All Marana Schools have been declared to be Drug and Gun-Free School Zones.  Under federal and state laws, anyone found to be in possession of prohibited substances or firearms in a Drug-Free or a Gun-Free Zone is subject to stiff penalties that are in addition to any other federal, state or local penalties. 

Marana's Drug and Gun-Free Zones cover all school campuses and certain adjacent areas. Do not bring prohibited substances or firearms into these areas at any time.

All Marana Unified School District campuses are “tobacco free.”  The use of any tobacco product is not permitted at any time while on District property.

Arizona Revised Statute 36-798.03 - TOBACCO PRODUCTS PROHIBITION AT SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL RELATED AREAS

            A.      Tobacco products are prohibited on school grounds, inside school buildings, in school parking lots or playing fields, in school buses or vehicles or at off-campus school sponsored events.  For purposes of this subsection, “school” means any public, charter or private school where children attend classes in kindergarten programs or grades one through twelve.

            B.      A person who violates this section is guilty of a petty offense.

Prohibited items include permanent markers, cigarette lighters, matches, anything containing mercury or other hazardous materials, laser devices, pocket knives, water balloons, water guns or any other water object, and any items that have the potential to inflict harm. Students found in possession of prohibited items will be charged according to the Marana Schools Discipline Policy.

The Marana Unified School District considers the safety and health of students and staff to be our highest priority. The District and every Marana school has a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan, aligned with state and national school safety protocols, which provides step-by-step guidelines for maximizing safety, efficiency, and communication. Emergency drills are regularly planned and provide the opportunity to practice preparation and safety procedures, ensuring students and staff are aware of all processes including where to report and what to do in the event of an emergency.

Should an emergency or disaster situation ever arise in our area while school is in session, your student will be cared for at their home school.

Parent/guardian cooperation is necessary in any emergency. In order to ensure that students and staff follow all guidelines associated with required emergency procedures:

• Parents/guardians are requested to not contact the school or their student during an emergency to keep phone lines free for emergency use.
• Parents/guardians are requested to not come to the school during an emergency since students will not be released while emergency procedures are in effect. 
• Parents/guardians will be contacted by school personnel in an emergency situation directly involving their student.
• If you speak with your student on a cell phone remind them of the importance of following the directions of their teachers and public safety officials.
• An emergency situation may require students to be relocated to a location different from their home school. The other district schools serve as relocation sites.

In an emergency situation, information will be provided via email, phone or possibly text message, on the maranausd.org website, and through the news media.

Students will only be released to parent(s) or authorized individuals identified on the student’s MUSD Health/Emergency Information Form. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the school during the year if there are any changes to this information.

Please consider the following criteria when designating another person to pick up your student at school:

• At least 18 years of age
• Usually home during the day
• Known to the child
• Able to assume this responsibility
• Possesses a picture ID

There shall be no hazing, solicitation to engage in hazing, or aiding and abetting another who is engaged in hazing of any person enrolled, accepted for or promoted to enrollment, or intending to enroll or be promoted to schools within twelve (12) calendar months. For purposes of this policy a person as specified above shall be considered a "student" until graduation, transfer, promotion or withdrawal from the school.

Definitions

"Hazing" means any intentional, knowing or reckless act committed by a student, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against another student and in which both of the following apply:

• The act was committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with or the maintenance of membership in any organization that is affiliated with an educational institution.
• The act contributes to a substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm or degradation, or causes physical injury, mental harm or personal degradation.

"Organization" means an athletic team, association, order, society, corps, cooperative, club, or similar group that is affiliated with an educational institution and whose membership consists primarily of students enrolled at that educational institution.

It is no defense to a violation of this policy if the victim consented or acquiesced to hazing.  In accord with statute, violations of this policy do not include either of the following:

• Customary athletic events, contests or competitions that are sponsored by an educational institution.
• Any activity or conduct that furthers the goals of a legitimate educational curriculum, a legitimate extracurricular program or a legitimate military training program. All students, teachers and staff shall take reasonable measures within the scope of their individual authority to prevent violations of this policy.

The most important responsibility of every professional educator is protecting the welfare of the students in his/her care.  The purpose of Arizona’s mandatory reporting law, A.R.S. § 13-3620, is to ensure the safety of children.  Therefore, educators within the Marana Unified School District take their duty to report possible situations of child abuse very seriously.  All MUSD staff are required to participate in extensive training regarding District policy and Arizona’s mandatory reporting law.  Below is a brief overview regarding Arizona’s mandatory reporting law, which governs personnel of the Marana Unified School District.  

A.R.S. § 13-3620 states that “any person who reasonably believes that a minor is or has been the victim of physical injury, abuse, child abuse, a reportable offense or neglect that appears to have been inflicted on the minor by other than accidental means. . .shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of this information” to law enforcement or Child Protective Services.  If the suspected abuser does not have care, custody or control of the minor, the report shall be made to law enforcement only.

Recent changes in the law no longer require educators to have visible evidence of abuse.  Educators may form a reasonable belief that abuse has occurred based on their own observations, information provided by the student, or information provided by a third party.  It is not the responsibility of the educator to investigate in order to determine that abuse has occurred; rather, the educator is responsible to make the report to those agencies that have the legal responsibility to investigate and make such a determination.

If an educator makes a report regarding possible abuse, it is the responsibility of law enforcement or CPS, not the educator, to contact the child’s parents about the incident.  Additionally, any inquiries about the situation will be referred to law enforcement or CPS.  School personnel cannot release written documentation regarding a situation being investigated.

In the event that a report ever needs to be made to authorities regarding possible abuse of your child, please be assured that the first priority of educators is the well-being of your child.