Restraint and Seclusion

Hi Everyone,

Please make sure you read the district policy on Restraint and Seclusion, and follow the policy closely.  To make this easier for you, I've copied and pasted it here.

Generally speaking, only staff who have received the Crisis Management Intervention training should restrain a child.  This includes, principal, support staff, special educators, and SEAs.

Dial 0 and request behavior support before attempting to restrain a child in any way, unless there is an immediate threat of physical injury to the student or someone else.

Thank you for helping to make this a safe school for all.

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District Policy 4221

Use of Restraint and/or Seclusion

School discipline requires the guidance of pupils in a way which permits the orderly and efficient operation of the school. The BOARD does not condone the use of, restraint or seclusion by employees when dealing with pupils, and corporal punishment and unreasonable use of physical force are expressly prohibited. The BOARD recognizes, however, that it may be necessary for school personnel to use reasonable and appropriate restraint and/or seclusion when a student’s behavior presents a clear, present, and imminent risk to the physical safety of the student or others and it is the least restrictive intervention feasible.

PROCEDURE

CONDUCT

4221 Pupils

Use of Restraint and/or Seclusion

1. Reasonable Use of Restraint:
   1. Reasonable restraint may be used by school personnel when necessary to restrain, remove, or disarm pupils whose behavior presents a clear, present, and imminent risk to the physical safety of the pupil or others.
   2. Restraint is necessary only when it is the least restrictive intervention feasible.
   3. In determining whether the use of restraint is reasonable and necessary, all circumstances surrounding the incident shall be considered, including without limitation, the seriousness of the problem and the threat posed by the pupil, and the availability and use of other means of intervention not involving the use of restraint.
   4. The degree of force used and the duration of the restraint shall not exceed the degree and duration that are reasonable and necessary to resolve the clear, present, and imminent risk to the physical safety of the pupil or others.
2. Training related to the use of restraint:
   1. Except in circumstances set forth in 2.b., no District employee shall engage in restraint unless he or she has received training in the use of restraint.
   2. A District employee who has not received training in the use of restraint may engage in restraint only in an emergency and only if a District employee who has been trained in the use of restraint is not immediately available due the unforeseen nature of the emergency.
3. Reasonable Use of Seclusion:
   1. Seclusion may be used on a pupil if the pupil’s behavior presents a clear, present, and imminent risk to the physical safety of the pupil or others and is the least restrictive intervention feasible.
   2. Seclusion may be used only if a District employee maintains constant supervision of the pupil.
   3. Seclusion may be used only if the area or room used for seclusion is free of objects or fixtures that may injure the pupil.
   4. If a pupil is secluded in a room, no door connecting the room may be capable of being locked.
   5. If a student is secluded the pupil must have adequate access to bathroom facilities, drinking water, necessary medication, and regularly scheduled meals and the duration of the seclusion is only as long as necessary to resolve the clear, present, and imminent risk to the physical safety of the pupil or others.
4. Reasonable use of physical intervention:
   1. Physical intervention may be used on a pupil if the pupil’s behavior presents a clear, present, and imminent risk to the physical safety of the pupil or others and is the least restrictive intervention feasible.
   2. In determining whether the use of physical intervention is reasonable and necessary, all circumstances surrounding the incident shall be considered, including without limitation, the seriousness of the problem and the threat posed by the pupil, and the availability and use of other means of intervention not involving the use of physical intervention.
   3. Examples of physical intervention that could be reasonable and necessary include, but are not limited to, the following:
      1. Using physical intervention to quell a disturbance or prevent an act that threatens physical injury to any person;
      2. Using physical intervention to obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous object within a pupil’s control;
      3. Using physical intervention for the purpose of self defense or the defense of others;
      4. Using physical intervention to prevent a pupil from inflicting harm on himself or herself.
5. Corporal Punishment and Unreasonable Use of Physical Intervention Prohibited:
   1. The unreasonable use of physical intervention occurs as a result of using physical intervention (1) when it is not necessary to use such physical intervention, or (2) when it is no longer necessary to use such physical intervention.
   2. Corporal punishment is the unreasonable and unnecessary use of physical intervention. It is defined as the intentional infliction of physical pain which is used as a means of discipline.
   3. Corporal punishment and the unreasonable use of physical intervention are prohibited.
   4. Examples of corporal punishment and the unreasonable use of physical intervention are as follows:
      1. Slapping;
      2. Paddling;
      3. Punching;
      4. Kicking;
      5. Pinching;
      6. Prolonged maintenance of physically painful position.
6. Reporting:
   1. Each incident of restraint or seclusion shall be reported to the Building Principal as soon as practicable after the incident of restraint or seclusion has ended.
   2. Each incident of restraint or seclusion shall be reported to a student’s parent no later than one business day after the incident.
   3. Each incident of restraint or seclusion shall be documented by school personnel in a written report within 2 days after the incident.
   4. Annually by September 1, beginning on September 1, 2013, each Principal shall submit to the Board of Education a report containing all the following:
      1. The total number of incidents of restraint and seclusion during the previous school year.
      2. The total number of pupils who were involved in incidents of restraint or seclusion.
      3. The number of children with disabilities who were involved in incidents of restraint or seclusion.
7. Definitions:
   1. In this Policy the following definitions apply:
      1. Restraint - a restriction that immobilizes or reduces the ability of a pupil to freely move his or her torso, arms, legs or head. The definition of restraint does not include briefly touching a pupil’s hand, arm, shoulder or back to calm, comfort, or redirect the pupil.
      2. Seclusion - involuntary confinement of a pupil, apart from others, in a room or area from which the pupil is physically prevented from leaving. The definition of seclusion does not include the following:
         1. Directing a pupil who is disruptive to temporarily separate himself or herself from the general activity in the classroom to allow the pupil to regain behavioral control and the employee to maintain or regain classroom order if the pupil is not confined to an area from which he or she is physically prevented from leaving.
         2. Directing a pupil to temporarily remain in the classroom to complete tasks while other pupils participate in activities outside the classroom if the pupil is not physically prevented from leaving the classroom.