Week of 1/17/11: Safe schools snippets

Bullet found at Highlands Ranch elementary school

A bullet was discovered Thursday inside a Highlands Ranch Elementary School, according to a letter sent home to parents.

A student found the bullet on the floor in the cafeteria after lunch at Redstone Elementary School, located in the 9900 block of Glenstone Circle.

The bullet was immediately turned in.

The school says there was no immediate threat, but it’s not clear how the bullet got there. Watch this report on KDVR-TV.

Greeley school board member can’t take gun to meetings

A Greeley radio personality and Board of Education member will not be allowed to bring a gun to future Board meetings. The board voted 5-2 Thursday evening to hold all future meetings in Greeley-Evans district schools where, by current law, weapons are not allowed. Watch this report on KDVR-TV.

Foundation develops protocol for responses to school crises

Colorado students used to be taught what to do in case of a fire, but now they are learning what to do in case they are under fire, lawmakers learned last week. John-Michael Keyes described his family’s efforts to make schools safer after his daughter, Emily, was killed by a gunman at Platte Canyon High School in 2006. Read more in the Denver Post. Keyes has served as an expert on EdNews Parent. Read his post on the Standard Response Protocol.

Department of Ed seeks money to track arrests

Colorado Board of Education Chairman Bob Schaffer of Fort Collins directed the CDE to seek the additional funds after a Coloradoan investigation last year revealed state education workers were largely ignoring the law. Officials variously blamed under-funding, a misinterpretation of the law and even the location of the law in the Colorado Revised Statutes for failing to implement it. Read more in the Coloradoan.

South High student ‘drugged’ by candy

A 16-year-old South High School student was rushed to the hospital after eating a piece of candy given to her by another student. That student later admitted the candy was laced with marijuana. He told investigators he got the marijuana candy from his 18-year-old brother, who is also a student at South High School. Watch this report on KDVR-TV.

About our First Person series:

First Person is where Chalkbeat features personal essays by educators, students, parents, and others trying to improve public education. Read our submission guidelines here.