Schools to be Notified of Risk Protection Orders Issued to Employees
Florida School District Employees May Face More Accountability to Ensure Student Safety
In an effort to enhance safety measures within Florida school districts, proposed bills could hold school district employees more accountable. House Bill 399 and Senate Bill 394, introduced last month for the upcoming legislative session, would mandate that school districts be notified if an employee is issued a risk protection order. State Senator Blaise Ingoglia and State Representative John Paul Temple, hailing from Hernando County, are the respective sponsors of these bills. The new law, if passed during the legislative session, would take effect in July 2024.
Risk protection orders are typically filed by law enforcement agencies when they perceive an individual to pose a threat to themselves or others due to the possession of firearms. However, one Palm Beach County School Board member is urging immediate action to address this issue. Currently, Palm Beach County School Board policy only requires employees to self-report an arrest within 48 hours. However, it does not explicitly mention court orders such as risk protection orders or restraining orders.
The urgency to address this matter arose after a series of incidents involving Hawazin Wright, a teacher at Boynton Beach High School. Wright was arrested multiple times within a short span of time, with the first arrest occurring during a protest in downtown West Palm Beach. West Palm Beach police described his behavior as erratic and dangerous. Court records indicate that police had filed a risk protection order against Wright twice. The first instance occurred a year ago following a mental health episode, and the second followed the recent string of incidents. Both orders highlighted the significant danger Wright posed to himself or others by possessing firearms or ammunition. Currently, Wright is on administrative leave from the school district.
Frank Barbieri, a member of the Palm Beach County School Board, is advocating for changes to ensure that school leaders are promptly informed when an employee is issued a risk protection order. Barbieri emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety of students and staff on school campuses. He suggested modifying the existing policy to require employees to notify the district if a risk protection order or restraining order is issued against them.
Barbieri expressed his satisfaction with the introduction of the legislation and hopes for its successful passage. Nevertheless, he intends to initiate the change within the Palm Beach County School Board regardless of the outcome of the bills. Recognizing that school board policies statewide currently lack such reporting requirements, Barbieri aims to rally support from his colleagues to amend the existing policy.
This topic will be brought up for discussion during an upcoming board meeting in either December or January. Barbieri highlighted the significance of incidents like the recent arrest in shedding light on policy shortcomings. With 23,000 employees in the district, occurrences that highlight the need for policy clarification or revision are not uncommon. Barbieri believes it is imperative to identify and rectify any vagueness or deficiencies in the existing policy to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals within the school district.
As the legislative session approaches, the proposed bills offer hope for increased accountability in Florida school districts. However, proactive measures are already being taken at the local level, with Barbieri leading the charge in Palm Beach County to address this issue head-on.
