MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representatives Warren, Holloway

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-3-81 AND 37-3-83, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND CRISIS ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADOPT COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS, AND TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOL SAFETY GRANTS TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FINANCE CERTAIN PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL SAFETY; TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO PROVIDE FOR A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUALS TO RESPOND TO TRAUMATIC OR VIOLENT SITUATIONS THAT IMPACT STUDENTS AND FACULTY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM, AND TO AUTHORIZE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-3-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-3-81. The Department of Education shall establish and maintain a School Safety Center, which shall operate a statewide information clearinghouse that: (a) provides assistance to school districts and communities during school crises; and (b) provides technical assistance, training and current resources to public school officials and parents who need assistance in researching, developing and implementing school safety plans and in maintaining a safe school environment.

SECTION 2. Section 37-3-83, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-3-83. (1) There is established within the State Department of Education a School Safety Grant Program, available to all eligible public school districts, to assist in financing programs to provide school safety.

(2) The school board of each school district, with the assistance of the State Department of Education School Safety Center, shall adopt a comprehensive local school district school safety plan and shall update the plan on an annual basis.

(3) Subject to the extent of appropriations available, the School Safety Grant Program shall offer any of the following specific preventive services, and other additional services appropriate to the most current school district school safety plan:

(a) Metal detectors;

(b) Video surveillance cameras, communications equipment and monitoring equipment for classrooms, school buildings and school buses;

(c) Crisis management/action teams responding to school violence; * * *

(d) Violence prevention training, conflict resolution training, and other appropriate training designated by the State Department of Education for faculty and staff; and

(e) School safety personnel.

(4) Each local school district of this state may annually apply for * * * school safety grant funds subject to appropriations by the Legislature. School safety grants shall include a base grant amount plus an additional amount per student in average daily attendance in the school or school district. The base grant amount and amount per student shall be determined by the State Board of Education, subject to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature. In order to be eligible for such program, each local school board desiring to participate shall apply to the State Department of Education by May 31 before the beginning of the applicable fiscal year on forms provided by the department, and shall be required to establish a local School Safety Task Force to involve members of the community in the school safety effort. The State Department of Education shall determine by July 1 of each succeeding year which local school districts have submitted approved applications for school safety grants.

(5) As part of the School Safety Grant Program, the State Department of Education may conduct a pilot program to research the feasibility of using video camera equipment in the classroom to address the following:

(a) Determine if video cameras in the classroom reduce student disciplinary problems;

(b) Enable teachers to present clear and convincing evidence of a student's disruptive behavior to the student, the principal, the superintendent and the student's parents; and

(c) Enable teachers to review teaching performance and receive diagnostic feedback for developmental purposes.

(6) Any local school district may use audio/visual monitoring equipment in classrooms for the purpose of monitoring school disciplinary problems.

(7) The State Department of Education shall report annually to the Chairmen of the Education Committees in the House of Representatives and Senate on the operation of the School Safety Center and the School Safety Grant Program, along with any recommendations for expansion or revision of the program.

SECTION 3. (1) There is established a School Crisis Management Program under the State Department of Education. Under this program, the State Department of Education shall create an office making available a quick response team of personnel trained in school safety and crisis management to respond to traumatic or violent situations that impact students and faculty in the public schools in Mississippi. The School Crisis Management Program shall operate in accordance with the following:

(a) The basic response team shall consist of those personnel designated by the State Superintendent of Public Education or their designees depending on the size of the school and the nature of the event.

(b) In order to access the services of a response team, the request must be made by the local school principal or the superintendent of schools, who shall make the request to the State Department of Education or its contact designee.

(c) The requesting school or school district shall commit student time to the response team during the school day, with students to be available to the team either individually or in groups.

(d) A response team shall enter a school to work with students and faculty for a period of no more than three (3) days, unless otherwise requested by the school district.

(e) Response teams shall be organized on a regional basis in order to provide immediate access to these services.

(f) The State Department of Education, or its contact designee, shall operate a toll-free incoming wide area telephone service for the purpose of receiving reports of suspected cases of school violence and other traumatic situations impacting on students and faculty in the public schools.

(g) Subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, the expenses of the quick response teams and their administrative support shall be provided from state funds. The State Department of Education may apply for and expend funds for the support and maintenance of this program from private and other funding sources.

(2) Local school districts, school superintendents and principals may request and utilize the services of quick response teams provided for under this section; however, this section does not require school officials to request the services of quick response teams.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.