Safety Law News for September 27, 2021

— In Illinois, the Appellate Court of Illinois affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by parents of  a student who was injured  while operating a machine in the high school’s technology lab.  School officials were immune civil liability based on the Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act.  Under the Act, educators are immune for failing to supervise an activity on or the use of school property.  The court rejected the argument of the student that the “willful and wanton conduct” exception to immunity was applicable because there was no evidence of a deliberate intention  by educators to cause harm or a conscious disregard for the student’s welfare. Williams v. Streator Township High School District No. 40

— In Illinois, the Chicago Board of Education voted to retain its school resource officer program.  The provisions of the agreement with the Chicago Police Department will deploy officers only in the schools that want them.  Nearly a dozen schools did not wish to retain the officers.

— In Minnesota, officials in the Minneapolis Public Schools, who cancelled the deployment of school resource officers from campuses during the school day are continuing their after-hours policy of using police to provide security at games and other school-sponsored events.

— In Kentucky, Hopkins County School officials sent out a letter to parents to prevent growth of the “the Devious Lick” TikTok challenge where the social media app TikTok is used to encourage students to vandalize schools and school property.