School Safety Law Blog – Page 105 – News and Information for School Safety

Safety Law News for March 10, 2015

by Bernie James • March 10, 2015

In Richmond, Virginia, officials have declared Martin Luther King Middle School a hostile environment for teachers. Last year the school had 1635 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses. Lack of order and discipline are said by one volunteer to be the causes. Of the 40 schools in the district, the school was responsible for 32.6% of the offenses.

In Worcester, Massachusetts, teachers at a high school are planning a protest rally regarding safety concerns after a vice principal at the school sustained a neck injury breaking up a fight between four students at the school.

The South Dakota legislature voted against a safe schools proposal that would require South Dakota schools to have a plan for potential violent incidents such as a school shooting.

New York City officials have revised school policy on student cell phones in schools. Students now are allowed to carry cell phones onto campus, but must only use the devices with permission.

by Bernie James • March 5, 2015

In Rowan County, North Carolina, the average rate of crime or violence per 100 students in public schools is the lowest the rate recorded since 2010. School officials are attributing the safe climate to having a school resource officer on campus.

Statewide in Florida, delinquent arrests have been trending down. A report by the Department of Juvenile Justice found that for the past five years there has been a steady decrease in arrests over that time. Broward County saw a 51 percent drop in school arrests.

Statewide in Colorado, since medical marijuana stores opened widely in 2010, drug incidents are the only major category of conduct violations that rose in Colorado school districts. Middle schools had the highest percentage increase in drug violations.

The Connecticut legislature has introduced legislation that will require local and regional boards of education to enter into memorandum of understanding with law enforcement agencies concerning the use of law enforcement personnel as school resource officers in schools. The legislation requires annual data gathering on school suspensions, out of school suspensions and expulsions, and school based arrests by school, race, ethnicity, gender, age, students with disabilities and type of offense.

by Bernie James • February 20, 2015

In North Carolina, an annual study consistently finds that wealthier counties are able to spend more on the needs of schools because of the manner in which the state distributes funding. The study concludes that students living in poorer counties will have lower levels of investment in their schools than students living in the wealthier counties.

In Oklahoma, Tulsa Public Schools will start a new proactive initiative in elementary and middle schools using D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. strategies to educate Tulsa’s children in drug abuse, gang resistance and life skills.

In Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto announced policy recommendations from the Education Task Force aimed at strengthening collaboration between the city and Pittsburgh Public Schools.

by Bernie James • February 17, 2015

Five of Idaho’s universities and community colleges have spent more than $1.5 million to beef up security after the law allowing concealed weapons on campuses was approved, and the schools expect total costs to top $3.7 million for the year.

In Charleston, West Virginia, a high school principal has been suspended and charged with a crime for failing to notify police immediately to report an alleged sexual assault at his school.

In Virginia, an Isle of Wight school resource officer has been charged with sexual battery and indecent liberties with a minor after a high school student complained he touched her inappropriately.

In Kentucky, a Louisville school resource officer is arrested after detectives say surveillance cameras caught him punching a teen at school and placing another in a choke-hold.

by Bernie James • February 10, 2015

In Arizona, a recent study found that more than 80 percent of playgrounds in Tucson’s largest school district have dangerous conditions. This comes after the school district’s settlement offer to pay $175,000 to the family of a student injured at school, as well as another pending case involving a traumatic brain injury from another a playground accident.

In Maine, the records of school bus inspections by the state show that from 65% to 90% of the buses failed the safety inspection. The Maine Department of Education plans to replace about a hundred buses this year.

In Michigan, the Michigan school safety initiative OK2SAY! received more than 400 tips in its first semester of operation. OK2SAY! allows student to use phone, text, web, and email to submit confidential reports of possible threats to students, teachers and other school staff. 163 of the tips involved bullying and cyberbullying.

In Wyoming, legislation that would allow people with concealed-gun permits to carry firearms into public schools won easy approval from the Wyoming House of Representatives. If enacted, Wyoming would join seven other states (Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin) that allow individuals with concealed-carry licenses to bring their weapons onto school property.

by Bernie James • February 3, 2015

In Houston, Texas, students at Jack Yates Senior High School say their campus is not safe and felt compelled to do something. So they staged a walkout to emphasize their request for two additional police officers on the campus.

In Maryland, a Baltimore County legislator, is hoping his bill to put an armed officer in every public school will prevent a shooting like the ones at Columbine or Sandy Hook.

In Indiana, the South Bend school board’s safety committee recommended that the practice of student ticketing continue. The biggest disruption in the schools is physical violence. This recommendation affirms an earlier conclusion reached by the committee that the citations are an effective deterrent.

The U.S. Department of Education has released a new guide for educators on ways to identify and help prevent child trafficking in schools. The guide includes information about risk factors, recruitment, and how to identify trafficking.