The Octorara Area School District Board voted Dec. 8 to remove a "safe harbor" provision from the high school student/parent handbook that had allowed certain minor tool-related situations to be handled informally.

Board members questioned whether the provision, originally intended to protect students who inadvertently bring tool-type items used in CTE programs, could create ambiguity about what constitutes a weapon. A board member asked whether the provision could permit inadvertent cases to be treated differently; administrators and the safety director responded that the district needs handbook language consistent with board policy and recent state guidance requiring that all weapon violations be reported to the community.

The superintendent and director of safety/security recommended removing the provision to avoid ambiguity. They said existing board policy does allow the superintendent discretion in exceptional circumstances, but the handbook language did not define "weapon" clearly enough and could be misapplied. The board approved the handbook change by voice vote after discussion.

The change is intended to align local handbook language with board policy and state reporting requirements, not to eliminate the district’s ability to consider context in exceptionally limited cases, the administration said. The board also noted the new state guidance increases reporting obligations for weapon-related incidents.