School Safety
Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety
School Safety Plan
The Principal shall coordinate with Academie da Vinci Charter School’s Governing Board, Pinellas County Schools and relevant staff teams to develop and annually review a comprehensive School Safety Plan. This plan shall provide a comprehensive plan for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of students and staff and clearly lay out the procedures to be followed in various situations which could jeopardize the health, safety or welfare of the students and staff of Academie da Vinci. Pursuant to Florida statutes, the School Safety Plan shall be a confidential document and not available via a public records request.
Pursuant to Section 1006.07, Florida Statutes the Safety Plan must include how Academie da Vinci will consult with public safety agencies, for emergency drills and for actual emergencies, including, but not limited to, fires, natural disasters, active shooter and hostage situations, and bomb threats. The Safety Plan shall include plans for regularly conducting drills for active shooter and hostage situations, which shall be conducted per Florida state statute.
Locked Gate and Access Points
All gates or other access points that restrict ingress to or egress from a school campus shall remain closed and locked when students are on campus. A gate or other campus access point may not be open or unlocked, regardless of whether it is during normal school hours, unless: (I) Attended or actively staffed by a person when students are on campus; (II) The use is in accordance with a shared use agreement pursuant to s. 1013.101; or (III) The school safety specialist, or his or her designee, has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the gate or other access point is not subject to this requirement based upon other safety measures at Academie da Vinci. The office may conduct a compliance visit pursuant to s. 1001.212(14) to review if such a determination is appropriate.
Locked Classrooms
All Academie da Vinci classrooms and other instructional spaces must be locked to prevent ingress when occupied by students, except between class periods when students are moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces. If a classroom or other instructional space door must be left unlocked or open for any reason other than between class periods when students are moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces, the door must be actively staffed by a person standing or seated at the door.
Locked Gate and Access Control
All campus access doors, gates, and other access points that allow ingress to or egress from a school building shall remain closed and locked at all times to prevent ingress, unless a person is actively entering or exiting the door, gate, or other access point or Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety Specialist, or his or her designee, has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the open and unlocked door, gate, or other access point is not subject to this requirement based upon other safety measures at Academie da Vinci Charter School. The office may conduct a compliance visit pursuant to s. 1001.212(14) to review if such determination is appropriate. All campus access doors, gates, and other access points may be electronically or manually controlled by school personnel to allow access by authorized visitors, students, and school personnel.
Shelter-in-Place Markings
All school classrooms and other instructional spaces must clearly and conspicuously mark the safest areas in each classroom or other instructional space where students must shelter in place during an emergency. Students must be notified of these safe areas within the first 10 days of Academie da Vinci Charter School year. If it is not feasible to clearly and conspicuously mark the safest areas in a classroom or other instructional space, Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety Specialist, or his or her designee, must document such determination in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools, identifying where affected students must shelter in place. The office shall assist Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety specialist with compliance during the inspection required under s. 1001.212(14).
School Safety Specialist
The Principal will either serve as, or designate another member to serve as Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety Specialist for Academie da Vinci Charter School. The identity of this person should be reported annually to the Governing Board and Pinellas County Schools. The Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety Specialist is required to attend trainings provided regarding school safety procedures from the district and state. The individual shall also serve as a member of the Threat Management Team.
School Safety Officer
Academie da Vinci Charter School shall comply with Section 1006.12, Florida Statutes and provide a Safe-School Officer. Academie da Vinci Charter school will consult with the Pinellas County School district to ensure compliance and safety measures are in place in accordance with Florida Statutes. The SSO will be on campus whenever students are present for school related activities. The Governing Board shall select one of the four (4) available options available in Section 1006.12, Florida Statutes to meet this requirement (School Resource Officer, School Safety Officer, School Guardian, or School Security Guard). The Board shall ensure contracts, insurance and budgets are set aside to adequately support the selected option.
Before appointing an individual as a school guardian, the school district or charter school shall contact the Department of Law Enforcement and review all information maintained under s. 30.15(1)(k)3.c. related to the individual.
By February 1 and September 1 of each school year, each charter school must report to the Department of Law Enforcement the name, date of birth, and appointment date of each person appointed as a school guardian. The charter school must also report to the Department of Law Enforcement the date each school guardian separates from his or her appointment as a school guardian.
By September 1, 2024, each charter school must report to the Department of Law Enforcement the name, date of birth, and initial and end-of appointment dates, as applicable, of each person appointed as a school guardian.
FortifyFL
Academie da Vinci Charter School will ensure to adequately promote the use of FortifyFL, the mobile suspicious activity reporting tool operated by the State of Florida. The Principal will ensure that there is a link on Academie da Vinci Charter School’s website, that at least two newsletters per year will make reference to the service, posters will be made available on the community bulletin board. In addition, the application will be installed on all mobile devices issued to students, and the site will be bookmarked on all computer devices issued to students.
Mobile Alert Panic System
Academie da Vinci’s Principal shall annually review options for a mobile panic alert system and ensure that the system is installed, and that appropriate staff members are trained on the use of the system. The Principal will work with emergency services, approved by the Florida Department of Education to ensure the system is set up and operating appropriately. All Academie da Vinci staff use the Safer Watch mobile panic alert system.
Fire Drill Procedures
Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety Plan will clearly document the procedures and details for fire drill and emergency evacuations. All students and staff members shall be made aware of the plan, and maps highlighting the escape routes will be posted in all school rooms and provided to students and staff if requested. Fire drills will be conducted per Florida State Statute. Drills will be held at various times throughout the day and will test various types of fire emergencies. Documentation of the drills will be maintained by the organization for review.
Tornado Drill Procedures
Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety Plan will clearly document the shelter in place procedures to be used for emergency weather such as tornados. All staff and students shall be made aware of this plan. The plan will be practiced at least twice per year as is required by Florida law. Documentation of the drills will be maintained by the organization for review.
Hurricane Closures
The organization will follow the same emergency closures as the authorizing school district. Parents should monitor local news outlets during inclement weather. If the public schools are closed, Academie da Vinci Charter School will also be closed. In the event that multiple closures occur, and time must be made up, school days will be added according to the adopted amended school calendar by Academie da Vinci Charter school’s governing board.
Threat Management
In the event a student appears to pose a threat of violence or physical harm to him or herself or others, the staff member with concerns should immediately notify the Principal. The Principal will activate the Threat Management Team who shall make a preliminary determination about whether the student poses such a threat. The Principal shall attempt to notify the student’s parent or legal guardian. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude School personnel from acting immediately to address an imminent threat, including contacting local law enforcement.
In the event that the Threat Management Team has decided that the student poses a threat of violence to himself or herself or others or exhibits significantly disruptive behavior or need for assistance, authorized members of the Threat Management Team may obtain criminal history record information pursuant to Section 985.04(1), Florida Statutes. A member of a Threat Management Team may not disclose any criminal history record information obtained pursuant to this section or otherwise use any record of an individual beyond the purpose for which such disclosure was made to the Threat Management Team.
School Safety Policy Requirements
In accordance with Florida law, Florida Statute Section 1006.07, effective August 1, 2024, it is the policy of the Organization that Academie da Vinci Charter school:
- Conduct annual unannounced inspections (using the form adopted by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to Florida Statute Section 1001.212(14)) of the Charter School while School is in session and investigate reports of noncompliance with school safety requirements.
- Report violations of below paragraph (3) by administrative personnel and instructional personnel to the charter school administrator, as applicable.
- Follow Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety Requirements under Florida Statute Section 1006.07(f) as set below:
- All gates or other access points that restrict ingress to or egress from Academie da Vinci Charter School campus shall remain closed and locked when students are on campus. A gate or other campus access point may not be open or unlocked, regardless of whether it is during normal school hours, unless attended or actively staffed by a person when students are on campus or Academie da Vinci Charter School safety specialist, or his or her designee, has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the gate or other access point is not subject to this requirement based upon other safety measures at Academie da Vinci Charter School.
- All School classrooms and other instructional spaces must be locked to prevent ingress when occupied by students, except between class periods when students are moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces. If a classroom or other instructional space door must be left unlocked or open for any reason other than between class periods when students are moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces, the door must be actively staffed by a person standing or seated at the door.
- All campus access doors, gates, and other access points that allow ingress to or egress from a school building shall remain closed and locked at all times to prevent ingress, unless a person is actively entering or exiting the door, gate, or other access point or Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety Specialist, or his or her designee, has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the open and unlocked door, gate, or other access point is not subject to this requirement based upon other safety measures at Academie da Vinci Charter School. All campus access doors, gates, and other access points may be electronically or manually controlled by School personnel to allow access by authorized visitors, students, and School personnel.
- Persons who are aware of any violation of this Policy must report the violation to the Principal. The Principal must report the violation to the Safety Specialist no later than the next business day after receiving such report. If the person who violated this Policy is the Principal, the report must be made directly to the Dean of Students and provide notice to the School’s Governing Board as applicable.
- All School classrooms and other instructional spaces must clearly and conspicuously mark the safest areas in each classroom or other instructional space where students must shelter in place during an emergency. Students must be notified of these safe areas within the first 10 days of the school year. If it is not feasible to clearly and conspicuously mark the safest areas in a classroom or other instructional space, the Academie da Vinci Charter School Safety Specialist, or his or her designee, must document such determination in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools, identifying where affected students must shelter in place.
- School Progressive Discipline for Knowingly Violating this Policy – The following Progressive Disciplinary Action shall apply to any School instructional personnel as defined in Florida Statute Section 1012.01(2) and any School administrative personnel as defined in Florida Statute Section 1012.01(3) who knowingly violates the above Section (3) School Safety Requirements:
- Discipline hereunder is a corrective rather than a punitive measure. In dealing with known violations of the above School Safety Requirements (a) – (d) progressive discipline shall be administered, except in situations where more severe immediate disciplinary steps must be taken to ensure student/staff safety. Progressive discipline may include, but is not limited to, Verbal Warning (with documented confirmation email), Written Warning 1, Written Warning 2, Suspension without Pay, Demotion, and Termination of employment.
- The severity of the violation in each case, together with relevant circumstances will determine what step in the range of progressive discipline is followed. A more severe discipline measure will be used when it is in the best interest and/or safety of the students or School community.
