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 Texas School Safety Laws Implementation Lags, May Be Pushed to 2020-2021

Texas School Safety Laws Implementation Lags, May Be Pushed to 2020-2021

Although lawmakers have approved a number of laws in order to increase school safety, the size and scope of Texas might put a damper of quick implementation.

1998 Arkansas Middle School Shooter Killed in Car Crash

1998 Arkansas Middle School Shooter Killed in Car Crash

Drew Grant, who was previously known as Andrew Golden, a shooter who killed four students and one teacher when he was 11 years old, died in a two-car crash Saturday evening. The other driver crossed several lanes and crashed head-on into Grant’s car.



New York Districts Fail to Meet State Requirements for District Safety Plans

New York Districts Fail to Meet State Requirements for District Safety Plans

Some school districts in New York failed to meet minimum state requirements for district safety plans. The districts must now revise their safety plans.

Stand With Parkland Testifies before Senate Committee

Stand With Parkland Testifies before Senate Committee

Last week, two parents from Stand With Parkland testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs asking for help to increase school safety.

Louisiana School Systems Experience Cyberattacks Governor Declares Statewide Emergency

Louisiana School Systems Experience Cyberattacks Governor Declares Statewide Emergency

The governor of Louisiana has declared a statewide emergency as several school systems have been attacked by malware. Officials are currently trying to see if any other agencies are affected, but the threat is ongoing.

Chicago School Board Questions Effectiveness of Metal Detectors

Chicago School Board Questions Effectiveness of Metal Detectors

As the Chicago school board approves $2.4 million worth of funding for new metal detectors and X-ray machines, they discuss whether these physical security barriers are the best way to allocate the funds.

Tennessee Department of Education Collaborating with Homeland Security

Tennessee Department of Education Collaborating with Homeland Security

The Department of Education will be working together with Homeland Security to ensure that all Tennessee school are up to safety standards, and can hopefully stop threats at the doors of schools.

Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Participates in Active Shooter Drill

Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Participates in Active Shooter Drill

Earlier this week, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office participated in an active shooter drill at Yulee High School, next to Yulee middle school. After the drill, the officers will meet and discuss what needs to change to ensure a proper response.

Minnesota Researchers Take Holistic Approach to Solving School Violence

Minnesota Researchers Take Holistic Approach to Solving School Violence

In a recent school safety training, Minnesota researchers focused their efforts on teaching about mental health and approaching students’ emotional needs, rather than teaching about physical security measures.

North Carolina Bill Needs One Final Vote Before Heading to Governor

North Carolina Bill Needs One Final Vote Before Heading to Governor

A statewide North Carolina school safety bill passed the House unanimously earlier this week. It needs one more vote from the Senate before it heads to Gov. Roy Cooper.

Santa Rosa to Add Eight School Resource Officers to Santa Rosa Schools This Year

Santa Rosa to Add Eight School Resource Officers to Santa Rosa Schools This Year

A proposed budget increase for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office would include the equipment for eight new school resource officers at schools that currently only have off-duty deputies.

Schools Working to Implement Texas’ Senate Bill 11 As Fall Approaches

Schools Working to Implement Texas’ Senate Bill 11 As Fall Approaches

Texas’ Senate Bill 11 was approved in early June, and with fall approaching quickly, it’s necessary for school districts to understand what changes need to be made.

High Security Guard Turnover Rates Bring Detroit District to Privately Hire

High Security Guard Turnover Rates Bring Detroit District to Privately Hire

Detroit schools have been employing security through contracted security companies for nearly ten years. With such high turnover rates, they’ve decided to return to private employment for security guards.

Idaho School District May Use School Supply Budget to Pay for Security

Idaho School District May Use School Supply Budget to Pay for Security

Twin Falls School District had to use about 5 percent of their school supply budget in order to cover the cost of full-time security aides. This year, they may have to do the same again.

Florida County Looks to Boost Security through Almost Doubling Security Personnel

Florida County Looks to Boost Security through Almost Doubling Security Personnel

A referendum passed by taxpayers last year will add about 500 security personnel to the current staff of 745.

Iowa Hospital Opens Lobby Safety Store, Includes Injury-Prevention Education

Iowa Hospital Opens Lobby Safety Store, Includes Injury-Prevention Education

At the Stead Family Children’s Hospital, they know that safety starts with injury prevention. In order to help new parents accomplish their safety goals, they have opened a safety store that has injury-prevention experts staffed to help parents find the right solution for their family.

School resource officers, Technology Upgrades in the Works for Alabama County Schools

School Resource Officers Technology Upgrades in the Works for Alabama County Schools

Baldwin county school resource officers have been keeping connection with students through summer camps, and after the summer, an SRO will be placed at every school in the district. In addition, there will be technology updates coming to the schools.

New Indiana Safety Law Changes School Bus Routes

New Indiana Safety Law Changes School Bus Routes

School bus routes in Indiana will be changing to keep elementary students from crossing rural roadways on rural highways to get on or off the school bus.

Results of Michigan School Roof Collapse Released, Parents Have Mixed Feelings

Results of Michigan School Roof Collapse Released, Parents Share Mixed Feelings

Last month, the roof of Lee Middle & High School collapsed overnight due to water corrosion. A structural engineer identified the issue, and the school is taking measures to ensure the structural integrity of the school, but not all parents are convinced the building is safe.

South Carolina University Hosts Program with Gun Violence Prevention Panel

South Carolina University Hosts Program with Gun Violence Prevention Panel

The Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School program recently hosted Social Action Day, which included a panel discussion on how to end gun violence.

Alyssa’s Law Working Toward National Legislation, Being Required in All Schools

Alyssas Law Working Toward National Legislation Being Required in All Schools

Alyssa’s Law requires public schools to install silent panic alarms that notify law enforcement officials of emergency situations when they occur, in order to give them a faster response time.

California School Superintendent Facing Backlash After Realistic Active Shooter Drill

California School Superintendent Facing Backlash After Realistic Active Shooter Drill

Raisin City Elementary had a terrifying drill held on June 3, in which an “active shooter” went around in a mask holding a gun, shaking doors and yelling. Although it was a drill, the students and many of the teachers were not informed that it was only a drill.

Funding for Arkansas School Safety Center to Become Permanent Line in State Budget

Funding for Arkansas School Safety Center to Become Permanent Line in State Budget

After Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Arkansas School Safety Commission made 30 recommendations, districts have been working to make the necessary adjustments. Therefore, school safety is becoming a permanent line in the state budget.

Maryland County to Train Threat Assessment Teams

Maryland County to Train Threat Assessment Teams

Harford County will train five to six staff members from each school to become part of their school threat assessment team in compliance with the Maryland Safe to Learn Act.

Committees Request School Safety Funds for Colorado County to go Toward Mental Health, Standardization

School Safety Funds for Colorado County to go Toward Mental Health Standardization

After two committees presented different ways funding could be used toward Douglas County school safety, two themes consistently came up — mental health support and safety standardization.

Joseph Souza Appointed as Director of New Physical Security Department

Joseph Souza Appointed as Director of New Physical Security Department

University of Florida recently announced their addition of a new Business Affairs department, which will be called Physical Security. Joseph Souza has been appointed as the director of this new department.

$1.5 Million in School Security Funding to be Granted to Vermont State Schools

$1.5 Million in School Security Funding to be Granted to Vermont State Schools

Gov. Phil Scott announced that $1.5 million will be allocated to school security funding during the second cycle of grants. In the first cycle, $4 million was granted to 242 schools around the state.

Man Pulls Gun on Winnipeg Security Guards While Being Escorted Out of Hospital

Man Pulls Gun on Winnipeg Security Guards While Being Escorted Out of Hospital

There was a violent disturbance involving two individuals Saturday in the Children’s Hospital at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. As one of the individuals was being escorted out, he pulled a gun on the security guards.

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office to Hold Church Safety Class

Cullman County Sheriffs Office to Hold Church Safety Class

The Cullman County Sheriff’s office will hold a church safety class next week, including discussions around concerns such as a church security team, increasing situational awareness, and promoting building security tips.

Sandy Hook Parents Lose State Court Appeal in School Safety Lawsuit

Sandy Hook Parents Lose State Court Appeal in School Safety Lawsuit

Sandy Hook plaintiffs alleged the school failed to follow a mandated security protocol in the December 2012 shooting. The appeals court agreed with a lower court judge that governmental immunity shielded the defendants.

Featured

  • CISA Releases Anonymous Threat Response Guidance and Toolkit for K-12 Schools

    The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently released the Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools, a new resource to help kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools and their law enforcement and community partners create tailored approaches to addressing anonymous threats of violence, including those received on social media. The toolkit outlines steps school leaders can take to assess and respond to anonymous threats, better prepare for and prevent future threats, and work in coordination with law enforcement and other local partners when these threats arise. It is co-sealed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which provided expert feedback on the toolkit’s key principles and strategies. Read Now

  • How Hospitals are Using Modern Technology to Improve Security

    Workplace violence is a serious and growing challenge for many organizations — including those in the healthcare industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers in healthcare and social services experience the highest rates of injuries caused by workplace violence and are five times as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers overall — and aggressive incidents are rising. Read Now

  • Father of Georgia School Shooting Suspect Charged in Connection With Attack

    Colin Gray, the father of the 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect, has also been charged in connection with the attack. The 54-year-old father was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children. Read Now

  • Safeguarding Stony Brook University Hospital: HALO’S Commitment to Health & Safety

    The healthcare industry is experiencing an alarming escalation of violence, including an increase in threats against healthcare workers. As a result, it is looking for ways to be proactive and protect its staff and patients.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,  the rate of injuries from violent attacks against medical professionals grew by 63% from 2011 to 2018 and hospital safety directors say that aggression against staff escalated as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified in 2020.      Read Now

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