School Leaders or Lawbreakers? The Legal Perils of Not Reporting Weapons and Violence on Campus
The recent incident at Thurston Woods School in Milwaukee, where an 11-year-old student allegedly brought a gun to school and threatened other students, underscores a critical failure in school safety protocols. The school’s principal, Dennis Daniels, now faces a felony charge for misconduct in public office for not reporting the incident to the police, as …
Increasing Legal Challenges for Schools Over Using SROs For School Matters: Rockford’s Case Reflects a Broader Pattern
The Rockford Public School District (RPS) in Illinois is currently facing a discrimination lawsuit filed by two national civil rights organizations, the National Center for Youth Law and the MacArthur Justice Center. The lawsuit accuses the district of improperly using School Resource Officers (SROs) to enforce school discipline policies in a way that disproportionately impacts …
“New” Cell Phone Policy in Anne Arundel Schools: Sounds Good, But Good Luck Enforcing it
So, AA County issues this policy. Interesting. Notice the language usage: “students…will be able to use their cell phones less during the school day in the coming year..” The Policy states: Elementary and middle school students must have their phones off or on silent mode and out of sight throughout the school day, including at …
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When MOUs Are Ignored: Analyzing the Palm View K-8 Incident
Introduction: In a recent incident at Palm View K-8 School in Florida, a situation involving a School Resource Officer (SRO), school administrators, and a student escalated to an arrest, sparking concerns about the proper enforcement of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the school district. The incident, captured on bodycam …
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Student Arrested While Attempting to Leave: Analyzing the Hanes Magnet School Incident
Analyzing the Hanes Magnet School Incident Introduction: A Hanes Magnet School in Winston -Salem NC, involving a School Resource Officer (SRO), a student, and a counselor raises questions about the roles and responsibilities outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the school district and local law enforcement. The incident, which resulted in the arrest …
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You Have to Build Relationships! What does this really mean?
Educators are told daily that they “must build relationships” with their students, but what does this mean? It’s not about entertaining students to gain their approval or to be liked. Building relationships in the educational setting is about creating genuine, meaningful connections. There are cases where some students and teachers do not or cannot create …
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Accountability Over Awards: Engaging Parents to Tackle Absenteeism
Improving School Attendance: A Comprehensive Approach As an administrator with years of experience, I’ve come to understand that improving school attendance requires a multifaceted approach. Attendance is not just about students being present in class; it’s intertwined with the overall school climate, discipline, safety, teacher attendance, and satisfaction. To truly address attendance issues, a detailed …
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Implementing MOUs for School and Law Enforcement Partnerships: Roles and Responsibilities, Student Data Access, and Questioning of Students
Effective partnerships between schools and law enforcement are crucial for fostering safe and supportive educational environments. Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between schools and law enforcement agencies outline the operational procedures and implementation strategies necessary for maintaining these partnerships. Three areas that frequently cause disagreements are the delineation of roles and responsibilities, protocols for student data …