School starts Monday in Volusia County and local law enforcement agencies are reminding parents and students that certain on-campus safety violations could result in criminal charges based on a State Board of Education rule that went into effect this school year.
“We have all the personnel and technology in place to make this a safe school year, but we need everyone in our community to pay attention and help us out,” Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said in a news release Wednesday.
What does the education board’s rule say?
School districts and charter schools must report specific incidents to a school resource officer or law enforcement agency, the rule states.
Florida’s new Black history curriculum:‘Slaves developed skills’ for ‘personal benefit’
Florida education news:Volusia educators react to state’s ‘effective banning’ of AP psychology course
The new rule won’t have any major effect on how law enforcement responds to school incidents in Volusia County, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Deputies have been and will continue to handle a wide range of issues at schools,” sheriff’s office spokesman Andrew Gant said via email. “The state is just requiring a more consistent reporting standard across all school districts so Florida can collect better data on school safety and security.”
What kinds of incidents must be reported to law enforcement?
The State Board of Education requires that the following incidents be reported:
- Aggravated battery
- Alcohol
- Arson
- Burglary
- Criminal mischief (felony vandalism – $1,000 threshold)
- Disruption on campus (major)
- Drug sale or distribution
- Drug use or possession
- Fighting
- Grand theft ($750 threshold)
- Hazing
- Homicide
- Kidnapping
- Other major incidents
- Robbery
- Sexual assault
- Sexual battery
- Sexual offenses (other)
- Simple battery
- Threat/intimidation
- Trespassing
- Weapons possession
Any incidents that are alcohol-, drug-, gang-, hate crime-, hazing-, injury- or weapon-related also must be reported.
Why did the State Board of Education institute new rule?
The board approved the rule after finding that incidents on school campuses in some districts, including Duval County, were underreported.
Florida education:State agency letter details past complaints about arrested Douglas Anderson music teacher
What else is law enforcement advising ahead of new school year?
As always, with the start of a new school year, law enforcement agencies in Volusia County will conduct extra patrols and additional speed enforcement near campuses.
Safe driving and situational awareness should be a priority with many children traveling sidewalks, crosswalks and streets to reach school, or the bus that will take them there, the Volusia sheriff’s news release states.
‘Worst-case scenario’: What is local law enforcement prepared for and how can residents help?
“Deputies, police and school guardians have continued to receive realistic training on response to an activeassailant in the event of the worst-case scenario on a school campus,” according to the Volusia sheriff’s news release states. “The program includes single-response training, which demands that a solo deputy or officer must immediately move in and confront the threat alone if he or she is the only unit on scene in the first critical moments.”
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with Volusia County Schools, is continuing to train staff on using the Centegix crisis alert system, which enables school staff to quickly alert law enforcement to an incident via a wearable badge.
Residents are encouraged to download the FortifyFL app or use getfortifyfl.com to share information with law enforcement about any possible threats to a school campus.
Click Here For The Original Source.
