school safety

Schools Are Safer Than Your Home

Pierre Tristam | August 13, 2018

We’re making fortresses of the safest places in America, out of fear that one of those 120,000 schools might at some point be the target of a shooting.

New Back To School Normal For Flagler School Employees: How To Deal With a Mass Killer

FlaglerLive | August 7, 2018

The Flagler Auditorium today filled with 1,000 faculty members for “active shooter” or “incident survival” training through a vivid, disquieting presentation by Sheriff’s officials.

School Massacre Commission Told Emergency Communications Problems Are Not Restricted To Broward

FlaglerLive | July 11, 2018

Emergency calls from Parkland are shepherded by two separate communication centers, depending on whether the caller uses a cell phone or landline.

School Massacre Commission Hears Troubling Account Of Ineffective Database and Information-Sharing

FlaglerLive | June 11, 2018

Panelists on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission discussed shortcomings in a database designed to capture information about troubled students.

Flagler School Board Unanimously Approves 13 Deputies in Schools, Ending Tiff With Sheriff

FlaglerLive | May 15, 2018

The $1.8 million agreement almost splits costs between the sheriff and the school board and doubles the number of deputies in schools in the first post-Parkland massacre contract.

Flagler Beach Cool To Contributing Money, Palm Coast-Style, For Schools’ Resource Deputies

FlaglerLive | May 14, 2018

Palm Coast pays for an extra school resource deputy to defray the school board’s and sheriff’s costs, but Flagler Beach is reluctant to do likewise for now.

Compromise Over School Deputies in Flagler, But Look Beyond False Security of “Hardening”

FlaglerLive | May 3, 2018

There’s an effective way to end the stalemate between the Flagler Sheriff and the school board over deputies in schools without breaking the bank or compromising security.

Rift Widens Between Sheriff and School Board Over Deputies’ Cost For Flagler Schools

FlaglerLive | May 1, 2018

At least an $88,000 rift divides Flagler’s sheriff from the school board as they negotiate to have deputies at every school come August. The divide may be larger when mental health money is included.

Shot By Shot Recreation of Cruz Rampage Through School Highlights Commission’s First Day

FlaglerLive | April 24, 2018

The first meeting of a 16-member commission studying the Parkland school massacre included a chilling recreation of the shot by shot progression of Nikolas Cruz through the school.

16-Member Commission Will ‘Investigate System Failures’ in Parkland School Massacre

FlaglerLive | April 23, 2018

The commission will review Florida’s policies for dealing with “active assailants” on school campuses, with a comparison to “best practices” policies around the nation.

AR-15s in Flagler Schools, Traffic Cops in Mustangs, New Marine Unit: Sheriff Staly’s State of Policing

FlaglerLive | April 19, 2018

Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly spoke to some 75 people Thursday on a re-energized state of policing in Palm Coast and the county, summing up initiatives and coming developments.

A Palm Coast Resident Says “School Shooting” In a Facebook Video That Has Nothing To Do with School Shootings. Cops Show Up.

FlaglerLive | April 18, 2018

Tony Lagano, 35, was upset over a family court issue and alluded to a school shooting in a sarcastic Facebook video last week, only to be visited by sheriff’s deputies.

Students Raise Concerns, But Flagler School Board Approves Social Media Surveillance

FlaglerLive | April 18, 2018

The Flagler County School Board Tuesday approved a three-year, $55,500 contract with Vermont-based Social Sentinel to troll eight different types of social media accounts.

It’s Up to Grown-Ups To Stop Bullying, Not Kids

FlaglerLive | April 17, 2018

Speaking of her own experience with bullying, the author holds the adults who watched and did nothing far more responsible than those who perpetrated it.

Flagler School Board Wants To Snoop on Students’ Social Media, And Maybe Yours. Wrong Move.

FlaglerLive | April 16, 2018

The School Board is set to contract with Social Sentinel, a company that will troll social media accounts across Flagler for $18,500 and issue “alerts” to select officials. It’s an inappropriate move down a slippery slope.

7 New Sheriff’s Deputies, 143% Cost Increase as Outline of Flagler’s School Safety Takes Shape

FlaglerLive | April 13, 2018

Sheriff Staly and Superintendent Tager are negotiating an increase of the school deputies’ program to $1.8 million split 50-50, with the schools’ share paid by the state and the sheriff’s by the County Commission.

Superintendents Say Money May Not Cover All School Resource Officers Despite $100 Million

FlaglerLive | March 27, 2018

Superintendents are asking the state Board of Education for support in shifting money allocated to school marshals to the school resource officer program instead.

Parent Faces Charges After Appearing to Instigate Fight Between 2 Indian Trails Middle School Boys

FlaglerLive | March 21, 2018

Anthony Gardiner, a 34-year-old resident of Pam Coast’s B Section, was captured in several videos either instigating or intervening in a fight between two boys on a Belle Terre Parkway sidewalk.

Bunnell Police Find Weapon Used in School Incident, a BB Gun, and Locate 2nd Boy

FlaglerLive | March 9, 2018

The gun allegedly brandished during a school-related incident was a BB gun, and the second boy located in relation with the incident may not be facing charges.

NRA Files Challenge Moments After Gov. Scott Signs School-Safety and Gun-Control Bill

FlaglerLive | March 9, 2018

The new law raises the permissible age to buy rifles from 18 to 21 and imposes a three-day waiting period for the purchase of rifles and other long guns, among other provisions.

Suspended Student Feared To Have a Weapon at Bunnell Elementary Fence Triggers Alert, and Arrest

FlaglerLive | March 7, 2018

A student who’d been suspended earlier in the day is facing arrest for assault was seen at a Bunnell Elementary fence with what looked like a weapon near dismissal time Wednesday afternoon, causing a lockdown.

House Edges Closer to Vote on Bill Mixing Guns With School Safety and New Limits

FlaglerLive | March 6, 2018

Those younger than 21 would be prohibited from buying rifles, others would have a 3-day waiting period. Coaches and others could be “deputized” as school marshals.

Matanzas Student Frustrated in Math Jokes of “Shooting Up” the School, and Is Arrested

FlaglerLive | March 6, 2018

The arrest this morning of Raul Hernandez, 14, signals that school and sheriff’s officials will be taking a hard stand against any threats, however un-serious the intention.

Senate Passes Safety Plan, Including Armed Teacher Program and $97 Million for More School Cops

FlaglerLive | March 5, 2018

Flagler County would be in line for a substantial increase in dollars allocated for school resource deputies, and would have the authority to implement a school marshal program.

For Sheriff and Flagler Schools, Clear Accord: No to Arming Teachers, Yes to More Deputies

FlaglerLive | March 5, 2018

At a joint news conference later this week, Sheriff Rick Staly and Superintendent Jim Tager will outline new security measures and initiatives and a plan for additional school deputies, but no weaponizing of teachers.

“Do 17 Good Deeds”
Many Join Students Marching Across Flagler Beach Bridge For Gun Sense and Safety

FlaglerLive | March 2, 2018

A march of about 200 people across the Flagler Beach Bridge drew students, faculty, administrators and politicians and ended in a brief stand at First Friday for safety measures in schools.

Gov. Scott Pleads For More Cops In Schools as Safety Plans Provoke Divisions

FlaglerLive | March 2, 2018

Scott’s $500 million package would require, among other things, school boards to assign a law enforcement officer to each school and at least one resource officer for every 1,000 students.

As Calls For Broward Sheriff’s Removal Mount, Scott Orders Investigation of School Shooting Response

FlaglerLive | February 26, 2018

The directive came as House Speaker Richard Corcoran sent a letter co-signed by 73 Republican House members requesting that Scott suspend Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, a Democrat.

School District Advised to Cut Down on Car Riders and Push Bus Riding Instead, For Safety

FlaglerLive | July 5, 2017

Detailed studies for each of the Flagler district’s elementary and middle schools reveal problematic safety issues with too many car riders, too few sidewalks, and disobeyed traffic laws.

22 of Florida’s 67 School Districts Are Using Armed Personnel as “Guardians” to Comply With Law