For access to the Google document, click here.

Policy EBCC

Bomb Threats

The Board recognizes that bomb threats are a significant concern to the school unit.  Whether real and carried out or intended as a prank or for some other purpose, a bomb  threat represents a potential danger to the safety and welfare of students and staff and to  the integrity of school property. Bomb threats disrupt the instructional program and  learning environment and also place significant demands on school financial resources  and public safety services. These effects occur even when such threats prove to be false.  

Any bomb threat will be regarded as an extremely serious matter and treated accordingly.  The Board directs the Superintendent to react promptly and appropriately to information  concerning bomb threats and to initiate or recommend suitable disciplinary action.  

  1. Conduct Prohibited 

  • No person shall make, or communicate by any means, whether verbal or non verbal, a threat that a bomb has been, or will be, placed on school premises.  Because of the potential for evacuation of the schools and other disruption of  school operations, placement of a bomb or of a “look-alike” bomb on school  premises will be considered a threat for the purpose of this policy.  

  • It is also a violation of Board policy to communicate by any means that any toxic  or hazardous substance or material has been placed, or will be placed, on school  premises with the intent to endanger the safety and welfare of students or staff  and/or to disrupt the operations of the schools. For the purpose of this policy,  “toxic or hazardous substance or material” means any material or substance,  including biomedical materials or organisms, that, when placed as threatened,  could be harmful to humans.  

  1. Definitions 

  • A “bomb” means an explosive, incendiary or poison gas bomb, grenade,  rocket, missile, mine, “Molotov cocktail” or other destructive device.  

  • A “look-alike bomb” means any apparatus or object that conveys the  appearance of a bomb or other destructive device.  

  • A “bomb threat” is the communication, by any means, whether verbal or  non-verbal, that a bomb has been or will be, placed on school premises,  including possession or placement of a bomb or look-alike bomb on school  premises.  

  • “School premises” means any school property and any location where any  school activities may take place.   

  1. Development of Bomb Threat Procedures 

The Superintendent/designee shall be responsible for developing and  implementing procedures specific to bomb threats as part of the school unit’s  Crisis Response Plan. These procedures are intended to inform administrators  and staff of appropriate protocols to follow in the event that a bomb threat is  received and should include provisions to address:  

  • Threat assessment (for the purpose of identifying a response that is in  proportion to the threat, in light of what is necessary to ensure safety);  

  • Building evacuation and re-entry (including selection of potential  alternative sites for those who are evacuated);  

  • Incident “command control” (who is in charge, and when);  

  • Communications contacts and mandatory bomb threat reporting;  

  • Parent notification process;  

  • Training for staff members; and 

  • Support services for students and staff.  

The initial bomb threat procedure will be subject to approval by the Board. The  Superintendent/designee will be responsible for overseeing a review or evaluation  of bomb threat procedures prior to the Board’s required annual approval of the  school unit’s Crisis Response Plan, or following implementation of the procedure  in response to a specific threat.  

  1. Reporting of Bomb Threats 

  • A student who learns of a bomb threat or the existence of a bomb on school  premises must immediately report such information to the building principal,  teacher, the School Resource Officer or other employee in a position of authority. 

  • An employee of the school unit who learns of a bomb threat shall immediately  inform the building administrator. The building administrator shall immediately  take appropriate steps to protect the safety of students and staff in accordance  with the school unit’s bomb threat procedure, as developed under Section C, and  inform the Superintendent of the threat.  

  • All bomb threats shall be reported immediately to the local law enforcement  authority, as provided in the bomb threat procedures.  

  • The Superintendent shall be responsible for reporting any bomb threat to the  Department of Education within two business days of the incident. Reports will  include the name of the school, the date and time of the threat, the medium used  to communicate the threat, and whether or not the perpetrators have been  apprehended.

  1. Student Disciplinary Consequences  

  • Making a bomb threat is a crime under Maine law. Any student suspected of  making a bomb threat shall be reported to law enforcement authorities for  investigation and possible prosecution. Apart from any penalty imposed by law,  and without regard to the existence or status of criminal charges, a student who  makes a bomb threat shall be subject to disciplinary action by the school.  

  • The administration may suspend and/or recommend for expulsion any student  who makes a bomb threat. The making of a bomb threat will be considered  deliberately disobedient and deliberately disorderly within the meaning of 20-A  M.RS.A. § 1001 (9) and will be grounds for expulsion if found necessary for the  peace and usefulness of the school.  

  • In addition, a student who is found after hearing by the Board to have brought a  bomb to school shall be expelled from school for at least one year in accordance  with 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1001(9-A) and Policy JICIA, except that the Superintendent may modify the requirement for expulsion based on individual  circumstances.  

  • A student who has been identified through the PET process as having a disability  and whose conduct in violation of this policy is related to the disability shall be  disciplined as provided in Policy JKF.  

  1. Aiding Other Students in Making Bomb Threats 

  • A student who knowingly encourages, causes, aids or assists another student in  making or communicating a bomb threat shall be subject to the disciplinary  consequences described in Section E of this policy.  

  1. Failure to Report a Bomb Threat 

  • A student who fails to report information or knowledge of a bomb threat or the  existence of a bomb or other destructive device in a school building or on school  property may be subject to disciplinary consequences, which may include  suspension and/or expulsion.  

  1. Staff Disciplinary Consequences 

  • A school system employee who makes or communicates a bomb threat will be  reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities and will be subject to  disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Disciplinary  action taken shall be consistent with collective bargaining agreements, other  employment agreements and Board policies.  

  • A school system employee who fails to report information or knowledge of a  bomb threat or the existence of a bomb on school premises will be subject to  discipline up to and including termination of employment. 

  1. Civil Liability 

  • The school unit reserves the right to bring suit against any individual responsible  for a violation of this policy and to seek restitution and other damages as  permitted by law.  

  1. Lost Instructional Time 

  • Instructional time lost as a result of a bomb threat will be rescheduled at the  earliest appropriate (or: practicable) opportunity, as determined by the  Superintendent within parameters set by the Board.  

  • Time lost may be rescheduled on a weekend or vacation day, or after what would  normally be the last day of the school year, except on days when schools must be  closed as required by law.  

  1. Notification Through Student Handbook 

  • All student handbooks shall address the school unit’s bomb threat policy and  procedures and explain the educational consequences of bomb threats. In  addition, student handbooks shall notify students and parents that bomb threats  violate Board policy and civil and criminal law.  


Legal References: 18 U.S.C. §§ 921;8921  

17-A M.R.S.A. § 210  

20-A M.R.S.A. §§ 263; 1001(9); 1001(9-A); 1001(17); 1001(18)  


Cross References: EBCA – Crisis Response Plan  

JKD – Suspension of Students  

JKE – Expulsion of Students  

JKF – Suspension/Expulsion of Students with Disabilities   JICIA – Weapons, Violence and School Safety   Student Code of Conduct  


Adopted: Prior to 1985  

Revised: September, 2002  

Revised: September 9, 2002 

*Please excuse any formatting errors.