Madison Central High School has implemented increased police security measures after a series of physical altercations between students. The school board is treating the situation seriously and students involved may face expulsion. As a precautionary measure, there will be a heightened law enforcement presence on campus. Parents are encouraged to contact the school with any concerns and to discuss the consequences of inappropriate social media use with their children.
In a separate incident, a student at Central High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, was detained after a gun was found in their backpack. The student appeared to distance themselves from the backpack when security officers were talking to them. The gun was discovered during an investigation, and the police were called. The student has been booked for possession of a firearm by an ineligible person, possession of a firearm with no serial number, and possession of a firearm on school property. No threats were made, and no one was injured. The school administration and security staff followed safety procedures and contacted the police for support. Students who may need to talk about the situation can seek support from school counselors and social workers.
Meanwhile, Stall High School in North Charleston, South Carolina, implemented heightened security measures on Monday following a message sent to parents by the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD). The exact content of the message has not been disclosed, but it prompted the school to take precautionary steps to ensure the safety of students and staff. The increased security included additional police presence on campus and stricter access control measures. The NCPD has not provided any further details about the nature of the threat or the reason for the heightened security. The school district and law enforcement agencies are working together to investigate the situation and ensure the ongoing safety of the school community.
Hempfield Area School District in Pennsylvania has updated its security policy to allow for daily or random searches of students and their belongings with metal or weapons detectors. The previous policy only allowed searches when there was reasonable suspicion or a security incident. The new policy also applies to visitors entering the school building. The district is considering purchasing additional metal or weapons detectors but has not yet determined which buildings will receive them. After a gun incident in October, high school students were intermittently searched with metal detectors, and it is unclear if these searches will resume. The school board also named a new president and reelected the vice president at a recent meeting.
The School City of Hammond in Hammond, Indiana, is reviewing its security procedures following a bullying incident at Hammond Central High School. The incident, which was coordinated on social media, involved an individual who was not a student riding a school bus and entering the school. The incident lasted for more than two minutes in a hallway without intervention from teachers or security, while other students recorded it on their cell phones. Superintendent Scott Miller acknowledged the security failures and stated that steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. However, Miller also noted that schools are not high-security facilities and there is a balance between security and maintaining a welcoming environment. This is not the first time unauthorized individuals have entered Hammond Central, as a similar incident occurred last January when a student from another school brought a gun into the school through a side door.
A 15-year-old female suspect was arrested on assault charges after brutally assaulting a girl near Hazelwood East High School in Missouri. The victim is in critical condition with a severe head injury. The incident was captured on video, showing the suspect, who is Black, attacking the victim, who appears to be White, and slamming her head into the pavement. The Hazelwood School District expressed condolences and emphasized the need to address bullying and fighting in the community. The investigation is ongoing.
Ebony Parker, a former assistant principal, has been charged with eight counts of neglect in the case of a 6-year-old student who shot a teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News in January 2023. The investigation found that Parker ignored multiple warnings about the student having a gun on school grounds. The shooting critically injured teacher Abigail Zwerner, who has filed a $40 million lawsuit against Parker for negligence. Parker is accused of disregarding staff concerns and failing to take action to prevent the shooting. The indictment also accuses Parker of committing an act of 'reckless disregard for human life.' The student's mother, Deja Nicole Taylor, has also faced legal consequences for allowing her child access to her gun. The young boy involved in the shooting is currently under the care of a relative and has been enrolled in a different school.
The Montgomery County School Board has unanimously passed a resolution promoting the safe storage of guns in homes. The resolution aims to remind parents of their responsibility to store firearms safely, as 4.7 million American children live in households with guns. The school district is committed to working with local and national agencies to increase awareness of gun storage through various communication efforts. Virginia Code 18.2-56.2 makes it unlawful to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in a manner that endangers the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. The resolution is seen as a proactive measure to keep children and staff safe, and the school board hopes to raise awareness of gun safety throughout the community. The resolution was praised by MCPS School Board Chair Linwood Hudson, who emphasized that keeping students safe is the top priority.
Parents of victims and survivors of the Oxford High School and Michigan State University shootings called on lawmakers to implement and educate residents on safe storage for weapons. The House Education Committee took testimony on House Bills that would require public schools to distribute information on best practices for storing firearms. The bills aim to complement the safe storage laws signed last year, ensuring parents who own firearms are aware of the best practices for safe firearm storage. The father of a victim in the Michigan State University shooting testified before the committee, sharing information on his district's voluntary effort to educate parents on safe storage policies. The committee did not vote on the bills.
Lawmakers in Tennessee have passed a bill that would allow the state's teachers to carry concealed handguns at school. The bill was approved in a 68-28 vote in the Republican-dominated House. Tennessee has seen heated debate over gun laws since last year's shooting at a Nashville school left three children and three adult staffers dead. Some Democrats in the House led protests inside the capitol, leading to their brief expulsion from the body last year. Proponents argue that armed teachers deter school shooters, while detractors say it may lead to accidental shootings. Half of all US states allow teachers or school employees to carry firearms on school grounds. Under the Tennessee bill, individuals must complete at least 40 hours of training in school policing to carry a concealed handgun in a school. The identity of the carrier would not be public, but school leaders and local law enforcement must be informed.
The City of Henderson unanimously approved funding for middle school crossing guards during a city council meeting. The Henderson City Council unanimously approved adding crossing guards to all middle schools in the city. According to the Clark County School District Police Department, nearly 140 students were struck by vehicles last school year. Clark County commissioners previously approved adding crossing guards to middle schools. CCSDPD will also be partnering with Metro to increase patrolling around schools during the next school year. [a6dee1ab]