Dear Education Committee:
Lincoln Public Schools supports the passage of LB1146 because it adds an exception to existing law to provide greater safety for staff and students from violent assault. Currently, the law allows an elementary school to suspend a student in pre-kindergarten through second grade if the student brings a “deadly weapon” on school grounds, in a vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by a school being used for a school purpose or in a vehicle being driven for a school purpose by a school employee or his/her designee, or at a school-sponsored activity or athletic event.
The bill amends the law to add that an elementary school may suspend a student in pre-kindergarten through second grade if the student engages in violent behavior capable of causing physical harm to another student or a school employee.
Providing a method to ensure a safe environment for staff and students seems a reasonable addition to state law.
John P. Neal
Lincoln Public Schools
