Latest news with #schoolsecurity
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Georgia school district considers property tax hike to pay for school officers after shooting
Officials in the Georgia school district where four people were killed in a September shooting at Apalachee High School are considering a property tax increase to pay for school-based police officers. Barrow County Superintendent Dallas LeDuff told school board members Tuesday that the tax increase would be necessary because county government has informed the school district that it will no longer pay for sheriff's deputies, local news outlets reported. The school district and Barrow County Commission have been splitting the price of deputies assigned as school resource officers since 2017. That number was originally 12, rose to 16 in 2024, and then to 24 after the shooting. That would place at least two officers in the district's high schools and at least one officer in every other school, although officials haven't yet been able to hire 24 deputies. County commissioners sent a letter to LeDuff last month saying county government will for now pay half only 12 salaries, and eventually stop paying any of the costs. 'What they would like to see happen is that we as a school system be responsible for funding 100% of all direct and indirect costs for all 24 officers that we are staffing now, along with future officers we might add,' LeDuff said. The superintendent said the district will cover whatever the officers cost, calling it 'nonnegotiable.' The district has been under intense local pressure since the shooting to improve security, agreeing to install weapons detectors at its high schools and middle schools this year after months of community outcry. 'Especially in light of Sept. 4, I am deeply concerned with the Board of Commissioners' underlying notion that 2,000-plus Barrow County school system employees and over 15,000 Barrow County students are no longer included in their definition of public safety,' Barrow County school board member Kayla Hendrix said. 'Perhaps we need to ask the county commissioners who qualifies under their definition of public safety.' Officials have said the believe a quick response by officers at Apalachee prevented more victims. The Sept. 4 shooting killed teachers Richard 'Ricky' Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, seven of them hit by gunfire. Colt Gray, then a 14-year-old freshman, has been indicted as an adult for murder and other crimes. Barrow County commissioners wrote in their letter that voters had approved a plan to exempt some senior citizens from paying school property taxes and that the county therefore believes it is inappropriate to use property taxes collected for county government to subsidize school expenses. 'It is imperative that Barrow County government ensure that no county general fund dollars — for which there is no senior exemption — are dedicated to areas that would otherwise be funded by school taxes and the associated millage rate,' county spokesperson Brian Stewart said. Paying the expenses for next year would cost the school district more than $1 million. The district's proposed property tax increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 property about $20 a year. The issue could come up at a county commission meeting next week. William Philip said he plans to go to that meeting to protest the decision. 'This is a serious issue. This has to do with our kids' safety,' Philip said. ' Bad politics. Horrible politics. A lot of parents can't wait to go to the commissioners meeting and see.'
Associated Press
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Georgia school district considers property tax hike to pay for school officers after shooting
WINDER, Ga. (AP) — Officials in the Georgia school district where four people were killed in a September shooting at Apalachee High School are considering a property tax increase to pay for school-based police officers. Barrow County Superintendent Dallas LeDuff told school board members Tuesday that the tax increase would be necessary because county government has informed the school district that it will no longer pay for sheriff's deputies, local news outlets reported. The school district and Barrow County Commission have been splitting the price of deputies assigned as school resource officers since 2017. That number was originally 12, rose to 16 in 2024, and then to 24 after the shooting. That would place at least two officers in the district's high schools and at least one officer in every other school, although officials haven't yet been able to hire 24 deputies. County commissioners sent a letter to LeDuff last month saying county government will for now pay half only 12 salaries, and eventually stop paying any of the costs. 'What they would like to see happen is that we as a school system be responsible for funding 100% of all direct and indirect costs for all 24 officers that we are staffing now, along with future officers we might add,' LeDuff said. The superintendent said the district will cover whatever the officers cost, calling it 'nonnegotiable.' The district has been under intense local pressure since the shooting to improve security, agreeing to install weapons detectors at its high schools and middle schools this year after months of community outcry. 'Especially in light of Sept. 4, I am deeply concerned with the Board of Commissioners' underlying notion that 2,000-plus Barrow County school system employees and over 15,000 Barrow County students are no longer included in their definition of public safety,' Barrow County school board member Kayla Hendrix said. 'Perhaps we need to ask the county commissioners who qualifies under their definition of public safety.' Officials have said the believe a quick response by officers at Apalachee prevented more victims. The Sept. 4 shooting killed teachers Richard 'Ricky' Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, seven of them hit by gunfire. Colt Gray, then a 14-year-old freshman, has been indicted as an adult for murder and other crimes. Barrow County commissioners wrote in their letter that voters had approved a plan to exempt some senior citizens from paying school property taxes and that the county therefore believes it is inappropriate to use property taxes collected for county government to subsidize school expenses. 'It is imperative that Barrow County government ensure that no county general fund dollars — for which there is no senior exemption — are dedicated to areas that would otherwise be funded by school taxes and the associated millage rate,' county spokesperson Brian Stewart said. Paying the expenses for next year would cost the school district more than $1 million. The district's proposed property tax increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 property about $20 a year. The issue could come up at a county commission meeting next week. William Philip said he plans to go to that meeting to protest the decision. 'This is a serious issue. This has to do with our kids' safety,' Philip said. 'Bad politics. Horrible politics. A lot of parents can't wait to go to the commissioners meeting and see.'
CBS News
5 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Summit Academy student arrested after police investigate threats to other students
A ninth-grader was taken into custody over threats made to other students at Summit Academy North High School in Romulus, Michigan. The investigation began Wednesday morning, based on a report that the Huron Township Police Department said its school resource officer assigned to the Middlebelt Road campus received. Summit Superintendent Jason Hamstra provided additional details in his statement: "During the school day today, a high school student reported to school administration that another student had made threatening comments toward specific students during class. The administrators and our school resource officer followed our safety protocols. The student was immediately escorted to the office to begin a preliminary investigation." Based on the results of the police investigation, the student was taken into custody and has been lodged at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center. The police department said any next steps are pending review of charges by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. "We are very proud of how our students and staff handled this situation. The safety of our school community is always a top priority," the superintendent said. "This is a reminder to please talk to your children about the importance of reporting to a trusted adult any concerning comment or behavior." June 12 is the last day of the 2024-25 school year at Summit Academy North.
ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Victorian principals given the power to expel students for behaviour outside school
Victorian school principals will have greater powers to suspend or expel students for misbehaviour outside of school or online from next term. The Victorian government has revealed changes that allow students to be suspended or expelled if their behaviour outside of school or online puts fellow students or staff at serious risk. Currently, those powers are restricted to responding to behaviour on school grounds. The government said the change brings Victoria in line with New South Wales and South Australia, and will take effect from the first day of term 3, 2025. Education Minister Ben Carroll said the move was in response to an increase in assaults and online bullying, including the use of AI deepfake images. "In Victoria, community safety comes first. These strengthened powers send a clear message that harmful behaviour outside of school or online has consequences," Mr Carroll said. "The safety of students, teachers and school staff is our top priority — we're investing in programs that foster more respectful schools and acting to protect school communities. Mr Carroll said it would be up to principals to decide how and when to use the new powers. "This is a measure we're putting in as a last resort," he said. "I've met with families and principals where incidents have occurred online, have been incredibly harmful and because it happened outside the school gate, the principal hasn't had the appropriate authority."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Holyoke police identify juvenile connected to hoax school threat
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Holyoke police have identified a juvenile in connection with a hoax school threat made on social media. According to Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan, the threat was reported on Instagram and was related to Holyoke High School. Students brought the post to the attention of multiple school resource officers. Multi-car crash in Holyoke damages traffic light, parked cars While the original post was deleted, screenshots of the post are still being shared. Holyoke Police quickly assessed the threat and deemed it non-credible. After identifying the juvenile, officers spoke with them along with their parent about the seriousness of posting any type of threat online. 'I'd like to thank Officers Cruz, Rivera, and our Detectives for their prompt handling of this situation,' said Chief Keenan. 'Our department treats any threat to our community seriously and thoroughly investigates each situation to determine if any threat is credible. In this case, thankfully, it was not. The safety and well-being of our students and community is paramount. I appreciate the vigilance of the students who brought this post to our officers' attention, and in doing so, the officers were able to quickly identify the person responsible for the post.' 'I have full faith in Chief Keenan and his officers to investigate these types of incidents, and I thank them for identifying the source of this post with urgency,' said Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia. 'While it can be uneasy, I want to assure our community, students, staff, and teachers that there is no ongoing threat, and this post was deemed to not be credible. If there was a situation where we received a threat and it was deemed credible or if it was unclear, we would alert our community immediately.' The Holyoke Police Department stated that there was never a credible threat to the community. Officers urge anyone who sees an online threat mentioning a school in the area to contact the police immediately. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
