Safety and Security Policies and Procedures

Emergency School Closings

Throughout the course of the school year, especially in winter, it may be necessary to close school, or delay the opening of school. Blackboard Connect is the communication system that allows us to contact families about school delays, closings, and emergencies. This automated telephone service will automatically call the primary phone number that you register with the school to inform you of a change in the daily school schedule.

Please make every effort to keep the main office informed of any change to this primary telephone number, as it will be the emergency contact number we use for our emergency relay system. In addition, we make every effort to get emergency closing information to local radio and TV stations prior to 7 a.m.

Emergency Drills and Events

The school district is required to have a variety of safety drills throughout the school year. Some of these drills include fire drills, lockdown drills, evacuation drills, and emergency go-home early drills. Parents will notified of some of these drills through our automated phone system, and with information posted to the district website (with the exception of routine fire drills).

It is critical for your child’s safety that parents follow the school’s instructions in the event of an emergency. We encourage parents to watch and listen to our local radio and television stations for information and guidance rather than call the school or students’ personal cell phones. Students do not have access to cell phones for personal use during classes, and in the event of a true emergency, cell phone towers may not be able to handle the large volume of phone calls on its systems.

The school will provide information to public venues such as local radio and television stations as it becomes available.

Pick-up and Release of Students

Parents picking up your child for any reason during the school day or as a change in routine at the end of the day are requested to send in a note that morning. As part of a requirement of Section 3210 of the Education Law, we require a signed note for any change in the normal school routine.

Please inform the school of any person(s) that are allowed to pick up your child. Students will not be allowed to go home without prior consent from parents/guardians. With this in mind, please make sure information stays as current as possible and notify the Main Office of any changes as they occur. The person picking up your child must be prepared to show identification, as well as having your child verify who they are.

In situations where custody is prescribed by the courts, the school will need a copy of any Custody Order or Orders of Protection in order to ensure your child’s safety. Having a copy of these papers will guide us in not releasing your child to a person, who by court order does not have the right to the child.

Student Driving Privileges

Students with a valid driver’s license may be eligible to drive to school and park in the student parking lot. All New York State vehicle and traffic laws must be followed on school property. Students are to park their cars in areas designated for student parking. Violations will result in revocation of driving privileges.

Students who wish to secure a Herkimer High School parking permit must register their vehicle using the appropriate form, and return the required contract with their own signature, as well as that of a parent or guardian.

Parking permit applications are available in the main office.

Parking on school grounds is a PRIVILEGE.  In securing a permit to park on school grounds during the school day, abide by the following guidelines:

• Show courtesy to pedestrians at all times.
• Drivers must exercise caution at all times and observe the campus speed limit of 10 miles per hour as posted.
• Students are not allowed to go out to their vehicles during the school day, unless they are legally excused from campus for the purpose of leaving campus (permit to leave, junior/senior lunch privileges, honors pass, etc.)
• Students may not park in the spaces reserved for the faculty and staff from 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

The school is not responsible for any theft of, damage, or vandalism to a vehicle while on school property. A student parks at his/her own risk and parent(s) hereby agree that the use of the parking lot is at the student’s and parent’s own risk.

School officials who have established reasonable suspicion that dangerous, illegal or unauthorized materials are present in a vehicle may search a vehicle on campus. The school will make an effort to contact the student/owner prior to the search, but may conduct searches founded on reasonable suspicion without notice, consent, or a search warrant.

Activities listed below are prohibited, and violations will result in temporary or permanent loss of a student’s parking permit:

1. Exceeding reasonable speeds otherwise driving recklessly on school grounds.
2. Leaving school grounds without permission.
3. Unauthorized transporting other students off school grounds during the school day.
4. Parking in spaces designated for employees, visitors, handicapped, or in non-spaces [along curbs, etc.].
5. Parking a vehicle without a current parking tag.
6. Remaining in or around the vehicle after parking in the school lot [loitering], or when access when not permitted [i.e. during class hours].
7. Excessive tardiness/unexcused absences.
8. The possession or use of any tobacco product, including but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, e-cigarettes, any device used to simulate smoking, etc.
9. The possession or use of smokeless tobacco product, including but not limited to, snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless pouches, and any other form of smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, etc.
10. The possession or use of drugs or alcohol.
11. Other violations of the school discipline policy.

School Bus Rules

1. Be ready when the bus arrives. The bus driver is on a timed schedule and in unable to wait for students who may not be at the bus stop on time.
2. When crossing a highway before entering or after leaving the bus, do so IN FRONT of the bus, with the driver’s guidance.
3. When entering the bus, immediately be seated in the nearest available or assigned seat.
4. Remain properly seated, facing forward (no leaning out across the aisle or changing seats).
5. Keep the bus aisles clear of backpacks, instruments, etc.
6. Talk quietly and respectfully, without swearing or screaming.
7. No fooling around, harassing, fighting, or bullying is allowed.
8. No eating, drinking, or chewing gum on the bus.
9. No littering, spitting, or smoking on the bus.
10. Keep pens, pencils, and any other objects that may be dangerous in your backpack or book bag.
11. Keep your head and hands inside the bus windows at all times.
12. Obey the driver – the driver is responsible for the safety of all on the bus.

Violations of these rules by the student could result in a bus conduct report with disciplinary consequences, or removal from the bus.

Please note that if there is a problem or concern with your child/children’s pick-up, drop-off or bus driver, your initial contact should be the Transportation Department at 895-4150.

School Hours

The cafeteria area opens at 7 a.m, with breakfast served beginning at 7:30 a.m. Students are not permitted beyond the cafeteria before 7:40 a.m.

If a student arrives to their first class after 7:55 a.m., he or she is considered tardy and must sign in at the front door. Please be aware that chronic tardiness is addressed in the district’s attendance policy.

Students are dismissed at 2:45 p.m. Supervision of students is not provided after 3 p.m., unless a student is staying after to participate in a school-sponsored activity, club, or program. If you pick your child up from school, please arrive at the front parking lot between 2:45 and 3:00 p.m. Do not use or block the front bus loop during school hours.

Public Conduct on School Property

Herkimer High School expects a high standard of conduct from its students, faculty and support staff, as well as visitors to the schools.  The school will enforce a code of conduct which governs the conduct of all persons, whether or not their presence is authorized, upon any premises or property under the control of the district and used in its teaching, administrative, cultural, recreational, athletic, and other programs and activities.

Prohibited Conduct – No person, either alone or with others, shall:

1. use profanity or make obscene gestures, toward any other person:
2. willfully cause or threaten physical injury to any other person:
3. be under the influence, possess, sell or distribute alcohol, illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia;
4. physically restrain or detain any other person; nor remove person from any place where he/she is authorized to remain, except that student maybe restrained as permitted by Commissioner’s Regulations.
5. willfully damage or destroy property of the district or under its jurisdiction, nor remove or use such property without authorization;
6. without permission, expressed or implied, enter into any private office of an administrative officer.
7. enter upon and remain in any building or facility for any purpose other than its authorized uses or in such manner as to obstruct its authorized use by others;
8. others without authorization, remain in any building or facility after it is normally closed;
9. refuse to leave any building or facility after being required to do so by an authorized administrative officer, member of the faculty or staff member;
10. obstruct the free movement of persons and vehicles in any place to which these rules apply;
11. deliberately disrupt or prevent the peaceful and orderly conduct of classes, lectures and meetings or deliberately interfere with the freedom of any person to express his/her views, including invited speakers;
12. knowingly have in his/her possession upon any premises to which these rules apply, any explosives including firecrackers, knife, rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, or other firearm or weapon whether or not a license to possess the same has been issued to such person;
13. no smoking on school grounds;
14. willfully incite others to commit any of the acts herein prohibited with specific intent to procure them to do so; and/or
15. violate any law, regulation or Board policy #7411.