HomeMy WebLinkAbout44A _ SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER LEX MOUMemorandum of Understanding Between
Lexington Public Schools and Lexington Police Department
Regarding the School Resource Officer Program
This Memorandum of Understanding is made and entered into by and between the Lexington
Public Schools and the Lexington Police Department.
I. Purpose
This agreement formalizes the partnership between the parties and facilitates a clear
understanding of the roles, duties, and responsibilities of the parties in the implementation of a
School Resource Officer ("SRO") Program in the Lexington Public Schools.
This agreement is entered into pursuant to the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and is to be read in conjunction with any and all policies, procedures, and reporting
requirements set forth in the Lexington Public Schools' student handbook and Lexington Police
Department regulations.
Ii. Mission Statement
The SRO Program is based upon the fundamental premise that when schools, police,
prosecutors, and other service agencies work collaboratively and proactively, the safety, mental
health, and well-being of children and youth are best served. By working together to educate
the school community, coordinate efforts, and share information, the Lexington Public Schools
and the Lexington Police Department through the SRO Program strive to: (1) prevent violence
involving the students of the Lexington Public Schools; (2) prevent the use, abuse, and
distribution of alcohol and other controlled substances involving students of the Lexington
Public Schools; and (3) provide a safe, secure, violence-free, and nurturing school environment.
III. Goals and Objectives
The SRO Program is designed to provide a safe, secure, violence-free, and nurturing school
environment while creating strong relationships between the Lexington Public Schools,
Lexington Police Department, and the community. The goals and objectives for the SRO
Program include:
• To develop positive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and parents thereby
enhancing the relationship of law enforcement with youth and the community and
improving the educational climate;
• To provide a positive role model for students to instill in them good moral standards,
judgment and discretion, respect for other students, and a sincere concern for their
community;
• To provide a cooperative effort by being accessible and responsive to the needs of the
students, faculty, staff, parents, and community;
• To provide enhanced security and law enforcement service thereby maintaining a safe,
secure, and violence-free school environment that allows all students to learn and
flourish;
• To create a strong partnership between school and police personnel with a clear
understanding, appreciation, and delineation of the roles and responsibilities of each;
~ To ensure that non-violent infractions of school rules and policies not amounting to
criminal or delinquent conduct such as tardiness, use of profanity, and disruptive or
disrespectful behavior remain the sole responsibility of school administrators;
• To ensure that SROs are timely notified of Mandatory Reportable Incidents as described
in subsecton V.D. of this agreement;
• To minimize the number of students that are unnecessarily out of the classroom,
arrested at school, or court involved;
• To identify and provide preventive help and services to at-risk students and families;
• To provide requirements and guidance for training of the SRO and school personnel
regarding SRO-related topics;
• To assist school personnel in the development of school emergency crisis policies and
guidelines (to include threat assessment) and assist with the facilitation of emergency-
based drills while updating and augmenting said policies and guidelines as needed; and
• To offer additional educational resources to the students, faculty, staff, parents, and
community through presentations and programming by the SRO that focus on law
enforcement, prevention, health, and safety topics.
IV. Selection, Supervision, and Training of SROs and Review of SRO Program
The parties agree that the selection, supervision, and training of SROs is a critical aspect of the
program. Additionally, the parties agree that reviewing the SRO Program on an annual basis is
essential to assess its success and effectiveness in meeting its stated goals and objectives.
A. SRO Selection Process
In accordance with M.G.L. c. 71, § 37P, the Lexington Police Department is committed to
selecting SROs who will foster an optimal learning environment and educational
community. The selection of each SRO remains within the sole discretion of the Chief of
Police. The appointments) shall not be based solely on seniority; rather, preference will be
given to officers who demonstrate the requisite personality, character, skills, and interest to
work in a school environment with children and educators and who have received
specialized training related to working with children and adolescents, including cognitive
development, de-escalation techniques, and alternatives to arrest and diversion strategies.
Other factors for consideration in selecting an SRO include:
Ability to work effectively with students within the age range at the assigned
schools)
• Awareness of and education about the cultural descriptors that make up the
community's world views, including race, age, gender, gender identity, ethnicity,
religion, culture, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, immigration status,
primary language and English proficiency, socioeconomic status, educational level,
and occupation
~ A commitment to making all students and the school community feel welcomed,
valued, respected, and acknowledged regardless of cultural descriptors
Knowledge of school-based legal issues
• Commitment to protecting students' legal and civil rights
• Knowledge of school and community resources
• An understanding of crime prevention problem-solving and community policing in a
school setting
• Public speaking and teaching skills
• Knowledge of school safety planning and technology
Conflict of Interest. The Chief of Police will also consider any actual or apparent conflicts of
interest, including whether an officer is related to a current student at the school to which
the officer may be assigned as an SRO. As part of the application process, officers who are
candidates for an SRO position shall be required to notify the Chief of Police about any
relationships with current students or staff members. Any SRO who is related to a current
student, or who has another actual or apparent conflict of interest based on a relationship
with a current student or staff member, shall be required to notify their direct supervisor at
the earliest opportunity, in the event that anon-emergency issue or incident arises that
implicates the actual or apparent conflict of interest. The Lexington Police Department shall
determine the appropriate course of action, including whether to assign another officer to
respond, and will advise the SRO and the District accordingly. Nothing in this paragraph is
intended to limit the ability of the SRO to respond to emergency situations in schools.
B. SRO Supervision
The SRO is a member of the Lexington Police Department and shall be subject to the
administration, supervision and control of the Police Department. The SRO reports directly
to the Lieutenant Detective.
When on school grounds or at school related events, the SRO will coordinate with school
officials as delineated in subsection VI.E. of this agreement.
C. SRO Training
In addition to any basic and annual in-service training required of their officers by the Police
Department, SROs shall receive specialized training to promote their effectiveness working
with children and youth in a school setting. Continuing professional development shall
include instruction in the following areas:
1. Child and adolescent development, including the impact of abuse, exploitation,
violence, trauma, disability, poverty, gender identity, sexual orientation and
immigration status
2. Conflict resolution
3. Diversion strategies and practices
Additional areas for continuing professional development may include, but are not limited
to:
• SRO course such as that provided by National Association of School Resource
Officers
• School crisis planning, threat assessment, and emergency response
• Juvenile law and procedure, including student rights and privacy
• Understanding and protecting civil rights in schools
~ Cultural sensitivity and linguistic differences
~ Implicit bias
• Teaching and classroom management
• Mental health protocols
• Trauma -informed care
~ De-escalation skills
• Drug prevention programs
• Physiology of addiction
• Teen dating violence and healthy teen relationships
• Bullying prevention
• Cyber safety
D. Review of SRO Program
The SRO Program will be reviewed annually to evaluate its success and effectiveness in
meeting its stated goals and objectives. The review will be conducted jointly by the Chief of
Police and Superintendent of the Lexington Public Schools. This agreement, including the
SRO Goals and Objectives, should be amended if necessary as a result of said review.
As part of the annual review, the performance and effectiveness of each SRO shall be
evaluated. The Superintendent in consultation with the Principals) of the assigned
schools) will provide input regarding the evaluation. This input should take into
consideration and include feedback from teachers, students, and the school community. It
may include a recommendation to the Chief of Police that a specific SRO not be assigned to
a specific school the following year. The Chief will seriously consider such input and make a
good faith effort to address any concerns raised; however, the final selection and
assignment of SROs remains within the sole discretion of the Chief of Police.
V. Information Sharing Guidelines
A. Designated Liaisons
In order to facilitate prompt and clear communications, the parties agree to identify
individuals on their respective staffs who will function as Designated Liaisons.
The Lexington Public Schools' Designated Liaisons, by School, are:
Principal
Assistant Principal
The Lexington Police Department's Designated School Liaisons are:
School Resource Officer
Lieutenant Detective
Captain of Administration
f'Ihiaf of Pnlira
The aforementioned Police Department Designated Liaisons are considered a part of the
Lexington Public Schools' "Law Enforcement Unit" as defined in the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA") (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) for purposes of sharing information
regarding students.
B. Issues of Concern to the Designated Liaisons
1. Reportable Incidents: In order to identify and provide preventive help and services
to at-risk students and families and consistent with the goals and objectives of the
SRO Program, the parties will share information as follows:
(a) The Designated Liaisons from the School and Police Department will review ail
incidents classified as Mandatory Reportable Incidents, as defined in subsection
V.D. of this agreement.
(b) Additionally, the Designated Liaisons will review any incident or information that
may affect the safety or well-being of students, faculty, or staff at the School.
2. Prevention Strategies: In addition to the above responsibilities, the Designated
Liaisons from the School, the Police Department and the Middlesex District
Attorney's Office ("MDAO")will meet regularly for the following purposes:
(a) To discuss incidents of violence or bullying (as defined under G.L. c. 71, § 370) in
school or outside of school that affects students of the school;
(b) To discuss any use, abuse, or distribution of alcohol and/or other controlled
substances or any other criminal activity affecting students UNLESS such
information was gathered as part of a "Verbal Screening Tool for Substance
Abuse Disorders" in which case it shall only be disclosed as permitted by G.L. c.
71, § 97;
(c) To identify strategies to reduce such activities and to promote a safe, secure,
violence-free, and nurturing school environment;
(d) To discuss community resources available for students at risk of harm from
violence, abuse, neglect, or exploitation;
(e) To develop violence identification, prevention, and intervention programs,
protocol and curricula as required by G.L. c. 12, § 32; and
(f) To outline the necessary action plan for implementation of such strategies.
C. Reporting Guidelines for School Reports to the Police Department
1. The following shall be considered Mandatory Reportable Incidents:1
a. Possession, use, or distribution of alcohol by a student UNLESS such information
was gathered as part of a "Verbal Screening Tool for Substance Abuse Disorders"
in which case it shall only be disclosed as permitted by G.L. c. 71, § 97
b. Possession, use, or distribution of an inhalant or any controlled substance, as
defined in G.L. c. 94C (excepting any possession of prescription medication
possessed and administered in accordance with state law and school policy)
llf such information is obtained solely during a communication with a member of the school staff
deemed privileged or confidential due to the staff member's professional licensure, such
communication shall only be disclosed if consent is obtained or the communication is subject to the
limits and exceptions to confidentiality and is required to be disclosed (e.g., mandatory reporting,
immediate threats of harm to self or others).
UNLESS such information was gathered as part of a "Verbal Screening Tool for
Substance Abuse Disorders" in which case it shall only be disclosed as permitted by
G.L. c. 71, § 97
c. Any incident in which any individual is reasonably believed to be selling or
distributing controlled substances or alcohol
d. Any serious incident involving the threat of assaultive behavior or intentional
assaultive behavior and/or reckless behavior that results in personal injury to
another
e. Possession of a weapon, as defined in the school handbook or under G.L. c. 71,
§ 37(h), which includes, but is not limited to, a gun or a knife, and ammunition or
components thereof
f. Any incident involving stalking (G.L. c. 265, § 43), criminal harassment (G.L. c. 265,
§ 43A), annoying phone calls (G.L. c. 269, § 14A), or the issuance or violation of a
G.L. c. 209A or c. 258E protection order on behalf of or against a student
g. Any incident triggering the filing of a report for abuse and/or exploitation with the
Department of Children and Families pursuant to G.L. c. 119, § 51A, including
underage sexual contact if it qualifies as "sexual abuse." (See What Conditions Are
Reportable, www.5la.middlesexcac.or~)
h. Any sexual assault, including, but not limited to, rape, assault with intent to rape,
indecent assault and battery, open and gross lewdness, indecent exposure, or
incident of gender-based harassment, "sexting", "sextortion",z or possession or
dissemination of sexually explicit photographs of a student
i. Any incident resulting in significant damage to municipal or private property
j. Any bomb threat, fire, threatened or attempted fire setting, threatened or
attempted use of an incendiary or explosive device or hoax device, or possession
of a "novelty lighter" as defined by G.L. c. 148, § 60. (NOTE: The principal also
"shall immediately report any incident involving the unauthorized ignition of any
fire within the school building or on school grounds to the local fire department"
under G.L. c. 148, § 2A)
k. Any creation or possession of a document, whether digitally or manually
generated, handwritten or electronic (e.g., text or email), that identifies any
individual targeted for violence or death
I. Any serious threat, direct or indirect, past or future, against a student, school
personnel, or other school employee
Z"Sexting" is the act of sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit photos (i.e., images depicting a
person in a state of partial or total nudity) via cell phone, computer, or other digital device. "Sextortion"
is a form of extortion wherein an individual threatens to expose or disseminate sexually explicit photos
of another person if not provided with money, additional images, the performance or promise of sexual
acts, or compliance with other demands.
m. Any incident of "hazing" as defined by G.L. c. 269, § 17, involving any conduct or
method of initiation into any school organization that endangers the physical or
mental health of any student
n. Any incident involving an actual or suspected hate crime or violation of civil rights
(See G.L. c. 265, §§ 37 & 39; 18 U.S.C. § 249), including, but not limited to:
• An assault or battery upon a person, whether or not it results in bodily injury,
with the intent to intimidate because of such person's race, color, religion,
national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability;
• Damage to the real or personal property of a person with the intent to
intimidate because of such person's race, color, religion, national origin,
sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability; or
• An act willfully causing bodily injury to any person or attempting to do so
through the use of fire, firearm, dangerous weapon, or explosive or
incendiary device because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion,
national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of
any person
o. Any incident of "bullying" or "cyber-bullying" as defined by G.L. c. 71, § 370
where the school believes that the incident may have involved criminal conduct
or involves any other reportable acts outlined in (a) through (o).
2. Mandatory Reportable Incidents will be immediately reported to the Designated
Police Liaison if such incident:
a. Occurred on school property or within 1,000 foot radius of school property;
b. Occurred at aschool-sponsored function;
c. Occurred in a school owned or contracted bus or other vehicle or at school bus
stop; or
d. Involved a student of the Lexington School District.
3. The Designated School Liaisons may report any other incident or information that
may affect the safety Orwell-being of students, faculty, or staff at the School.
D. Reporting Guidelines for Police Reports to School
The Designated Police Liaison will inform the appropriate Designated School Liaison, subject
to applicable statutes and regulations governing confidentiality, of:
1. Any arrest of a student or the filing of a criminal or delinquency complaint
application against any student of the Lexington Public Schools;
2. A student's voluntary participation in any Diversion Program; or
3. Any occurrence involving a student of the Lexington Public Schools, if:
a. The activity poses a serious (present or future) threat to the safety Orwell-being
of the student, other students, faculty, or staff at the School;
b. The making of such a report would facilitate supportive intervention by school
personnel on behalf of the student (e.g., the arrest or filing of a criminal
complaint against a member of the student's household); or
c. The activity involves actual or possible truancy.
E. Confidentiality
The Designated Liaisons agree to comply with state and federal laws regarding confidentiality,
including FERPA and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
The Parties agree to collect that student information which is necessary and relevant to
fulfilling their respective roles, to share such information with each other only where required
or allowed under this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and not to share such
information beyond the sharing contemplated in this MOU unless such information is required
to be shared by state or federal law. For example, the Designated Liaisons shall not collect
information on a student's immigration status except as required bylaw, shall only share such
information with each other as necessary under the terms of this MOU, and shall not share
such information beyond the sharing contemplated in this Agreement except as required by
law.
VI. Roles and Responsibilities of Schools, SROs, and Police Department
The parties are dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing climate in which learning can take
place. The parties also want to promote a safe environment in the public school community
while upholding the students' legal rights as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures
Regarding the School Resource Officer Program in the Lexington Public Schools ("SRO SOP")
subsection 5.
The parties acknowledge that proper integration of the SRO in the school environment,
including (as appropriate) educational activities, classroom instruction, school assemblies, and
staff and school safety meetings, can help build trust, relationships, and strong communication
among the SRO and students, faculty, staff, parents, and community.
As past events have shown, any school is at risk for incidents of violence, threatened violence,
or attempted violence, as well as the use, abuse, and distribution of alcohol and other
controlled substances, all of which diminish the ability of the school community to focus upon
the business of learning. In order to promote a safe and nurturing environment in our schools
and in our community, it is in our common interest to share information as outlined in
subsection V above. It is through the collaborative efforts of the Lexington Public Schools and
the Lexington Police Department that this can occur.
A. School Administration and School Personnel
1. Non-violent infractions of school rules and policies not amounting to criminal or
delinquent conduct such as tardiness, use of profanity, dress code violations, and
disruptive or disrespectful behavior remains the sole responsibility of school
administrators. To this end, SROs shall refrain from being involved in the school's
handling of such violations or misbehavior except, as asked or needed, to support
school staff in maintaining a safe school environment.
2. The school administrators agree to ensure that school employees cooperate with
police investigations and any subsequent actions related to crime or criminal activity
on school premises or at school-related events.
3. In order to maintain a safe and nurturing school environment, the Lexington Public
Schools reserves the right to conduct a reasonable search of all school property for
weapons, alcohol, other contraband, or controlled substances in accordance with
state and federal law, the student handbook, and the SRO SOP subsection 5(a).
Should any evidence of a criminal nature be seized during such an inspection or
search, immediate notification to the designated police liaison will be made and the
property will be secured by the SRO.
B. Chief of Police
The Chief of Police, in consultation with the School Superintendent, shall establish
standard operating procedures (SOP) to provide guidance to SROs about daily
operations, policies and procedures. At minimum, the SOP, as established by the Chief
of Police, shall describe the following for the School Resource Officer:
1. The SRO uniform;
2. Use of police force, arrest, citation and court referral on school property;
3. A statement and description of students' legal rights, including the process for
searching and questioning students and when parents and administrators shall
be notified and present;
4. Chain of command, including delineating to whom the SRO reports and how
school administrators and the SRO work together;
S. Performance evaluation standards, which shall incorporate monitoring
compliance with this MOU and use of arrest, citation, and police force in school;
6. Protocols for diverting and referring at-risk students to school and community
based supports and providers; and,
7. Information sharing between the SRO, school staff, and parents or guardians.
C. Reporting Procedures for Emergency Situations
Definition: An emergency situation is any incident that poses an immediate threat to
human health or safety or which may result in serious property damage.
A teacher or other school employee having knowledge of any emergency situation shall
immediately notify or cause to be notified both the Lexington Police Department (911) and
the Principal or Assistant Principal. This requirement is in addition to any procedures
outlined in the school's student handbook, administrative manual, and/or School
Committee policy manual.
Where an emergency exists and there is an immediate need to avert or diffuse certain
unusual conditions or disruptions in the school setting, the school will provide all necessary
information to law enforcement personnel regarding the students at issue. (See§
99.31(a)(10) of the FERPA regulations.)
D. Reporting Procedures for Non-Emergency Situations
A teacher or other school employee who has reasonable grounds to believe that a student
has committed an act categorized as a Mandatory Reportable Incident, shall promptly: (1)
report the incident and names of any involved persons to the appropriate Designated
School Liaison, and (2) notify the Designated School Liaison of the existence of any physical
evidence and take reasonable steps to maintain any pertinent physical evidence in a secure
place.
E. Responsibilities of Designated School Liaisons)
Once a Designated School Liaison has been made aware of a Mandatory Reportable
Incident, it is her/his responsibility to:
• Timely notify the Designated Police Liaison and, when appropriate, the
parents/guardians of the involved student(s);
• Timely notify the Designated Police Liaison of the existence of pertinent physical
evidence and take reasonable steps to maintain it in a secure place; and
• Timely notify the Designated Police Liaison of any written reports about the incident.
F. Responsibilities of SRO/Designated Police Liaisons)
Absent a public safety emergency, the Principal or his/her designee alone has control of the
school building at any given time, police officers shall report to the main office upon
entering a Lexington Public School. The Principal's foreknowledge of police presence in the
building can do much to facilitate the school's operation and still prevent escalation of any
existing situation requiring police response.
SROs shall not serve as school disciplinarians, as enforcers of school regulations, or in place
of licensed school mental health professionals and shall not use police powers to address
traditional school discipline issues, including non-violent disruptive behavior.
When the police have assumed responsibility in a criminal investigation, the police naturally
are the decision-makers concerning that investigation. The Principal or Designated School
Liaison shall convey to those authorities his or her best assessment of the situation which
may not be apparent to the police. The Principal or Designated School Liaison will not
interfere with a criminal investigation once it has been initiated.
It is the goal of the Lexington Police Department to meet the needs of all its community's
children and youth. In collaboration with the Lexington Public Schools, the SRO/Designated
Police Liaison will attempt to identify those students who may be at risk for problematic or
unsafe behavior and link them to the support and services they need (e.g., mental health
services, drug and alcohol counseling). In this endeavor, the SRO/Designated Police Liaison
will seek to assist families by offering to develop an action plan that is tailored to meet the
unique needs of the student.
G. Arrests of Students
Whenever possible, arrests of students will be attempted outside of school buildings and in
compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures separately established by the Chief of
Police and Superintendent pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, § 37P.
H. Emergency Mental Health Issues
The parties recognize the importance of utilizing the expertise of mental health
professionals in addressing the needs of students with behavioral and emotional difficulties
in crisis situations and agree that examination by a qualified mental health professional is
the preferred mechanism for evaluating a student experiencing a mental health crisis.
Occasionally, the public schools encounter a student in crisis who requires emergency
psychiatric treatment. The law provides for involuntary commitment of such individuals if,
in the judgment of a qualified mental health professional, the failure to hospitalize such an
individual would create a likelihood of serious harm to himself or others by reason of
mental illness. In such circumstances, the individual may be restrained while an application
for involuntary hospitalization is sought. It is the policy of the Lexington Police Department
to seek a qualified mental health professional but, if unavailable, the law provides that a
police officer may restrain such individual and apply for involuntary hospitalization. See
M.G.L. c. 123, §12(a).
The parties therefore agree as follows:
• The school's medical personnel will initiate any requests for a Section 12 involuntary
commitment, unless there is an immediate risk of harm to the student or others in
which case the police department shall be contacted and assume responsibility for
initiating commitment proceedings
• The school will seek alternate emergency response, if available (e.g., from an
Emergency Services Program), for an immediate clinical assessment of the student in
crisis before seeking the intervention of the police department
~ If intervention by the police is necessary, the school will notify the police at the
earliest possible opportunity so as to coordinate efforts, minimize disruption at
school, and maintain privacy for the student involved to the extent possible
~ When an assessment of a student is made for possible involuntary commitment,
referrals for follow-up mental health services shall be made by the school's clinical
team
Integrating SRO into School Community
The Lexington Police Department and Lexington Public Schools acknowledge that proper
integration of the SRO into the school environment, including the educational process,
instructional classroom, and staff and school safety meetings, can help build trust,
relationships, and strong communication among the SRO, students, and school personnel.
The Lexington Public Schools shall be responsible for ensuring that the SRO is formally
introduced to the school community, including students, parents, and staff. The introduction
shall include information about the SRO's role and responsibilities and how the SRO and the
school community can work together, including how and when the SRO is available for
meetings and how and when the school community can submit questions, comments, and
constructive feedback about the SRO's work. The SRO shall also have the opportunity to hear
from students and teachers about the climate of their school.
The SRO shall regularly be invited to and attend staff meetings, assemblies, and other staff and
school convening's as appropriate. The SRO shall be considered and invited to participate in
other educational and instructional activities, such as classroom instruction for appropriate
topics. The SRO shall not be utilized for support staffing, such as hall monitor, substitute
teacher, or cafeteria duty.
The SRO shall participate in any school-based emergency management planning. The SRO shall
also participate in the work of any school threat assessment team, but only to extent that such
work involves serious criminal conduct that poses a real threat of harm to physical or
psychological well-being or property, consistent with the role of the SRO. The collaborative
work set forth in this paragraph shall allow the SRO to have meaningful input based on the
SRO's safety planning expertise.
VII. Security Cameras in Schools*
The Lexington Public Schools works to maintain a safe and secure environment for its students,
staff, visitors, and facilities. Security means more than having locks and making certain that
doors are locked at the proper times. Security also means minimizing fire hazards, reducing the
possibility of faulty equipment, keeping records and valuables in a safe place, protection against
vandalism and burglary, the prosecution of vandals, and developing crisis plans.
In pursuit of this objective, the Lexington Public Schools authorizes the use of security cameras
in school district buildings and on its property to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of all
students, staff, and visitors, to deter theft, vandalism and other negative behavior, to safeguard
district buildings, grounds, and equipment, and to monitor unauthorized individuals in or on
school property. Security cameras may be used in locations as deemed appropriate by the
Superintendent of Schools in consultation with school officials as well as local law enforcement
and emergency response agencies. They may be used in any area, inside or outside of school
buildings where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.
The district shall notify students and staff through student and employee handbooks and
appropriate signage that security cameras have been installed and may be used at any time.
Those who are observed on video recordings to have violated school policies or procedures
may be subject to disciplinary action.
The Superintendent shall ensure that proper procedures are in place and are followed
regarding use, viewing, disclosure, retention, disposal and security of video recordings or
photographs from security cameras in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. A video
recording used for security purposes in school district buildings and/or on school property shall
be the sole property of the school district. All video recordings will be stored in their original
format and secured to avoid tampering and to ensure confidentiality in accordance with
applicable laws and regulations. Access to video recordings from security cameras shall be
limited to school administrators (Superintendent/designee, SchoolPrincipal/designee). Law
enforcement and emergency response officials shall be granted access to video recordings or
the security system after giving prior notice to the school Superintendent/designee.
The Superintendent may, from time to time, issue further guidance that is consistent with
current laws and this policy.
*SOURCE: Massachusetts Association of School Committees
VIII. Data Collection and Reporting
The parties agree to collect and report data regarding school-based arrests, citations and court
referrals of students to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ("DESE") in
accordance with regulations promulgatedby DESE pursuant to G.L. c. 71, § 37P. The parties
understand that such data will be collected and published by DESE in a disaggregated form and
made available for public view.
IX. Effective Date and Duration of Agreement
This agreement shall be effective as of the date of signing. It should be reviewed at least
annually (before the start of the school year) and amended as necessary to meet the needs of
the parties. This agreement will remain in full force and effect until amended or until such time
as either party withdraws from the agreement by delivering written notification of such
recession to the other party.
Signed on this _~ day of ~ , 2018.
~~~~
Su rintendent of Schools
Si ned on this ~ g (~ day of ~~e~+t-mbe.~, 2018.
!~f~ ~~'~
Chief of ice
APPENDIX A
ROLE OF THE OFFICE OF 7HE MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY
In the spirit of enhancing communication between the district attorney, law enforcement, and
school officials and to assist the Lexington Public Schools in providing a safe, secure, violence-
free, and nurturing environment for learning and in accordance with the legislative mandates
set forth in G.L. c, 12, § 32, c, 71, §§ 37H and 371/2H, among others, the Middlesex District
Attorney, through her designees, agrees to:
(1) Report to the school any criminal or delinquency complaint fihat is issued against a
defendant or Juvenile who is known to be a student of the Lexington Public Schools
(2) Consult with the Lexington Pu'bl'ic,Sehools and ~h~e Lexington Police Department when
fashioning proposed terms and conditions to be imposed upon a known student of the
Lexington Public Schools at both the pre-adjudication and post-adjudication stages of
the prosecution
(3) Report to the school any adjudication of delinquency or conviction, diversion or other
significant occurrence that arises from any above criminal or delinquency proceeding;
The Middlesex District Attorney agrees to provide training to the Middlesex District Attorney's
Office ("MDAO") staff to Inform them of their roles and responsibilities under this agreement.
On an an-going basis, the same training will be provided to new staff members.
The MDAO will not disclose a student`s personally identifiable information learned during
and/or in relation to a G,L, c. 12, § 32 community based justice meeting to a third party other
than another juvenile justice system agency and/or as provided by state and federal law.
~(,l/}+~{- A~w~,J • ~I ~-- `ill c~J 1 d~
Marian T. Ryan Date
Middlesex District Attorney