5144.1(a)
Physical Intervention (Reasonable Physical Force)
The
Board of Education believes that maintaining an orderly, safe environment is
conducive to learning and expects that all staff will strive to create and
maintain such an environment. To the
extent that staff actions comply with applicable statutes and Board policy
governing the use of physical intervention, including protective
holds/restraint of students, staff members will have the full support of the
Board of Education in their efforts to maintain a safe environment.
Specifically Identified Students
When
an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan requires physical
intervention, the Board recognizes that it may be necessary for staff to use
reasonable physical intervention to protect a student from harming
himself/herself or to protect others from harm.
School staff will employ appropriate de-escalation techniques when
intervening with students who are demonstrating verbally and physically
aggressive behaviors. When it is
necessary for staff to physically intervene with students who are in danger of
hurting themselves or others (i.e., physical “fights” between students),
physical intervention, including protective holds, may be used.
All
instructional, certified and non-certified staff who work directly with
identified students will be trained in the appropriate use of verbal
de-escalation and physical intervention techniques. Such training will also be offered to any
other interested staff.
Reasonable
physical intervention is defined as immobilization of the individual’s
opportunity for movement by staff member(s) through direct contact using
techniques and equipment designed to control acute or incidental aggressive
behaviors or to control involuntary movements or lack of muscular control due
to organic causes or conditions. Such
physical intervention will not be used except as necessary to ensure a
student’s safety and that of others, and then only for as long as is necessary to
gain control of the situation. Such
physical intervention is not to be used as a disciplinary measure.
Physical
intervention may be used by a staff member to:
1.
Quell a disturbance threatening injury to others.
2.
Obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects,
including a controlled substance upon or within the control of such student.
3.
Protect self, other persons, or property.
4.
Direct the movement or actions of a student to avoid
undue or deliberate disruption of the classroom and/or other parts of the
school.
5.
Protect an individual from his/her own actions.
5144.1(b)
Physical Intervention (Reasonable Physical Force)
(continued)
In
the case of students with disabilities, any physical intervention used beyond
the five situations listed above shall be identified on the student’s
Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan as a form of intervention.
In
some cases involving students with disabilities, the Planning and Placement
Team may determine that even physical intervention used within the situations
listed above must be included in a physical management component of an IEP.
Such
acts of physical intervention shall not be construed to constitute corporal
punishment within the meaning and intent of this policy.
General Student Population
Physical force may not be
used as a disciplinary measure for any student.
However, reasonable physical force may be used to the extent that a
teacher or other person entrusted with the care and supervision of any student
for school purposes reasonably believes it necessary to: protect him/herself or
others from immediate physical injury, obtain possession of a dangerous
instrument or controlled substance upon or within the control of such student,
protect property from physical damage, and/or restrain student or remove
student to another area to maintain order.
(cf. 4148/4248 –
Employee Protection)
(cf. 5141.23 –
Students with Special Health Care Needs)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
53a-18 Use of reasonable force or deadly physical force
generally.
53a-19 Use of physical force in defense of person.
53a-20 Use of physical force in defense of premises.
53A-21 Use of physical force in defense of property.
Policy adopted: May
8, 2007 EAST
HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS