It is the policy of the Bremerton School District Board of Directors that the District maintains a safe learning environment while treating all students with dignity and respect. All students in the District, including those with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), or plan developed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, will remain free from the unreasonable restraint, restraint devices, isolation and other uses of physical force. Under no circumstances will these techniques be used as a method of discipline.
Use of restraint, isolation and other forms of reasonable force may be used when necessary to prevent or minimize imminent bodily injury to self or others. Restraint and other uses of physical force may be used to protect district property if de-escalation interventions have failed or are inappropriate.
Use of restraint, isolation, and other forms of reasonable force may be used on any student when reasonably necessary to control spontaneous behavior that poses an “imminent likelihood of serious harm” as defined by RCW 70.96B.010 and explained in the procedure accompanying this policy. Serious harm includes physical harm to self, another, or district property. Staff will closely monitor such actions to prevent harm to the student and will use the minimum amount of restraint and isolation appropriate to protect the safety of students and staff. The restraint, isolation, and other forms of reasonable force will be discontinued when the likelihood of serious harm has dissipated. If the parent and the District determine that a student with an IEP or 504 plan requires advanced educational planning, the parent and the District may develop emergency response protocols to be used in the case of emergencies that pose an imminent likelihood of serious harm.
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