I reposted this info from the “Agreement” Parkland SD put together regarding the police involvement in school discipline a couple of days ago. Read and weep!
(I think you can see the genesis of the problem in Broward County Schools)
(I also see multiple lawsuits from the families of the dead and wounded)
Here are the opening Wherases in the document! I am underewhelmed! They call the end result sought as COMMON SENSE DISCIPLINE!
I don’t know about you but my butt cheeks tighten whenever a government official starts talking about COMMON SENSE, because they have little or none of it!
Somewhere the idea of the protection of the student body is left out!
WHEREAS, the parties acknowledge that law enforcement plays an essential role in maintaining safety in the community. However, the use of arrests and referrals to the criminal justice system may decrease a student’s chance of graduation, entering higher education, joining the military, and getting a job.
WHEREAS, in the 2011-2012 school year, the Department of Juvenile Justice reported 1,062 school-related arrests in Broward County, the highest number in the state. 71% of these arrests were for misdemeanor offenses. Over half of those students had never been referred to the Juvenile Justice System before.
WHEREAS, across the country, students of color, students with disabilities and LGBTQ students are disproportionately impacted by school-based arrests for the same behavior as their peers.
WHEREAS, The Florida Legislature “encourage[s] schools to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law enforcement agencies by addressing disruptive behavior through restitution, civil citation, teen court, neighborhood restorative justice, or similar programs” and has instructed school districts “that zero-tolerance policies are not intended to be rigorously applied to petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors, including, but not limited to, minor fights or disturbances.”
WHEREAS, with a joint commitment to ending school-based arrests for minor misbehavior, school districts and law enforcement agencies across the country have improved school safety, school engagement and academic achievement. The parties to this agreement are confident that by working together, they can return Broward County Public Schools to a culture of common sense discipline that allows all students to enjoy a safe and effective education.
Send lawyers, guns, and money!