School Safety Law Blog – Page 66 – News and Information for School Safety

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Safety Law News for December 17, 2018

by Bernie James • December 17, 2018

In Washington State, the Wenatchee School Board voted unanimously to return a police department-issued rifle to its school resource officer. The rifle was ordered removed earlier by the Superintendent.

In Florida, the public safety commission investigating the Parkland shooting has documented the security lapses and failures during the tragedy. The report found contributing factors to include (1) the poor response by the school resource officer; (2) the surveillance video that was delayed by 26 minutes; and (3) the failure of local officials to collaborate.

In California, Sacramento County officials are more rigorously enforcing drug laws on public school campuses after increasing reports of students under the influence of drugs in three Folsom City high schools.

In Oregon, the Portland Public Schools board voted to enter into a cost-sharing agreement with Portland Police for nine full-time school resource officers. The decision was reached in a re-vote, after the proposal initially failed to gain the votes necessary for passage. Students from a local high school were vocally opposed to the decision.

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Safety Law News for December 12, 2018

by Bernie James • December 12, 2018

In Congress, the House of Representatives has introduced H.R.7209 – “The School Resource Officer Act of 2018.” The bill would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and reauthorize the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services program at $300 million in funding per year through 2022.

In Oregon, the Portland Board of Education is holding a series of hearings with stakeholders on a proposed MOU with the Portland Police Department for a school resource officer program. A summary the input from students ranges from: (1) fear and anxiety when viewing uniformed police; (2) lack of understanding about the role of the SRO; (3) the desire to have a dedicated officer as a means to having a meaningful relationship; (4) the belief that the SRO is the key to campus safety from outsiders; (5) desire to have a voice in the selection of the SRO.

In New York, the Governor signed into law a mandated reporting policy that requires all private schools — including charter schools, state-supported and state-operated schools as well as boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) — to report abuse allegations directly to law enforcement, the child’s parents and the Department of Education. (Bill A08485B).

In West Virginia, officials are considering responses to a report that $100 million is needed to employ the number of mental health workers needed in schools to serve children affected by the ongoing drug epidemic. A study cited by the ACEs Connection, estimates that 26.1 percent of West Virginia children have experienced an adverse childhood experience, compared to 21.7 percent nationwide.

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Safety Law News for November 27, 2018

by Bernie James • November 27, 2018

In Delaware, the Delaware State Education Association believes the number of incidents of violence against teachers is growing. According to the National Center for Education, public school teachers reporting being physically attacked by a student in 2015–16 topped all previous survey years except for 2011-12.

In Illinois, U.S. District Court ruled that an SRO was not entitled to qualified immunity after handcuffing compliant, six-year-old special education student to teach her a lesson. The court ruled that handcuffing was an obvious violation of her Fourth Amendment rights. The court ruled that the student would be allowed to present evidence of school district liability for failure to train because the SRO had never worked in a school before and was told to carry handcuffs; but was not trained. (Wordlow v. Chicago Board of Education; United States District Court, N.D. Illinois, Eastern Division; 2018 WestLaw 6171792. November 26, 2018).

In Colorado, the Longmont Police Department plans to double the number of school resource officers assigned to the city’s middle and high schools under a new interagency agreement with St. Vrain Valley School District. The increase is part of a growing “philosophical belief” in a “proactive approach” to ensuring campus safety.

In New York, official in the Broadalbin-Perth Central School District wants police officers – state, county, local, from anywhere – to come into their schools, so much so they are offering law enforcement free meals when they visit one of its school campuses.

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Safety Law News for November 8, 2018

by Bernie James • November 8, 2018

In Wisconsin, officials in Racine sent a letter to parents and guardians to warn about the severe repercussions of directing threats about the schools on social media. The letter promises to investigate any ominous messages thoroughly and describes the range of sanctions as including suspension, expulsion and possible felony charges. This effort mirrors the attention that school districts in Ohio and Washington State are giving to the issue of school-directed threats.

In Tennessee, officials in Lenoir City are proposing a tax to increase school safety. If approved, the nearly $2 million would help buy metal detectors, alarms and security access. Long term, the tax permanently funds more school resource officers, counselors and behavioral specialists.

In New Jersey, officials in Union County plan to hire retired law enforcement officers to provide school security at the high school, the two middle schools and the largest elementary school. The agreement between the Linden Board of Education and the Linden City Council will establish a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class III program. It is based on state law that authorizes the redeployment of retired officers.

In Georgia, the Fulton County Schools Safety Committee submitted its recommendations to the school board. The committee advised the board to hire 16 additional school police officers and create an online mental health resource center.

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Safety Law News for November 6, 2018

by Bernie James • November 6, 2018

In Pennsylvania, the Tamaqua Area School Board unanimously approved a policy that would allow teachers, administrators and other staff to carry a firearm in school. Tamaqua has never had a uniformed officer. School officials believe arming staff is a better way to go. The teachers union and parents are not in support of the policy.

In Indiana, ever since three children were struck and killed boarding their school bus in Rochester, Indiana, concerns about school bus safety have been heightened. Officials in Hobart, Indiana are implementing the “Stop Arm Violation Campaign.” The policy deploys police officers on school buses with orders to issue citations that require violators to appear in court.

In North Dakota, officials in the Bismarck Public Schools are responding to the increase in student use of e-cigarettes. Armed with data by the Federal Food and Drug Administration that one Juul pod has the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes and that the developing adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to nicotine addiction, educators are issuing citations, educating students, and notifying parents.

In Virginia, the Chesterfield County School district held a School Safety Task Force meeting to discuss ways to keep students safe while in school. One recommendation, to increase the number of law enforcement officers on campus, is not popular with some parents.

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Safety Law News for November 1, 2018

by Bernie James • November 1, 2018

In North Carolina, officials at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction announced that it would require around $688 million more in state funding to hire enough additional nurses, social workers, counselors, psychologists and school resource officers to reach nationally recommended levels to increase school safety.

In Indiana, Portage High School students have signed a petition asking school officials to return Portage police officers as school resource officers. Recently, school officials cut ties with Portage police and began using part-time officers from Porter County and other jurisdictions as SROs. Students say they want the Portage officers rehired because of the relationships students had formed with them during their tenure at the high school.

In Florida, school officials are refusing to arm faculty and staff members under the Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act [SB 7026]. $67 million was to be used solely for what the law calls “school guardians.” But $58 million remains unspent. The Governor and the legislature disagree on whether to divert the funds to provide sworn resource officers.

In Georgia, the Court of Appeals of Georgia held that a high school student, who was called by the school principal to the principal’s office, was not in custody when he admitted to a school resource officer that he choked another student. The court reasoned that Miranda warnings were not required. (State v. Daniell)