— In California, the California Court of Appeal, held that the pre-season sports release/waiver, signed by a student and his parents, expressly barred the student from recovering for injuries in a school sponsored football game. The court reasoned that the release/waiver, where the student both assumed the risk of injury and waived any liability, should be given effect. The court agreed that the student could avoid the release/waiver by proving that the school was grossly negligent. But “[the] evidence…showed [educators] were not grossly negligent.” Brown v. El Dorado Union High School District
— In New Mexico, the Las Cruces Public School District announced plans to prevent cannabis products from getting onto its campuses after school officials and school resource officers from the Las Cruces Police Department have confiscated numerous packages that resemble popular snacks but are infused with THC. The schools will collaborate with a Crime Stoppers Campus Chapter to supply the details of a policy in which students caught with cannabis products will face suspension and a misdemeanor arrest.
— In Maryland, officials in Baltimore County are discussing with students and parents how to strengthen its student discipline policy. The current policy constrains discipline based on the implementation of tolerant restorative justice principles. The NAACP is pushing for more accountability. County officials are proposing four new Student Resource Officers float among schools.
— In Wisconsin, students and parents from the La Crosse School District are protesting the removal of School Resource Officers (SROs) from the district. The La Crosse School board has reduced the number of SROs in the district from five to three. It plans on further reducing that number to two by July 1. The students presented a petition to the school board with over 300 signatures to keep the police officers in school.