders — Release of information to public — Web site |
Management Resources: | Content |
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Policy News, August 2018 A Better Response to Notification of Juvenile Offenders |