— In West Virginia, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, reinstated the lawsuit of a transgender student, who identifies as male, who alleged harassment and bullying by an administrator after entering the boys’ restroom. The court agreed that the claim for “negligence per se” based upon the school’s violation of its own anti-harassment policy and the claim for “negligent retention” could go forward to compensate the student for emotional and physical injuries as a result of the continued interactions with the administrator in violation of a “stay away” agreement. C.C. v. Harrison County Board of Education.
— In North Carolina, officials in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools are implementing new discipline policies for school resource officers on campus based on the NASRO triad. The goal is for school resource officers to be seen in a different light through building meaningful relationships with students. The officers will act as educators and counselors by encouraging discussions with students. They will even participate in campus activities and take law enforcement action only when necessary.
— In Wisconsin, the school board for the Monona Grove School District voted to retain its School Resource Officer (SRO) program. After a year of debate, the board will seek to revise its agreement with its enforcement agencies. Even so, the retention of the program reflects the belief that the officers, “currently do have very strong relationships with our kids.”
— In Virginia, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is expanding the role of its school resource officers, tasking them with home visits to follow up on calls involving a mental health crisis, suicide threat or drug overdose. The “CARE Team” is a pilot program that gives school resource officers time to, “spend an hour, hour and a half at people’s homes just talking to them.”