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

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for December 19, 2017

by Bernie James • December 19, 2017

In New York, the Grand Island School Board voted 5-1 to support a plan to use two part-time school resource officers rather than create a new full-time special police officer. The approval came despite objections from the current superintendent and a former superintendent.

In Pennsylvania, the Wallenpaupack SRO program started four and a half years ago. Using the TRIAD approach, in the first two years, school-related criminal incidents dropped 42% and other investigations dropped 33%. Statistics have remained static in the following two years.

In North Dakota, Wilton school administrators and staff are receiving training on the use of Narcan, the nasal form of the drug naloxone that can be administered in the event of a known or suspected drug overdose.

In South Carolina, the Horry County School Board voted to hire armed security guards for all elementary schools in the county. Currently, only middle and high schools have either School Resource Officers or armed security guards.

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for December 15, 2017

by Bernie James • December 15, 2017

In New Mexico, Las Cruces officials disagree over how to respond to active shooter situations. For now, the plan is to lock down the school, evacuate if necessary, and then fight in self-defense.

In Wisconsin, school resource officers in the Sheboygan School District will begin wearing body cameras. The SRO can use the cameras to record all enforcement and investigative incidents and, also whenever contact becomes adversarial. Footage captured by the cameras would be considered a “law enforcement unit record” and therefore exempt from FERPA. USDOE regulations say that images of students captured on video devices that are maintained by the school’s law enforcement unit are not considered education records under FERPA.

In Illinois, the final report of the Champaign County Racial Justice Task Force recommends that the city “retire the School Resource Officer program, hire behavioral specialists and add restorative justice to support healthy adolescent development and success in school and in life.”

In Texas, a lawsuit filed against the city of Southlake and a school resource officer fired for handcuffing an autistic student has been dismissed by a federal judge. The court ruled that the officer’s actions were reasonable under the circumstances.

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for December 13, 2017

by Bernie James • December 13, 2017

In California, the Vallejo school board agreed to a contract with the City of Vallejo to extend and expand the school resource officer program. The educators stated that the district has been happy with the performance of the SROs. However, the agreement does not settle a disagreement over authority school officials will have over the SRO.

In Washington State, school officials in the Spokane Public Schools are looking closely at a new report that 1,191 cases of suspension or expulsion occurred in the first 60 school days of the school year. State law required the implementation of restorative discipline policies. Some teachers and parents believe the focus on reducing discipline has created unsafe working and learning environments.

In Kentucky, House Bill 145 is being introduced that will require that all students in elementary, middle and high school to be taught about “drug abuse prevention, with an emphasis on the prescription drug epidemic and the connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs, such as heroin and synthetic drugs.”

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for December 6, 2017

by Bernie James • December 6, 2017

In Pennsylvania, the governor announced the award of $5 million in Safe Schools Initiative Targeted Grants to nearly 140 schools, police departments, and municipalities across the state. The $5 million is mostly split between two pots, one directed at equipment and programs and another that helps cover the cost of putting police officers in schools.

In Michigan, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 5126. The bill would amend the Education Code to exempt law enforcement officers from school rules on the restraint and seclusion of students. Previously, in March 2017, HB 5417 was passed into law. It limits, without exceptions, restraint and seclusion, allowing it only under emergency situations.

In Kentucky, school officials in the Jefferson County believe their schools are experiencing the effects of violent crime in the community. They are exploring district-wide training in preventing escalation of disruptions on campus. The discussion is a response to an increase in assaults and fights in schools.

In Colorado, San Luis Valley officials are urging the county government to place a moratorium on all marijuana sales and production. This comes after a report shows that marijuana legalization in Colorado is placing youth as well as the general public at risk. Sixty-one percent of Colorado counties have prohibited marijuana legalization in Colorado.

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for November 27, 2017

by Bernie James • November 27, 2017

In North Carolina, students in middle school and high school across the North Carolina Piedmont region are addicted to powerful drugs. School resource officers say that they see students getting high in class with their teacher in the room.

In Tennessee, the Grundy County Sheriff and the County Director of Schools are in conflict over law enforcement access to the security cameras on campus. School officials appear to be in confusion about the application of FERPA to law enforcement on campus. The U.S. Department of Education has repeatedly stated that, “[i]mages of students captured on security videotapes that are maintained by the school’s law enforcement unit are not considered education records under FERPA.”

In Texas, the Athens Independent School District has terminated its own school police department. School officials approached the city with the idea of the Athens Police Department implementing a school resource officer program. “The district said they want to get out of the law-enforcement business so that they could focus on the education business.”

In Oregon, the Hillsboro School District is using a new state law to launch its own school police department. According to school officials, forming its own police agency will save the district about $150,000 a year in expenses.

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for November 21, 2017

by Bernie James • November 21, 2017

In Oregon, the Court of Appeals held that the “school safety exception” to the Oregon Constitution did not permit a police officer to search a non-student, who happened to be at school during a shooting that threatened school children and staff. The defendant had heard that a shooting had occurred at the high school where his younger sister was a student. He rushed to the school while in possession of a handgun. [State v. Powell]

In Indiana, the Court of Appeals held that two students who resisted attempts by school resource officers to search them could be prosecuted for acts constituting new offenses within the new-crime exception to the exclusionary rule. The officers were conducting pat-down searches of students who were in a classroom where a cell phone was reported stolen. Both juveniles assaulted the officers to prevent the searches. [K.C. v. State]

In Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that it was unreasonable for a police officer to search the bag of a non-student trespasser who attempted to enter the school. The court ruled that while the officer could have arrested the trespasser, which would have allowed a search incident-to-arrest, the police lacked a reasonable belief that the defendant was armed and dangerous and, therefore, a patfrisk and search of the backpack was unreasonable. [Commonwealth v. Villigran]

In Colorado, the United States District Court dismissed a civil lawsuit holding that a student’s rights were not violated when school officials expelled him and police arrested him for making threats against the school. The student was acquitted of the charge of violating C.R.S. § 18-9-109(6), that makes it a crime to; “knowingly make or convey to another person a credible threat to … a student, school official, or employee of an educational institution.” The court held that even if a violation did occur, the officials would not be liable based on qualified immunity. [Wilk v. St. Vrain Valley School District].