Safety Law News for August 25th, 2020

— In Maine, the United States Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction that prevented school officials from suspending a student who posted a sticky note in the bathroom that said, “THERE’S A RAPIST IN OUR SCHOOL AND YOU KNOW WHO IT IS.”  The court reasoned that the anonymous note was entitled to First Amendment protection.  After applying the Tinker test,  the court held that educators had not shown a causal connection between the sticky note and bullying. [Norris on behalf of A.M. v. Cape Elizabeth Sch. District]

— In New Mexico,  after the Las Cruces Public Schools Board failed to approve a contract to retain two school resource officers, parents are asking the school officials to reconsider.

— In Virginia, the Gloucester County School Board passed a resolution in support of school resource officers.  The school board is requesting that Governor Northam, along with the Senate of Virginia and Virginia House of Delegates, maintain and keep the School Resource Officer Grants Program.

— In Arkansas, after four hours of hearings from the public, schools and police, the Fayetteville City Council rejected a grant that would have funded two more school resource officers in the Fayetteville School District.