School Safety Law Blog – Page 99 – News and Information for School Safety

Safety Law News for September 11, 2015

by Bernie James • September 11, 2015

In Colorado, John Michael Keyes has created a school safety plan called Standard Response Protocol. It is a simplified emergency plan instructing students to follow one of four procedures during any situation: Lockout, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter. Mr. Keyes is the father of Emily Keyes who was killed by an adult intruder at Platte Canyon High School in 2006.

In Pennsylvania, the Steel Valley schools have implemented the Raptor security system that allows the school to scan the driver’s license or state identification card of a visitor and produce an adhesive badge that visitors wear while in the building.

In Massachusetts, officials in Fall River are rethinking one element of their school safety plan after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court threw out a local ordinance in Lynn that prohibited registered Level 2 and 3 sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of parks and schools.

In Colorado, Senate Bill 213 passed and now school districts can be held liable for incidents of violence in schools. The School Safety and Youth in Crisis Committee has the task of providing regulations for schools.

Safety Law News for September 8, 2015

by Bernie James • September 8, 2015

In Brunswick Ohio, officials are hosting a series of meetings for parents to address issues concerning students’ mental health and campus safety. The meetings feature presentations by mental health specialists, social workers, and school resource officers.

In New Jersey, the New Jersey School Security Task Force Final Report (August 2015) recommends police officers who have been trained to work in a school setting be on school grounds at all times. Some schools already have a school resource officer who is employed by the local police department and who has received that training. For some school districts it can come down to finances.

In Wisconsin, the Fond du Lac School District’s Annual Climate Report for 2013-14 indicates bullying incidents dropped by 17 percent last school year. Middle schools presented the highest number of the reports — 50 percent — a five-percent increase from the last annual study.

In South Carolina, the Richmond County school system experienced more “hard” lockdowns last month than during the last school year. Schools in hard lockdowns do not allow movement inside or outside the building, and teachers are instructed to cover their windows and move students away from breakable surfaces. Classes are not taught during hard lockdowns.

Safety Law News for September 4, 2015

by Bernie James • September 4, 2015

In Connecticut, the Bridgeport Police School Resource Officers now walk students to school as a part of the City of Bridgeport’s Safe Corridors program. The Safe Corridor Program is a community safety effort that provides a safe route to and from school through networks of police and adult volunteers.

In California, the Los Angeles Unified School District police department (LASPD) has completed its first round of crime and safety assessments using the Haystax Mobile App. The app identifies school site crime and safety vulnerabilities and recommends improvements as necessary.

In New Jersey, the Hamilton Township School District has closed all of the public school playgrounds after an inspection report disclosed several hazardous conditions that were very serious in nature at an elementary school.

Safety Law News for September 1, 2015

by Bernie James • September 1, 2015

In Tennessee, Greene County officials are looking to upgrade school security by removing security officers and replacing them with school resource officers in the schools that have the most students. The SRO’s would have to go through regular police training, plus 40 hours of extra EMS instruction.

In Texas, the Frisco Police Department has issued “go bags” to all 25 of its school resource officers assigned to work in the schools. The bags contain medical equipment as well as tactical gear.

In Richland County, Georgia, there were more weapons-related incidents in the elementary schools during the 2014-15 school year than at middle or high schools. The weapons ranged from blunt objects to a 380-caliber handgun. The number of weapons-related incidents at elementary schools has climbed from the 2013-14 school year.

Nevada lawmakers have authorized the state to spend millions of dollars on school safety. Two top priorities include programs to deal with bullying, and upgraded school safety plans at all school statewide.

Safety Law News for August 28, 2015

by Bernie James • August 28, 2015

In Red River County, Texas, the Detroit ISD school board has approved a policy that allows the staff to carry concealed handguns on campus. It joins more than 70 Texas school districts that have already armed school personnel.

The Gallup’s Work and Education poll reports that 29% of U.S. parents say they fear for their child’s safety at school. This is down from the 33% found immediately after the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012, but still above the 25% measured a few months before that incident occurred.

In Illinois, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 100. Under the law, school officials will no longer be allowed to follow “zero-tolerance” policies. Except for drugs or weapons offenses, students cannot be suspended or expelled until all other “appropriate or available disciplinary interventions have been exhausted.” The law takes effect in September 2016.

Safety Law News for August 25, 2015

by Bernie James • August 25, 2015

In Indiana, the proposed budget for school safety programs has been cut. The program, designed to help Indiana school districts hire police officers and buy safety equipment, will have less than half the amount of money than when it was started in 2013.

In Pennsylvania, teachers and administrators in the Pittsburgh schools are implementing the ALICE program. ALICE stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate.

In Indiana, the Richmond Community Schools are implementing a new backpack policy. Under the policy, students may bring backpacks to school but then must put them in their lockers for the day.

In Georgia, school officials in Fannin County are opposed to arming teachers and administrators despite a new state law that allows educators to carry firearms. The Georgia School Board Association says no one appears to be in favor of the policy.

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