School Safety Law Blog – Page 93 – News and Information for School Safety

Safety Law News for April 5, 2016

by Bernie James • April 5, 2016

In Florida, a state appellate court ruled that a student, who was suspended, had no legitimate business on campus and violated statute governing trespass on school grounds when he went back into the school. [MM v. State]

In North Carolina, an appellate court upheld the conviction of a student adjudicated delinquent for cyberstalking in violation of state law. The student sent vulgar text messages to a school staff member. [In re J.L.H.]

In Maryland, an appellate court upheld the adjudication of a student for willfully disturbing school activities in violation of state law when he cursed at an assistant principal in the hallway while students were changing classes. [In re Terelle A.]

In Washington State, an appellate court reversed the adjudication of a student’s microblog posts stating that she wanted to punch another student in the throat using a hashtag stating that the student “must die.” The court ruled that the post did not constitute a “true threat.” [State v. Kohonen]

by Bernie James • April 1, 2016

In Tennessee, schools in Alcoa, Maryville and Blount County are keeping a stock of the lifesaving anti-overdose drug Naloxone. School resource officers and nurses have received training.

In Illinois, House Bill 5617 has been introduced. If enacted into law it would limit student arrests during the school day, during school-sponsored events or in school vehicles unless the student has committed a felony.

In Minnesota, legislation has been proposed that would require public school districts to expel students who assault a teacher. The Teacher Protection Act includes a provision that the expelled student cannot be returned to the classroom of the assaulted teacher unless the teacher agrees.

In New York City, the number of students receiving suspensions is dropping. Suspensions fell 31.7% compared to the same period the year before. Restorative justice discipline policies are the reason for the decrease.

by Bernie James • March 29, 2016

In Minnesota, a Minnesota company has invented a handgun that folds up to look just like a smartphone. In locked position, the .380-caliber plastic pistol with a metal core can be discreetly slipped into pockets, like a real phone.

In South Carolina, A months’ long review by The Greenville News found discrepancies between what the district is reporting in its annual crime reports to the state Department of Education and what local police are investigating on school grounds. Assault cases, including four reports of sex offenses were omitted by school officials.

In Indiana, school officials and law enforcement in Goshen have implemented a K9 team to the campus safety program. Goshen High School as the school resource officer (SRO) with the Goshen Police Department.

In Texas, school resource officers at the Austin ISD Police Department are quitting for better paying jobs in other jurisdictions, leaving campuses unprotected.

by Bernie James • March 23, 2016

In Utah, police in Salt Lake City settle a lawsuit over “gang-profiling” on public school campuses.

In Tennessee, the House of Representatives approved and moved along legislation allowing teachers and staff to carry guns at school for self-defense.

In North Carolina, the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools and the Center for Safer Schools is providing guidance to schools and local police to take action against gangs.

In Missouri, the Columbia Police Department has implemented “soft uniforms” for school resource officers in response to the complaint that traditional officers’ uniforms were too intimidating.

by Bernie James • March 8, 2016

In New York, the number of violent incidents on school campuses increased by nearly 23 percent last year — reaching the highest level in at least a decade. That includes a 40.4 percent increase in the number of assaults with injury and a 48.4 percent jump in assaults with “serious” injury.

In Illinois, the legislature has introduced amendments to the Safe Routes to School program. The proposed policy [HB 2623] would increase funding to improve street safety for students walking to school.

In Colorado, the legislature has introduced a school safety policy that would allow licensed mental health professionals to disclose “articulable and significant” threats against schools to administrators and police. The proposal, [16-1063] would not require therapists and counselors to disclose such threats, but those who do would be protected from lawsuits. Current state law requires mental health professionals to report “imminent” school threats.

In Maryland, Baltimore schools CEO Gregory Thornton said he will review the training and selection of school police after an officer was filmed slapping a teenager on campus.

by Bernie James • March 4, 2016

In Alabama, the Huntsville City School District is implementing a district-wide social media monitoring program. School officials will monitor students’ social media posts and, if necessary, discipline students for the content of the posts.

In Pennsylvania, the Hazleton Area School District has cut its use of metal detectors to moderate the time-consuming policy of scanning every person who entered a district school. The detectors will now be used randomly.

In Idaho, the House of Representatives passed HB 514 and sent the legislation to the Senate. The proposal would establish an Office of School Safety and Security that would administer security assessments, training, and technical assistance for schools to improve their safety and security.

In Pennsylvania, a new law [Act 15 of 2015] requires that school volunteers who have “direct volunteer contact” with children at a school must have background checks.