At the moment, it seems like “school safety” – one issue or another – is on top of everyone’s mind. Many of us have been hearing about ‘devious licks’ and ‘COVID assassins’ challenges, Twitch Hate Raids, an inordinate number of fights, more Threat Assessments than usual, serious mental health challenges for students and staff, lack of staffing for almost everything, and more. Knowing that you probably won’t have the time to read a long blog post, I will be as succinct as possible in sharing some school safety updates and resources.

First, October is National Bullying Prevention Month. And October 20 is Unity Day. ( Wear orange!) Did you know that bullying has been labeled an “Adverse Childhood Experience” (ACE) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Know your district’s HIB Compliance Officer, and check out some of the excellent resources available through the links here: Pacer,  stopbullying.gov, stompoutbullying.org, IBPA Resources, and the Cyberbullying Research Center

Second, you are aware of changes in School Safety and Security Staff requirements through HB 1214 (2021) and RCW 28A.320.124.  Because districts and schools may have School Resource Officers (SROs) within their School Safety and Security Staffing configuration, there have been questions about the impact of ESHB 1140 on School Safety and Security Staff. Very briefly, 1140 amends RCW 13.40.140,  2.70.020 and 13.40.020 by addressing when a juvenile must be given access to an attorney and identifying  situations where a juvenile may be questioned without access to an attorney. It also addresses reasonable suspicion standards around search and seizure. 

The questions which have arisen seem to stem from the distinction between questioning, search, detainment by school staff and questioning, search, detainment by law enforcement. Generally speaking, the distinctions have not changed. The big “yes, but” here seems to arise from the new HB 1214 definition of School Safety and Security Staffwhich includes SROs. Case law has long allowed non-law enforcement school staff to search and seize under specific circumstances. This bill  does not negate that. (See:  New Jersey v. T.L.O. for case law on this.)

It would seem that what school will have to be very aware of and careful about is which, among its School Safety and Security Staff, are district personnel and who are contracted law enforcement services (SROs). Of course, there is no question if law enforcement officers who are not SROs are called into the school.

Cover your bases. Review your policy and procedures. Update your MOA, if necessary. Finally, get your legal staff involved before any situations arise! Here is some good background reading:  ASCD.org

Next, October is The Great Washington ShakeOut drill month! At least one Drop! Cover! Hold on! drill is required each year. The Great ShakeOut is the perfect time to fulfill that requirement. This year, it is scheduled for 10.21 @ 10:21 am. It is fine if you drop-cover-hold on a different day or at a different time; just please be sure to register your school. Have your staff and families register themselves, as well. The more the better. For fun, add in a quick "hazard hunt" to Secure Your Space or a disaster supplies check to make sure everybody have what they need in an emergency. Also, if you need to make any special accommodations for COVID – distancing, etc. – please do so to add to your safety school’s precautions. Make WA look good!

Register here!

Finally, with all that is happening, please be sure to take care of yourselves, as well. We can’t do all this without you.

Thank you.