— In New York, the Supreme Court, Appellate Division affirmed the dismissal of a case brought by a teacher for injuries received while in the classroom. The case arose when “a teacher at a middle school was assaulted by a student…After serving a timely notice of claim, (the teacher) and her husband…commenced this action against the defendants, City of New York and New York City Department of Education to recover damages for personal injuries.” The appellate court agreed with the lower court that the teacher did not have a claim against her employer. “Although a school district owes a special duty to the students themselves, that duty does not extend, as a general matter, to teachers, administrators, and other adults.” The Appellate court ruled that “there are three ways in which a special duty with a municipal defendant can be formed with such individuals: (1) when the municipality violates a statutory duty enacted for the benefit of a particular class of persons; (2) when it voluntarily assumes a duty that generates justifiable reliance by the person who benefits from the duty; or (3) when the municipality assumes positive direction and control in the face of a known, blatant and dangerous safety violation.” The teacher “failed to allege existence of special duty owed her by department.” Geltzer v. City of New York
— In Florida, officials in the Broward County Schools are implementing “wearable panic alarm badges for teachers and staff…These interactive badges, equipped with a single button, are designed to quickly alert administrators and first responders in the event of an emergency. Pressing the button three times triggers a staff alert, while pressing it eight times or more initiates a school-wide lockdown.”
— In Florida, officials in the Volusia County Schools are adding the gun detection platform ZeroEyes. “It uses existing campus security cameras to detect possible weapons and alert staff and law enforcement in real time.” Also, the Xtract One Gateway system is being deployed. It is “a new metal detection technology designed to identify threats without slowing down the morning entrance process.”
— In Michigan, “the Dundee Police Department is holding a Cones With Cops” with students. “Kids ages kindergarten to eighth grade will receive free ice cream cones while Dundee police officers talk to them about the importance of school safety and reducing bullying in preparation for the new year.”