This week's safe schools snippets

Federal agency rejects school bus seatbelt requirements – again

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has again rejected a petition seeking a federal requirement that school buses be equipped with seat belts. In its denial published Aug. 25, NHTSA said the Center for Auto Safety and 21 others asked it in March 2010 to require lap/shoulder belts for all seating positions on all school buses.

“We are denying the petition because we have not found a safety problem supporting a Federal requirement for lap/shoulder belts on large school buses, which are already very safe. The decision to install seat belts on school buses should be left to State and local jurisdictions, which can weigh the need for, benefits and consequences of installing belts on large school buses and best decide whether their particular pupil transportation programs merit installation of the devices,” the notice says. Read more.

Boulder Valley safe schools group pilots Fairview program

The Boulder Valley School District’s Safe Schools Coalition has concentrated mainly on training district groups on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student and staff issues.

But in an effort to create faster change, the superintendent’s advisory group is piloting more in-depth work at an individual school. For the pilot, the group chose Boulder’s Fairview High School. Read more in the Daily Camera.

District announces safety policies in wake of harassment lawsuit

BROOMFIELD – The Boulder Valley School District on Monday issued directives aimed at ensuring “a physically and emotionally safe learning environment” for its 29,000-plus students.

Superintendent Bruce Messinger’s announcement came less than three weeks after a federal lawsuit was filed alleging that the staff at Broomfield High failed to stop “a sustained pattern of sexual harassment” by former teacher and wrestling coach Travis Masse. Read more in the Daily Camera.

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