School Safety Law Blog – Page 72 – News and Information for School Safety

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Safety Law News for May 10, 2018

by Bernie James • May 10, 2018

In Missouri, a non-sworn security officer in the St. Louis County schools was arrested and charged with assault for violating school district policy when he used a Taser on an unarmed middle-school student. School district policy of the Normandy Schools Collaborative prohibits anyone other than a law enforcement officer from carrying any weapon capable of deadly use on school grounds.

In Indiana, officials in Lake County, Porter County, and LaPorte County are implementing agreements with local police to give them access to all school buildings using remote keyless entry fobs and swipe-cards. The memorandum of understanding also calls for each officer to be issued a school ID card. Some private schools are planning to join the memorandum.

In South Carolina, the South Carolina House of Representatives unanimously amended the state budget to let retired state workers return to a state job and be exempt from a $10,000 earnings cap on working retirees. The goal is to ease a statewide shortage of teachers and school resource officers.

In Michigan, the House of Representatives passed a set of school safety initiatives. A bipartisan six-bill package would create a school safety commission, establish statewide safety standards for school buildings, require school-based law enforcement training, mandate reporting between schools and police, grade school performance, and provide funds for upgrades. See H.B. 5828; H.B. 5829; H.B. 5830; H.B. 5850; H.B. 5851; H.B. 5852

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Safety Law News for May 8, 2018

by Bernie James • May 8, 2018

In New York, the mayor and the police chief of the City of Syracuse say sworn school resource officers will stay in Syracuse schools. The announcement came in response to a request from the city’s police union to remove the officers due to concerns for officer safety created school discipline policies.

In Georgia, the Laurens County School Board approved arming teachers. Laurens is a rural county spread over 807 square miles. It shares the cost of rotating Laurens County deputies among schools, but it can take more than 30 minutes to get from one school to the other.

In Florida, the Manatee County Commission voted not to provide more funding to pay for school resource officers. Throughout the state, many districts are scrambling to find funding to meet the new state requirement for school safety. School leaders say the state did not provide enough new funding to cover the costs.

In New Mexico, teachers at Capital High School and Santa Fe High School want metal detectors installed at campus entrances. This campus security concern was included in a presentation made to the school board.

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Safety Law News for May 4, 2018

by Bernie James • May 4, 2018

In Vermont, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that the actions of a high school student, who was charged with plotting to shoot up the high school, did not meet the legal definition of an “attempt” under Vermont law. The student was charged with attempted bodily injury, attempted first-degree murder, and attempted aggravated murder. The court reasoned that preparation alone does not satisfy the high bar required to prove an attempt. The student purchased a shotgun, sent Facebook messages that he planned to commit a shooting, and kept lists of the items that he needed. [State v. Sawyer]

In New Mexico, the superintendent for the Santa Fe Public Schools has been told by the Santa Fe Police Department that it is spread thin and does not have the manpower to assign three police officers to the school district.

In Wisconsin, state officials says schools have until June 8 to apply for $100 million in school safety grants. The grants were approved by legislators after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. To be eligible for funding, schools must develop a plan with local law enforcement and earmark the funds for facility upgrades or staff training.

In Florida, the Suwannee County School Board unanimously passed a resolution that allows volunteer school staff members to carry guns on campus. The program will be implemented for the 2018-2019 academic year.

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Safety Law News for May 1, 2018

by Bernie James • May 1, 2018

In Florida, officials in Polk County plan to hire 90 armed “School Safety Guardians” to work in the Polk County Schools. The safety guardian is not a law enforcement job and pays $30,000 a year plus benefits. Officials selected this option because they could not afford to hire more sworn School Resource Officers. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office will handle the tactical training for the guardians.

In Illinois, the Illinois House passed legislation that would create a grant program for schools that employ social workers and psychologists. HB 4208 would establish the Safe Schools Healthy Learning Environment grant to “promote school safety and healthy learning environments by reducing the reliance on law enforcement to address school disciplinary matters and implementing alternative strategies.” The bill now goes to the Illinois Senate.

In Tennessee, the Tennessee House and Senate have passed House Bill 2129 and Senate Bill 2059. The legislation would allow schools in the state to hire off-duty police officers to work school security. Amendment 2 to the legislation would enact the “School Safety Act of 2018”, which will authorize, but not require, LEAs to adopt policies that allow off-duty law enforcement officers to serve as armed school security officers. The bill now goes to Governor Bill Haslam to be signed into law.

In Florida, Venice High School in Sarasota County is planning to create an on-campus police substation. The substation will be open 24-7 for area officers to have access to a computer, conduct on-line training, write reports, interact with school staff, school resource officers, and students.

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Safety Law News for April 19, 2018

by Bernie James • April 19, 2018

In Ohio, school officials will have to notify parents of children who are absent-without-excuse within two hours of the start of each school day under Senate Bill 82. The legislation is known as the Alianna Alert, was named in memory of 14-year-old Alianna Defreeze, who was abducted on the way to school in January 2017. Her parents were unaware that she had not made it to school until the end of the school day.

In Virginia, the Caroline County Board of Supervisors and the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors have agreed to provide funding to hire school resource officers at all public schools in each county.

In Florida, the Sarasota County School Board agreed to form an internal police force to protect its campuses. Switching to an internal police force will cost the school district $400,000 to $1.5 million dollars less than the current agreement with local law enforcement agencies.

In Michigan, the Governor announced a set of new policies designed to improve school safety. The proposal includes strengthening security systems, additional training, and improved resources to help staff identify and support students with emotional and behavioral needs.

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Safety Law News for April 13, 2018

by Bernie James • April 13, 2018

Across the United States, less than two months since the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, at least 10 U.S. states have proposed spending significantly more to bolster school safety.

In Louisiana, the Livingston Parish Sheriff is proposing to the Livingston Parish School Board a half-cent sales tax increase to fund a school resource officer for each parish school. It would take nearly 50 school resource officers at a cost of $111,000 per officer to train, outfit and equip.

In Florida, the Broward County School Board, which oversees the high school where a gunman massacred 17 people in February, has rejected its share of new state funding to be used for arming teachers.

In Maryland, the Governor signed into law SB 1226. The new law mandates that schools have either resource officers or adequate law enforcement coverage. It also requires local school systems to conduct comprehensive safety evaluations of their facilities, including developing an emergency plan. Schools must ensure safety personnel are properly equipped and trained. School systems must designate a state-certified security administrator to oversee the plan. The law requires schools to create a multi-discipline threat-assessment team and designate a mental health services coordinator.