Policy 7560

STUDENT WELFARE
7560 NOTIFICATION OF SEX OFFENDERS

In accordance with the Sex Offender Registration Act ("Megan's Law"), the Board supports the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in its effort to inform the community in certain circumstances of the presence of individuals with a history of sex offenses, particularly against children, in the school locality. The District intends to minimize the possibility that any sex offender will come in contact with school-age children, and to assist law enforcement agencies in preventing further criminal activity from occurring. Furthermore, the District will cooperate with local police authorities and the local community in promoting and protecting the safety and well-being of its students.

The District will disseminate all information it receives from local police authorities in conjunction with Megan's Law to designated staff members who might have possible contact with the offender during the course of their school duties. The Superintendent reserves the right to automatically disseminate this information to additional members of the staff, designated supervisors of non-school groups that regularly use District facilities and have children in attendance, parents or guardians of District students, and other community residents who, in the opinion of the Superintendent, have an immediate need to be notified of this data in order to maintain student safety.

All staff members will be informed of the availability of the information received by the District in accordance with Megan's Law upon written request to the applicable building principal or designee or supervisor. Community residents will be notified of the availability of this information, with written requests directed to the District Office. Districts may also choose to provide information to community residents through a link on the District's website to New York State's online Sex Offender Registry.

Staff members must inform their immediate supervisor if they observe within the school building, on school grounds, at school activities, or at or near bus routes any individual whose description matches the information which was provided to the District by local law enforcement authorities. Law enforcement officials will be notified of this information by the District as appropriate.

Information that is disseminated to the District in accordance with Megan's Law may or may not be disclosed by the District in its discretion. Any information the District receives regarding a sex offender from a source other than the Sex Offender Registry, and which is maintained independent of the requirements of Megan's Law, will be available from the District, upon written request, in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).

Special Circumstances Whereby Sex Offenders May Enter Upon School Grounds

As a mandatory condition of the sentence for sex offenders placed on probation or conditional discharge whose victim was under the age of 18 or who has been designated a Level 3 sex offender, the court requires that the sentenced offender refrain from knowingly entering into or upon school grounds or any other facility or institution primarily used for the care or treatment of persons under the age of 18 while one or more of these individuals are present.

However, by exception, a sex offender may enter school grounds or facility with the written authorization of his or her parole officer and the Superintendent for limited authorized purposes. Entrance upon the premises is subject to the following conditions:

a) The offender is a registered student, participant, or employee of the facility;
b) The offender is an employee of an entity contracted by the facility;
c) The offender has a family member enrolled in the facility; or
d) If the school is the offender's designated polling place and he or she enters solely to vote.



Policy References:
Correction Law Article 6-C
Executive Law § 259-c(14)
Penal Law §§ 65.10(4-a) and 140.15
Public Officers Law § 84 et seq.



Adopted: 6/22/99
Revised: 9/6/22

Policy 7560