Chapter 19
Overview
The Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness Branch is responsible for the security of Department campuses. Our schools and state offices are secured as best as possible to prevent theft, vandalism, trespassing and acts of violence. Annual training is provided for all security personnel with continued research into security best practices and the latest technology.
School and student safety is a responsibility for all involved — administrators, staff, teachers, students, families, law enforcement and the broader community. Safety and security are necessary in order for learning to take place.
Chapter 19
In order to keep our schools safe, rules have been established relating to student misconduct; these rules also govern searches of students and seizures of property. Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 19, are derived from state law. It's important that students and parents review this information to be aware of the consequences of a Chapter 19 violation. We offer the document in these languages:
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Safety on and off campus
We are fortunate to live in Hawaii, where incidents of violence and threatening behaviors in schools are fewer than for our Mainland counterparts. (See the Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information.)
Police will be engaged when there is real or perceived danger involving our students or campuses; see more on this in the "Threats of violence" section below. Administrators and staff will initiate safety protocols when incidents happen on campus, and facilitate communication with families, community groups and law enforcement when incidents involving students happen off campus.
Families should speak with their children about basic safety measures when they are out in public and do not have a trusted adult nearby:- Stay away from strangers, do not talk to or take anything from them.
- Don’t go anywhere with someone you don’t know. Never accept a ride from a stranger.
- If a stranger approaches you, seek help immediately from a trusted adult.
- Use the buddy system; avoid walking anywhere alone.
- If a stranger grabs you, do whatever it takes to stop the stranger, yell for help.
- Report any suspicious activity to a trusted adult.
- Be alert of your surroundings and let others know where you will be and what time you will be back.
This campaign to increase the peace on school campuses was launched statewide during the 2016-17 school year in part to ensure all students understood the specific consequences of bringing firearms to campus. (View poster.)
Threats of violence
In concert with our law enforcement partners, the community should be aware that threats of violence about our students or campuses, online or otherwise, are criminal. HIDOE Supt. Christina Kishimoto joined Honolulu Police in February 2018 to explain the significant consequences of these threats. Watch here or play the video below. We urge parents and families to have conversations with children about healthy online behaviors. Good resources can be found on the Common Sense Media site here.
School Safety Committees
All schools have a School Safety Committee charged with attaining the following goals. Connect with your school to learn more.- Increasing safety awareness
- Building enthusiasm for safety programs
- Reducing and preventing injuries
Policies and resources to support children
To support and develop the academic achievement, character building and social-emotional well-being of all children, the Board of Education develops policies and the Department cultivates and curates aligned resources for students, employees and the public school system.