School Safety Law Blog – Page 94 – News and Information for School Safety

Safety Law News for March 1, 2016

by Bernie James • March 1, 2016

In Virginia, the legislature is considering HB 487 that if enacted would relieve school resource officers of the duty to enforce school board rules and codes of student conduct. The House easily passed a bill 95-2. It now awaits consideration by the Senate.

In Texas, the Hutto Independent School District has created a police department to match the district’s recent growth. The department is requiring each officer have at least three years experience, and the new sergeant will have at least five years experience.

In Ohio, state law requires all schools to submit emergency safety plans, but the Ohio Department of Education has announced that it will no longer identify schools that fail to submit a safety plan, or that submit a plan that does not meet required standards.

In Georgia, the Atlanta Public Schools is forming it own police force. Officials announced that it is seeking sworn police officers and other personnel for its new in-house safety and security department.

by Bernie James • February 24, 2016

In Washington State, the schools in the Tri-Cities area of Pasco, Richland and Kennewick, report significantly fewer weapons on campus. The good news is attributed to two things: the good presence of community oriented policing and utilizing a good security team within the building.

In Virginia, House Bill 1234 has been introduced. If passed, it would allow school security officers, who are not active duty police, to carry firearms if they are retired law-enforcement officers serving with the local school board’s approval.

In Tennessee, the Hamilton County sheriff has launched a new program designed to build a better relationship between students and the school resource officer program run by the Sheriff’s office.

In Indiana, where more than 7,000 cases of bullying in public schools were reported last year, a teenager’s experience with verbal assaults highlights the difficulties of dealing with bullying on campus.

by Bernie James • February 19, 2016

In Wyoming, legislation has been introduced that would restrict school districts’ access to student data, particularly online social media accounts or emails. If enacted, the law would prohibit school or district employees from compelling a student to provide their username and password for various digital media accounts, such as a Facebook page or an email account. Administrators also could not require a student to log into such an account so that the contents could be read over the student’s shoulder. [Senate File 14]

In Oklahoma, the rural school district in the city of Okay is arming teachers and staff members to protect its students. The policy is authorized by the passage of HB 2014 that was signed into law last year.

In North Carolina, the Pitt County Schools have approved funding to increase bus safety by adding cameras to each school bus. Each bus will have 3 cameras: one facing the front, one in the middle on the inside of the bus, and one pointing at the entrance by the driver.

In New Jersey, the Governor has signed into law A-1455/S-2011 – called “Abigail’s Law.” The law requires that newly-manufactured school buses be equipped with sensors. The legislation is named for the 2-year-old daughter of parents killed when she stood in front of a school bus unseen by the driver.

by Bernie James • February 2, 2016

In New Jersey, legislation has been introduced that creates “Class Three” special police officers designated to provide security at both public and private schools and community colleges. The position would be open to police officers under the age of 65 who have retired in good standing from local or county departments or the State Police. [S86]

In California, The Berkeley School Board rejected a grant for $125,000 to add a second police officer to its campus roster during a discussion earlier this month about ways to address safety and racial tension on campus.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with other world agencies plans to develop comprehensive school safety guidelines at the national level.

by Bernie James • January 26, 2016

In South Carolina, proposed legislation would create “School Protection Officers,” who would be teachers, administrators or any other school employees who would be allowed to carry guns or pepper spray at school. [House Bill 4716]

In Utah, officials launched the SafeUT Crisis and Safety Tipline for students. The SafeUT Mobile App provides students confidential and anonymous two-way communication with SafeUT crisis counselors or school staff.

In Minnesota, nearly 50 administrators in the St. Paul schools are being reassigned to 11 troubled schools in the district that are plagued by student behavioral problems. The short-term deployment of administrators — as well as teachers on special assignment — is one of several strategies being employed to quell unruly behavior. Fight-related and other suspensions have spiked this school year, and the teachers union has threatened to strike if they don’t get their way on how to turn things around.

In Michigan, school officials in Berrien County are using the cloud-based NaviGate Prepared school safety system to improve school safety. It effectively organizes safety information for administrators while giving first responders ‘eyes on’ access to everything they need in an emergency — from floor plans to 360-degree images and more.

by Bernie James • January 22, 2016

In Michigan, officials in the Grand Rapids Public Schools turn down a $1 million grant in implement a school resource officer program. Parents and other community leaders said they weren’t comfortable having police officers inside the schools after national incidents in 2015.

In New Jersey, educators and law enforcement officials are telling parents to resist the urge to help during a campus crisis. Research suggests that self-deploying to the school is not a helpful thing for a parent can do.

In Colorado, an investigative report on the fatal shooting of Claire Davis at Arapahoe High School on December 13, 2013, concludes that failures to collaborate and share information contributed to the missed opportunities that might have prevented the incident.

In Washington, D.C., officials from the U.S. Department of Education say that, statistically speaking, U.S. schools are growing safer every year.