School Safety Law Blog – Page 108 – News and Information for School Safety

Safety Law News for October 13, 2015

by Bernie James • October 13, 2015

In Indiana, the Governor announced he will add $3.5 million to the school safety budget. The decision represents a shift in policy for the governor, who cut funding to the program by 65 percent earlier in the year.

In Wyoming, the prosecutor of the City of Cody is implementing a collaborative diversion program. Under the program, agency representatives from the Department of Family Services, county youth probation and two school resource officers meet once a week to discuss citations and reports involving juveniles to determine an appropriate resolution.

In Georgia, the court system and schools in Clayton County are working together so that minor cases of delinquency are handled by the schools.

In Colorado, the University of Colorado-Boulder is implementing an emotional health and well-being curriculum to train teachers in 32 middle schools to identify and respond to the mental health issues of their students.

Safety Law News for October 9, 2015

by Bernie James • October 9, 2015

In Alabama, Calhoun County Schools now use dogs to find guns and drugs on campus. There were four drug arrests the first week the dogs were used, with some students turning themselves in.

In North Carolina, officials in New Hanover County have signed an interagency agreement aimed at keeping kids in school and out of court except for the most serious behavior. The agreement includes a broad group of agencies – law enforcement, school officials, counselors, social services and mental health agencies and community groups.

In Delaware, the Omnibus School Safety Act creates a formal statewide framework for school safety plans. This is the first year that every Delaware public school is using a comprehensive safety plan to prepare for potential emergency situations, ranging from armed intruders to natural disasters.

In Nevada, Senate Bill 144 has become law. Under its provisions, drivers will pay double fines if they violate new traffic laws for school zones and school crossing zones throughout the entire state.

Safety Law News for October 6, 2015

by Bernie James • October 6, 2015

In Utah, a new school safety communications platform has been created. The system is called DIR-S. It incorporates a floor plan of the school and an instant messaging platform that allows all faculty and staff in the building with a computer, cell phone or tablet to instantly communicate.

In Arkansas, school officials and police officers in the Springdale School District are expanding an anti-gang education program to all fifth- and seventh-graders. The Gang Resistance Education and Training program teaches lessons focus on life skills, including making good choices, and give children a chance to interact with police officers.

In Florida, the city of Winter Garden has removed its school resource officers. The city says it is paying too much for school resource officers.

In Texas, the Hutto Independent School District has installed a new emergency management and crisis preparedness system. “Rapid Responder” is a site-based crisis management system that provides school administrators and first responder’s instant access to site-specific emergency response information.

Safety Law News for October 2, 2015

by Bernie James • October 2, 2015

In Alabama, a federal judge has ruled that the use of pepper spray by Birmingham school resource officers in city high schools for non-violent minor incidents was unconstitutional. [J.W. v. Birmingham Board of Education]

The U.S. Department of Education is requiring every public school in the nation to report data on school discipline in order to determine the scope of any civil rights violations against minority and special education students.

In Beaufort County, South Carolina, data on school discipline shows that there were 110 criminal citations given to middle school students last year, a majority of those for assault.

In San Diego County, California, a dozen school districts will soon have School Resource Officers and Truancy Intervention Probation Officers on campus under a new program to reduce violence and truancy.

Safety Law News for September 29, 2015

by Bernie James • September 29, 2015

In Virginia, the Montgomery County Public Schools is ordering police officers not to use their body cameras on school property, no matter what the circumstance until a policy agreement can be worked out.

In Massachusetts, students at Worcester high schools are crying foul over a new policy that prohibits the wearing of hoodies.

In Washington State, last week students in the Mercer Island School District were banned from playing the popular childhood game of tag on the playground. After complaints, the policy was abrogated.

In Pennsylvania, the Dallas School District is implementing a Safety Patrol Program that uses fifth-grade students to provide extra eyes and ears on school buses.

Safety Law News for September 22, 2015

by Bernie James • September 22, 2015

In California, the Court of Appeal ruled that school officials have the authority to ask a school resource officer to search a student based upon reasonable suspicion. In the case a combination of facts created reasonable suspicion, including the student being caught on campus cutting class and having gang-style writing on his notebook. [In re Henry J.]

In New York, the Supreme Court ruled that school officials are not liable for injuries to a student sustained by bullying unless they had actual or constructive notice of prior conduct to place them on notice. [Maldari v. Mount Pleasant Cent. School Dist.] and [Emmanuel B. v. City of New York].

In New Hampshire, the Supreme Court ruled that a failure by school officials to comply with school bullying policy does not create a private right of action to sue the school district for injuries to a student. New Hampshire law gives educators immunity from this type of lawsuit. [Gauthier v. Manchester School District].

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