School Safety Law Blog – Page 76 – News and Information for School Safety

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for January 11, 2018

by Bernie James • January 11, 2018

In Ottawa, Canada, Carleton University researchers have released an extensive two-year study of a local School Resource Officer (SRO) program. The research is based on a survey of nearly 1,300 Grade 9 students and 100 interviews with SROs, their bosses, school administrators and students in five Peel Region high schools and a separate social return on investment analysis. The research establishes that the SRO program not only met its stated safety goals, but also improved the relationship between students and police.

In Wisconsin, the Beloit Board of Education is equipping its school resource officers with body cameras. The cameras will be linked to officer’s stun guns, pistols, and patrol car lights, with each activating the camera during certain behaviors.

In Pennsylvania, the Bellefonte Area School Board unanimously approved a safety management application called SchoolGuard. SchoolGuard will give all faculty and staff members who choose to install the application on their personal smartphones the ability to immediately notify law enforcement of incidents that take place on school grounds.

In Essex County, Massachusetts, law enforcement officials in Methuen put to good use a new threat assessment protocol called “Break the Silence.” Aided by the protocol, police managed to crack a case involving a weekend threat posted on social media about the Keller Independent School District in just a matter of hours. The police and school officials issued messages on social media saying there was no threat against the High School and “no cause for concern.”

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for January 3, 2018

by Bernie James • January 3, 2018

In Arizona, human trafficking of children is increasing rapidly. The Arizona Human Trafficking Council says that online devices, games, and applications are the gateway to human trafficking. The Council has instituted several programs to protect child victims from exploitation, including the training of Arizona school resource officers.

In Michigan, the Governor signed into law House Bill 5126 on the seclusion and restraint of students in schools. The law allows school resource officers to utilize their training to resolve incidents at school that may arise. The sponsor of the legislation said that, “clarity was needed to make certain our school resource officers were not limited in their response to incidents that occur within a school.”

In Indiana, The City of Elkhart and Elkhart Community Schools have agreed to implement a school resource officer program. The three officers will be at both high schools and one middle school, though the officer assigned to the middle school will float throughout the middle and elementary schools.

In Texas, a new threat assessment protocol is being implemented in the Keller Independent School District. The policy is called “Break the Silence,” which includes the motto, “If you see it, if you hear it, don’t spread it. Report it.” It is designed to stop campus violence before it starts and provide help to troubled students.

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.