by Bernie James • • Comments Off on Safety Law News for May 19, 2017
In Kentucky, a report from the Kentucky Center for School Safety has named marijuana use and possession as the top law violation among students in Kentucky for the 2015-16 school year. The data show law violations gradually go up until the ninth grade before dropping for a student’s senior and junior year, making early intervention important.
In Texas, teachers and administrators at Austin Independent School District will go through a new mandatory student safety training program. Topics will include the educator’s code of ethics, appropriate student and employee relationships, and reporting child abuse and neglect.
In New York, the controversy continues over the policy of the New York City schools to give students “warning cards” instead of criminal summonses for disorderly conduct, unlawful possession of marijuana, and other low-level offenses.
In Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the policy of the Columbus City School District to search unattended book bags—to determine ownership and whether the contents are dangerous—furthers the compelling governmental interest in protecting students from physical harm. The policy was challenged by a student, whose book bag, left on the school bus, was found to contain bullets for a gun the student possessed while in school. [State v. Polk].