School Safety Law Blog – Page 86 – News and Information for School Safety

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Safety Law News for January 9, 2017

by Bernie James • January 9, 2017

In Tennessee, the Court of Appeals held that educators were not liable for the injuries of a 13–year-old special education student who was assaulted by another 13–year-old special education student in a school bathroom. The court reasoned that liability follows foreseeability, but that under the Tennessee rule there can be no foreseeability “absent proof of prior misconduct.” [K.G.R. v. Union City School District].

In Missouri, two Missouri statutes that went into effect Jan. 1 on fighting and bullying. Schools must report these incidents to law enforcement and serious fighting has been upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony.

In Missouri, a review of Springfield Public Schools’ annual safety report shows there were 228 assaults logged during the 2015-16 year, the highest number in at least five years. The biggest increase was at elementary and middle schools.

In Wyoming, the “Safe2Tell Wyoming” tip-line has received more than 100 tips since it was launched a few weeks ago, exceeding officials’ expectations. The majority of the reports received were to report suicide threats.

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Safety Law News for December 20, 2016

by Bernie James • December 20, 2016

In Michigan, the Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling allowing Ann Arbor Public Schools to enact a district-wide gun ban. The “weapons-free school zone” policy is in conflict with state open carry gun laws. [Michigan Gun Owners v. Ann Arbor Public Schools]

In Colorado, the Municipal Court in Longmont was given funding to expand restorative justice programs into the schools. School resource officers will send cases to a prosecutor, who will determine if the case is eligible for the mediation process rather than traditional adjudication.

In South Carolina, officials in Florence School District One say school administrators and school resource officers work together to determine how to respond to threats against the schools.

In Colorado, the school board in Hanover School District 28, by a 3-2 vote, approved a policy that allows faculty and staff members to carry guns on campus. The school district is remote; law enforcement officers can be 45 minutes away in an emergency.

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School Safety News for December 16, 2016

by Bernie James • December 15, 2016

In Michigan, the legislature placed on the desk of the Governor legislation that would require school officials to consider certain factors before expelling or suspending a student under softer “zero-tolerance” laws and to limit the use of restraint and seclusion in schools to emergencies.

In Texas, school officials in Johnson County have partnered with Crime Stoppers to offer increased cash incentives for tips. Call volume has increased 68 percent and cases are being cleared at a high rate.

In New Jersey, a new law gives schools the option to hire retired police officers who will have full police powers on campus.

In Pennsylvania, the Gateway School District has received judicial approval to allow the school district’s new campus police force to carry guns and issue citations on school property.

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Safety Law News for December 12, 2016

by Bernie James • December 12, 2016

In Pennsylvania, the federal district court has ruled that school officials can be liable for violating student rights under Title IX when student-on-student harassment is ignored. The court ruled that educators have a duty to intervene when they possess “actual notice” – enough knowledge of the harassment that they reasonably could have responded with remedial measures. [T.B. v. New Kensington-Arnold School District].

In Louisiana, the state court of appeals ruled that personal injury claims against a school brought by a pregnant teacher who was assaulted by a student, did not fall within the intentional act exclusion from workers’ compensation coverage, and thus the teacher could not sue for damages for injuries and was limited to remedies under the workers’ compensation statute, even though student had an extensive history of disciplinary issues. [Field v. Lafayette Parish School Board]

In New Jersey, the federal district court ruled that educators did not violate a student’s First Amendment rights when it suspended him for his out-of-school postings on social media that contained derogatory and demeaning comments about fellow students and which triggered school’s obligations under New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Act. [Dunkley v. Board of Education of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District].

In Ohio, the Lima City Schools have created a new position called the Director of Safety and Security. The Director will oversee the SROs and handle all of the safety and security procedures in all of the Lima City Schools.

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Safety Law News for December 5, 2016

by Bernie James • December 5, 2016

• In Kentucky, the Children’s Law Center of Kentucky released a report regarding school based restraint and seclusion. It concludes that restraint and seclusion on students in Kentucky schools is often unnecessary and that the use of such techniques should be better documented.

• In Pennsylvania, eight Dauphin County police departments along with several school districts are coming together in an initiative to reform school discipline. The goal is to stop the “school to prison” pipeline in the county.

• In Utah, school officials and police are praising a mother and father who disarmed and detained their son after he fired a shotgun inside of a Utah middle school.

• In Oregon, school officials in Silverton are taking steps to add rigor to their bullying policies after suspending ten students who were involved in a pro-Trump rally in the parking lot of a high school on Nov. 8 after election results were announced.

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Safety Law News for November 30, 2016

by Bernie James • November 30, 2016

In New Jersey, Governor Christie signed into law S2983. The legislation establishes “Class Three” special police officers designated to provide security at both public and private schools.

In Washington D.C., U.S. Education Secretary John B. King Jr. sent a letter urging state policymakers to prohibit corporal punishment in schools.

In Illinois, parents in the city of Streamwood have formed a volunteer school safety team. “Dads in Action” has five members who help out by monitoring the playground or assisting in classrooms. The program is response to low scores for safety on the most recent state survey.

In Kansas, the Shawnee Mission School District is telling its staff to avoid wearing safety pins because it could be a disruption in the classroom. The safety pin has emerged as a statement following the election of Donald Trump as president.